Scale Music Flashcards
Scale
A scale is a group of pitches (scale degrees) arranged in ascending order.
Using tones or semitones
Diatonic scales
scales that include half and whole steps. The first and last note is the tonic. It is the most ‘stable’ note, or rather the easiest to find. Because of this, diatonic melodies often end on the diatonic note.
The Major Scale
The major scale consists of seven different pitches. There are half steps between the third and fourth and seventh and eighth scale degrees; whole steps exist between all other steps. Below is a the C major scale. The pattern of whole and half steps is the same for all major scales. By changing the first note, then using the pattern as a guide, you can construct any major scale.
T T S T T T S
The Minor Scales
These scales have seven different scale degrees. There are half steps between the second and third and the fifth and sixth degrees; whole steps exist between all other steps. Shown below is the A minor scale.
T S T T S T T
The Harmonic Minor Scale
This scale is the same as the natural minor scale, except the seventh step is raised a half step. There is now an interval of one half step between the seventh and eighth notes, and one and a half steps between the sixth and seventh notes. This is a harmonic A minor.
The Melodic Minor Scale
This is another minor scale variation. In this scale, the sixth and seventh notes are each raised one half step. All the patterns to this point have been the same as one climbs and descends the scales. The melodic minor scale, however, ascends with the modifications noted above, but descends in the natural minor scale. This is a melodic A minor.
Pentatonic Scale
Pentatonic scales, as their name suggests, have only five notes. To get from one end of the scale to the other, they require gaps of more than a half step.
T1/2- T- T- T1/2-T
Chromatic Scale
is a nondiatonic scale that consists of half steps only. Because each pitch is equidistant, there is no tonic. A whole tone scale is comprised of whole steps. Like the chromatic scale, it too has no tonic.
Blues Scale
chromatic variant of the major scale. This scale contains flat thirds and sevenths which alternate with normal thirds and sevenths. This alternating creates the blues inflection.
T1/2- T- S- S- T1/2- T
12 Bar Blues
I I I I
IV IV I I
V IV I I (V)
Key Signitures
Key signatures can specify major or minor keys. To determine the name of a minor key, find the name of the key in major and then count backwards three half steps. Remember that sharps and flats affect names.
To help understand and remember key signatures, a chart called the circle of fifths can be used. On the outside are the major key names, separated by fifths. On the inside are the corresponding minor key names. In the middle is the number and position of the sharps or flats.
Circle Of Fifths
SHARPS
C G- F D-FC A-FGC E-CDFG
Freddy
Couldnt
Get
Down
Circle of 4ths
FLATS
F Billy
Bb Eats
Eb Anyones
Ab Doughnuts
