Scales

Question 1

What is the pattern on tones and semitones in a major scale?

Answer 1

TTSTTTS

Question 2

What is the pattern on tones and semitones in a minor scale?

Answer 2

TSTTSTT

Question 3

What are the technical names for the each degree of a scale?

Answer 3

1st= Tonic

2nd= Supertonic

3rd= Mediant

4th= Subdominant

5th= Dominant

6th= Submediant

7th = Leading Note

Question 4

What does dominant mean?

Answer 4

The dominant is the most important note after the tonic (because these two notes work together to help fix the key of a piece). It’s 5 notes higher than the tonic.

Question 5

What does subdominant mean?

Answer 5

The subdominant is the next most important note after the dominant. It is 5 notes lower than the tonic (which is why it’s called the “sub”=”lower” dominant.

Question 6

What does mediant mean?

Answer 6

The word “mediant” is connected to the word “middle”. The mediant note is midway between the tonic and the dominant. It’s 3 notes higher than the tonic.

Question 7

What does submediant mean?

Answer 7

The submediant is midway between the tonic and the subdominant. It’s 3 notes lower than the tonic. (Remember, “sub-” = lower).

Question 8

What does supertonic mean?

Answer 8

The supertonic is “one more than” the tonic. It’s one note higher than the tonic.

Question 9

What does the leading note mean?

Answer 9

The leading note is one note below the tonic. This note is called the leading note because it is very often followed by the tonic when used in a melody – so it generally “leads to the tonic”.

Question 11

What is the mnemonic for the order of sharps and flats from key signatures?

Answer 11

Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Ends Battles. (for sharps). For flats, read the sentence backwards.

Question 12

What is the trick you use to work out the order of sharps and flats, the name of all major key signatures and how many sharps and flats each one has.

Answer 12

1) Write the order of sharps and flats.
2) Draw a line to the right of C.
3) Add accidentals to the left of the line.
4) Add numbers starting from the right of the line.

E.g. if you need to find the key signature for A major, find A and you’ll see it has 3 sharps. The sharps are F,C and G.

Question 13

How do you find the relative minor of a major scale?

Answer 13

Count up six scale degrees in the major scale–that is where the relative minor scale begins.

Question 14

What is the natural minor scale?

Answer 14

Same as the major scale, but starts on the 6th degree (note).

Question 15

What is the harmonic minor scale?

Answer 15

Same as the natural minor, but the 7th note is raised by a semitone.

Question 16

What is the melodic minor scale?

Answer 16

On the natural minor, raise the 6th and 7th notes up by a semitones and on the way down, lower them by a semitone.

Question 17

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