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AP Music Theory — Cheatsheet

Formulas, exam-day tips, and key terms on one page.

How to get a 5

For melodic dictation, immediately identify the meter and the starting pitch relative to the tonic.
Check your voice leading carefully: look specifically for parallel 5ths and octaves between every pair of voices.
Remember to always resolve leading tones and the 7th of a dominant seventh chord (it resolves down).
Sight-singing requires confidence. Sing loudly and keep going even if you make a mistake; rhythm is just as important as pitch.

Major Scale Pattern — W-W-H-W-W-W-H (Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half)

Natural Minor Scale Pattern — W-H-W-W-H-W-W

Harmonic Minor — Natural minor scale with a raised 7th scale degree to create a leading tone.

Melodic Minor — Raised 6th and 7th scale degrees ascending; natural minor descending.

Diatonic Chords in Major — I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii°

Diatonic Chords in Minor (Harmonic) — i, ii°, III+, iv, V, VI, vii°

Perfect Authentic Cadence (PAC) — V -> I (or i). Both chords in root position, soprano ends on tonic.

Plagal Cadence — IV -> I (or iv -> i). Often called the 'Amen' cadence.

Deceptive Cadence — V -> vi (or VI). The dominant resolves to a chord other than the tonic.

Half Cadence — A phrase ending on the dominant (V) chord, sounding incomplete.

Secondary Dominant — A major triad or dominant 7th chord that resolves to a diatonic chord other than the tonic (e.g., V/V).

Figured Bass Inversions (Triads) — Root: none (or 5/3). 1st inversion: 6 (or 6/3). 2nd inversion: 6/4.