interpretation / Symbolic

Scale

A named pattern of pitch classes organized around a tonic, such as C major or D dorian.

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Resolve a progression in a key

Roman numerals describe functions relative to a selected key. Change the key to reinterpret the same numerals, or transpose the resulting MIDI notes by a fixed number of semitones. These are different operations.

KeyRoman progression

Transpose0 st

Key scale · octave-free set

Key

C major

Scale notes

C-D-E-F-G-A-B

Pitch classes

0-2-4-5-7-9-11

Resolved chord symbols (before shift)

Cmaj7 - G7 - Am7 - Fmaj7

C is the tonic; major supplies the scale. Roman numerals resolve to diatonic seventh chords where available. The semitone control moves the resolved notes after that interpretation.

Written forms

Ways to write this concept

Each notation describes the same underlying object. Open an example to see it in every other notation, or load it to hear one MIDI realization in the Code Sequencer.

name

Open guide

Traditional scale / mode name

intervals

Open guide

Comma-separated step pattern (semitones between successive degrees)

Choose Load beside a convertible example to open its live player. Some catalog formats describe analysis or a display label and have no note realization yet.

Pitch-class setA selection of the twelve pitch classes, independent of octave and order. It says which pitches are present without choosing a chord root or voicing.Point SetA rootless arrangement of semitone offsets from the lowest note. Its shape stays the same when a MIDI voicing is transposed.KeyA tonic pitch class and mode that give scale degrees and Roman chord functions their context.

Resolve a progression in a key

Ways to write this concept

name

intervals

Concept connections