What is a major scale?
Posted by: mikeeschman on 22 November 2008
Here is the formula for determining a major scale:
* 2 whole steps and 1 half step
* 3 whole steps and 1 half step
what is a minor scale?
whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step.
Posted on: 23 November 2008 by Wolf2
someone loaned me 2 books on the basics of keyboards and music, it made no sense to me as I've not had any training or access to a piano. I'd much rather put on an expert than fiddle with the notes myself. I gave the books back.
Posted on: 23 November 2008 by mikeeschman
quote:Originally posted by Wolf2:
someone loaned me 2 books on the basics of keyboards and music, it made no sense to me as I've not had any training or access to a piano. I'd much rather put on an expert than fiddle with the notes myself. I gave the books back.
ok, but the diagram and instructions in this post can be comprehended in 15 minutes. it's not worth 15 minutes? i bet you spent more time than that waiting in line to see dr. atomic ...
Posted on: 23 November 2008 by Florestan
I'm not sure if this topic came from a different thread but the pedant in me just has to jump in. And besides, I love scales! As a pianist I practice them almost everyday to warm up. The minor scale is my favorite and all my favorite music is likely to be in the minor scale.
Mike - I think the minor scale requires a little more explanation as your description is only partly true.
So, if anyone wants to learn the basics of scales this is what I'd tell them:
Note: For comparison, instead of whole steps and half steps as shown above I am used to using the descriptions of Tone and Semitone, respectively.
The two most common types of scales are Chromatic and Diatonic.
In a chromatic scale you will play all semitones. So, as per the diagram above, starting on C ascending you would play white note, black note, white note, black note, white note, white note, etc. until the next C (1 octave). That means you play all 12 notes in an octave. You can start a chromatic scale on any note and go as many octaves as you wish but if you start on C you'd turn around on C too.
In a diatonic scale you can further divide them into major and minor scales but there is always only 7 notes played between any note and its octave. The patterns are always the same and starting on any note (other than C just changes the key). The first note of a diatonic scale is called the Tonic and the key and everything else is always based on the Tonic. The Tonic is like Pope and King rolled into one; it rules everything.
As Mike stated above - Major scales always follow the pattern of tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone.
But minor scales can be of two forms: Harmonic Minor and Melodic Minor.
Briefly, in Harmonic minor you have tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone + semitone, semitone and this is always the same whether ascending or descending.
Melodic minor you have ascending a tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, tone, semitone and descending a tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone.
In understanding the relationship within a diatonic scale it is most useful to identify the degrees of any scale as follows:
I - Tonic
II - Supertonic
III - Mediant
IV - Subdominant
V - Dominant
VI - Submediant
VII - Leading-Note
I already mentioned about the importance of the Tonic but the Dominant is probably the next most powerful degree to reckon with. You should also see that the Leading-Note is the third most necessary degree as it is always a semitone below the Tonic and helps identify the key.
This is just a cursory look at scales but it is a start to understanding what is happening in music. Your ear might already understand this but this is just putting what you hear and accept naturally into words. Further to this one could talk about tetrachords (lower and upper), Tonic Major, Tonic Minor, Relative Major, Relative Minor, (and the relative major and minor keys / and key signatures), the circle of fifths, the Pentatonic scale, the whole tone scale, the Modes, Intervals, Chords, Cadences, Time etc.
I suspect I've already put many to sleep so I'll stop here but this being the Music Room and all if anyone is interested about this or any other musical topic just ask. Their are many knowledgeable people who have a passion for music in these parts and I think would only be too willing to explain anything further.
Best Regards,
Doug
Mike - I think the minor scale requires a little more explanation as your description is only partly true.
So, if anyone wants to learn the basics of scales this is what I'd tell them:
Note: For comparison, instead of whole steps and half steps as shown above I am used to using the descriptions of Tone and Semitone, respectively.
The two most common types of scales are Chromatic and Diatonic.
In a chromatic scale you will play all semitones. So, as per the diagram above, starting on C ascending you would play white note, black note, white note, black note, white note, white note, etc. until the next C (1 octave). That means you play all 12 notes in an octave. You can start a chromatic scale on any note and go as many octaves as you wish but if you start on C you'd turn around on C too.
In a diatonic scale you can further divide them into major and minor scales but there is always only 7 notes played between any note and its octave. The patterns are always the same and starting on any note (other than C just changes the key). The first note of a diatonic scale is called the Tonic and the key and everything else is always based on the Tonic. The Tonic is like Pope and King rolled into one; it rules everything.
As Mike stated above - Major scales always follow the pattern of tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone.
But minor scales can be of two forms: Harmonic Minor and Melodic Minor.
Briefly, in Harmonic minor you have tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone + semitone, semitone and this is always the same whether ascending or descending.
Melodic minor you have ascending a tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, tone, semitone and descending a tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone.
In understanding the relationship within a diatonic scale it is most useful to identify the degrees of any scale as follows:
I - Tonic
II - Supertonic
III - Mediant
IV - Subdominant
V - Dominant
VI - Submediant
VII - Leading-Note
I already mentioned about the importance of the Tonic but the Dominant is probably the next most powerful degree to reckon with. You should also see that the Leading-Note is the third most necessary degree as it is always a semitone below the Tonic and helps identify the key.
This is just a cursory look at scales but it is a start to understanding what is happening in music. Your ear might already understand this but this is just putting what you hear and accept naturally into words. Further to this one could talk about tetrachords (lower and upper), Tonic Major, Tonic Minor, Relative Major, Relative Minor, (and the relative major and minor keys / and key signatures), the circle of fifths, the Pentatonic scale, the whole tone scale, the Modes, Intervals, Chords, Cadences, Time etc.
I suspect I've already put many to sleep so I'll stop here but this being the Music Room and all if anyone is interested about this or any other musical topic just ask. Their are many knowledgeable people who have a passion for music in these parts and I think would only be too willing to explain anything further.
Best Regards,
Doug
Posted on: 23 November 2008 by mikeeschman
quote:Originally posted by Florestan:
I'm not sure if this topic came from a different thread but the pedant in me just has to jump in. And besides, I love scales!
Doug
your post made my evening.
i wish someone like you would record major and minor scales and post them on the forum - then forum members could download them to an ipod and listen a few minutes every day.
you holler out "major keys" then play whatever in different major keys for five minutes.
then holler out "minor keys" and so on ...
you do it every day anyway ... :-)
weeks later they (your fan club) would be able to identify major from minor by ear :-)
circle of fifths would be nice too ...