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neurologyYou need to know

• A chord is three or more different pitches sounded together; in this unit, chords include major and minor triads, sus2 and sus4 chords, and seventh chords.
• The simplest type of chord is a triad, which is built from the root, third, and fifth of a scale; in root position, the root is the lowest note.
• A major triad contains a root, a major third, and a perfect fifth; a minor triad contains a root, a minor third, and a perfect fifth.
• To change a triad into a sus2 or sus4 chord, the third is replaced with the second or fourth.
• A seventh chord contains four different pitches: a major seventh chord has a major triad and a major seventh above the root, as in C–E–G–B; a dominant seventh chord has a major triad and a minor seventh above the root, as in C–E–G–B♭; and a minor seventh chord has a minor triad and a minor seventh above the root, as in C–E♭–G–B♭.
• The circle of fifths shows relationships between keys and each key's key signature, including how many sharps or flats it contains and which notes are sharpened or flattened; it does not show the notes of every chord directly.
• In a major key, chords I, IV, and V are major, while chord vi is minor.
• When a chord progression is transposed to a new key, its scale-degree relationships are preserved, so each chord has the same function and quality in the new key.
• A chord sequence, or chord progression, is a repeated pattern of chords that underpins the harmony of a section or song.
• Altering the type of chord can change the atmosphere, style, or genre of a song; for example, changing from triads to seventh chords can give a song a more jazzy, bluesy, or soulful feel.
• Many artists perform cover versions of other artists’ songs; in many cover versions, the DR SMITH musical elements are manipulated more drastically, resulting in new, contrasting versions.
• Many different songs can use the same chord sequence; the melody, rhythm, texture, and arrangement can change while the chords stay the same.
• A melody is a single-line tune that is usually the main musical idea, while chords provide harmony underneath the melody.
• A lead sheet shows the melody on a stave with chord symbols above, and often includes lyrics, enabling performers to supply chords or a bassline.
• Inversions are used in keyboard performance to make changes between chords smoother to hear and easier to play.
• Moving a root-position triad to an inversion keeps the same pitch names but changes their order; for example, C major in root position is C–E–G, while its inversions are E–G–C and G–C–E.

• Analyse the similarities and differences between original and cover versions with specific reference to a range of the DR SMITH musical elements.
• Play root-position major and minor triads on the keyboard with standard fingering (right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1), keeping a relaxed hand shape.
• Perform the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major as right-hand triads at a steady pulse, then add left-hand root notes, and finally play hands together cleanly under tempo.
• Perform the I–vi–IV–V progression in C major as right-hand triads at a steady pulse, then add left-hand root notes, and finally play hands together cleanly under tempo.
• Transpose and perform the I–V–vi–IV and I–vi–IV–V progressions in new keys, using the circle of fifths to identify each key signature and preserving the scale-degree relationships and chord qualities.
• Perform new versions of the I–V–vi–IV and I–vi–IV–V progressions using triads, sus2 chords, sus4 chords, or seventh chords to change the overall feel while retaining each progression's recognisable shape.
• Create a root-note bassline that matches the chord changes homorhythmically, then develop a contrasting polyrhythmic bassline that still aligns with the harmonic rhythm.
• Read a lead sheet to play the notated melody accurately while accompanying with chord symbols or root bass notes, observing all accidentals and note values.
• Give a clear musical count-in and maintain tempo, subdividing beats using '1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and' to place quavers and chord changes precisely.
• Sing or play a melody over the chord sequence, aligning syllables or notes to beats and bars and correcting pitch where accidentals are indicated.
• Practise effectively using block practice and reverse practice: isolate a bar or pair of bars, repeat slowly under tempo, then chain sections together only when error-free.
• Evaluate and refine a performance by diagnosing issues in timing, fingering, balance, or counting and applying targeted fixes, such as a slower tempo, a clearer count-in, or revised fingering.