A quick-reference lookup for tempo terms, time signatures, chord formulas, and scale formulas — handy while composing, arranging, or just trying to remember what "Andante" means.
Ranges are approximate and overlap in real usage — composers and editions don't always agree on exact boundaries.
The reference covers four areas at a glance: Italian tempo terms mapped to their typical BPM ranges (like Andante or Allegro), common time signatures, chord formulas expressed as scale-degree patterns, and scale formulas — all of which apply across any root note or key you choose.
Chord and scale formulas use scale-degree notation (like 1-b3-5 for a minor triad), which is a compact, universal way to express a pattern that works identically in any key — once you understand what the formula means, you can apply it starting from any root note without needing a separate lookup for every key.
This is built as a quick-reference tool for musicians, students, and songwriters who already have some grounding in music theory and want a fast lookup, rather than a from-scratch music theory course — think of it as a cheat sheet you'd keep open while practicing or composing.
Composers, editors, and different eras of notation don't fully agree on exact BPM boundaries for terms like Andante or Allegro — the ranges shown are common approximations, not a strict standard.
Each number is a scale degree from the root (1 = root, 3 = third, 5 = fifth, and so on); a "b" means that degree is flattened by a semitone compared to the major scale. Applying the formula to any root note gives you that chord in any key.
Modes (Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Locrian) are scales built by starting the major scale's note pattern from a different degree — they use the same notes as a related major scale but centre on a different root, giving each a distinct character.
