interval
distance between two notes
size
the distance from one note to another in terms of scale degrees
quality
the difference between the whole-step second and the half-step second (measurement of semitone content in interval)
M2
major second – two 1/2 steps
m2
minor second – 1/2 step
M3
major third- two wholes steps
m3
minor third- one and a 1/2 whole steps
tonal
music that uses predominantly the tones of a given scale and is organized around the tonic pitch
key
example: music that uses the G-major scale is in the key of G major
tonic
first scale degree, pitch toward which all pitches gravitate
tonic triad
consists of the tonic ( first scale degree), the dominant (fifth scale degree), and the mediant (third scale degree)