Index Review

Scales, Key, and Modes!

Chapter 3

Scales!Scales : an ordered collection of pitches in whole and half-step patterns.

Scale comes from the Latin word: “scalae” meaning “Stairs” or “Ladder”

The Chromatic ScaleChromatic Scale : a symmetrical scale with all pitches a half step apart.

Sharps going up; Flats going down

Enharmonic notes

Ex. Every key up and down the piano

The Major Scale PatternMajor Scale : an asymmetrical scale

pattern of whole and half steps.ALL major scales share this same pattern

W W H W W W H

Tetrachord W Tetrachord

Start and end on the same note

Either all Sharps or al Flats – No mixies! *COOTIES*

15 Major Scales overall – Three of them are enharmonic!

Tetrachord : four-note group with the pattern W W H

Two Tetrachords combined by a whole step create a major scale

Lets try it!!!

What is a KEY?!Tonality : the principal of organizing a

composition around the key note, or TONIC.Used in reference to pitch center only

EX. Key signature could have 2 sharps, but the tonality might be G

Modality : modal quality; scale type used; major, minor, dorian….etc…

Key : a specific series of pitches based on a pattern or whole and half steps that define a tonality.

Can be defined as major or minor [modality]

Key refers to both tonality and modality.EX. G Major = Tonality is G, Modality is Major

Key SignaturesKey Signature : written at the beginning of every staff to show which pitches are to be consistently flat or sharp throughout the entire piece; helps determine the key or tonality

Order of Flats : B E A D G C F

Order of Sharps : F C G D A E B

What is similar about the above two orders….???????

Placement of Key Signatures on the

Grand StaffSharps: Down first-then Up

Flats: Up first-then Down

ACCIDENTALS NEVER ON LEDGER LINES [key signature]

Identifying the Key from the Key

SignatureSharps: The last sharp is the 7th scale degree, or LEADING TONE

Therefore, the key is one half step up from the last sharp listed

Flats: The second to last flat names the key

The Circle of Fifths

Circle of Fifths : demonstrates the relationship of the tonal centers to each other

C at the top

Right – Up a 5th – Adds a sharp

Left – Down a 5th – Adds a flat

IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER: the major scale pattern generates the key signature, NOT the other way around

WORKSHEET TIMEMajor scales and Major keys!

The Minor Scale PatternNatural minor Scale : W H W W H W W pattern

Same pattern as Major Scales… but starting on a different note

Named to differentiate from the artificial forms of the scale

There are THREE forms of the minor scale all of them are derived from the Natural Minor scale

All three minor scales begin with the same minor pentachord [first 5 notes]

The difference between a Major and minor pentchord is the 3rd scale degree – flattened

Leading Tone v. Subtonic

Relative v. Parallel Keys

Relative : Major and minor scales that share the same exact pitches and therefore share the say key signature

The tonic of the relative minor scales is the 6th degree of the Major key

C Major and a minor

Parallel : Major and minor keys with different key signatures but with the same TONIC

A Major and a minor

Harmonic MinorHarmonic minor : 7th scale degree is raised by ascending and descending

Everything else is the same at the natural minor

Subtonic Leading Tone

Named because it is often used when harmonizing melodies

Melodic MinorMelodic minor : 6th and 7th scale degree is raised by ascending; Descending = natural minor scale

Ascending = Leading Tone; Descending = Subtonic

Named because it is often used in the melody line

More minor Info!Scalar Variance : the use of natural, harmonic, and melodic minor scales within one composition

Opens up our menu of choices, provides more options

Harmonic and Melodic forms of minor are Artificial Scales

The natural minor is the only Artificial minor scale

Performing ScalesEach step of the scale is a Scale Degree

Tonic : the beginning pitch of a scale; scale degree 1

You need to be able to refer to members of the scale by…

Scale degree Number

Scale degree Name

The Solfege syllable

Scale Degree NamesScale Degree Numbers have the ^ symbol on them. This helps

differentiate scale degrees from other numbers related to music.

Scale Degree 1 : Tonic = Do – the tonic on which a scale is built on

Scale Degree 2 : Supertonic = Re – the prefix “super” meaning above the tonic

Scale Degree 3 : Mediant = Mi – halfway between tonic and dominic

Scale Degree 4 : Subdominant = Fa – the prefix “sub” meaning lower than dominant

Scale Degree 5 : Dominant = So – refers to the pitch dominating the tonality; perfect fifth above tonic

Scale Degree 6 : Submediant = La – halfway between the subdominant and tonic

Scale Degree 7 : Leading Tone = Ti – leads upward towards resolution to the tonic

Major Scale

Minor ScaleIn the natural minor scale the 7thscale degree is a whole step below tonic; NOT A LEADING TONE

In the melodic minor scale, the 6th scale degree is called the Raised Submediant

This scale degree is called Subtonic, meaning below tonic

The Stability ChartCertain pitches in the scale sound stronger or more stable than others

Active Tones : scale degrees 4, 6, and 7The most active = leading tone. Most Musical Energy!

Resolution Tones : scale degrees 1 and 3These are the notes to which active tones move to [resolve]

The Stability ChartThe resolution is always a diatonic step away.

Diatonic : within the scale

Chromatic notes [accidentals/not in the key] are even less stable than any diatonic note.

Flat Down ; Sharp Up

Notice that the most active tones [4&7] resolve to the most stable tones [1&3]

WORKSHEET TIMEMinor scales and Major keys!

Other Scales!Pentatonic Scale

5 tone scale [+octave]

There are MANY different versions on the pentatonic scale

Most Common:What are the scale degrees? Which are missing? Importance??

Whole-Tone Scale7 tone scale

Each pitch is a whole step apart

This is an Artificial Scale because it has altered notes that do not represent an actual key

Not strict spelling rules; accidentals chosen for ease of comprehension

Other Scales!Diminished Scale [Octatonic]

Alternating whole and half step intervals

2 kinds : Whole Half ; Half Whole

Features four pairs of tritones [dim 5th or aug 4th]

Not strict spelling rules; accidentals chosen for ease of comprehension

Blues Scale7 tone scale, including the octave

“Jazzy” song style

Three lowered notes – referred to as “blue notes”

Review…Other Scales!Pentatonic Scale

1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 1

Whole Tone Scale

1, 2, 3, b5, b6, b7 –or – 1, 2, 3, #4, #5, #6

Diminished Scale

1, 2, b3, 4, b5, b6, 6, 7

Blues Scale

1, b3, 4, b5, 5, b7

Church ModesThe term mode is synonymous with scale

You already know two modes!!!Ionian = major scale

Aeolian = natural minor scale

Minor modes – Dorian, Aeolian & DorianDerived from the minor scale

Major modes – Lydian, Mixolydian & Ionian

Derived from the major scale

The Locrian mode does not fit into either of these categories, and it is not used as much

Major ModesInonian : Major scale

Mixolydian : Major + b7

Lydian : Major + #4

Minor ModesAeolian : Natural minor scale

Phrygian : Natural minor +b2

Dorian : Natural minor + #6

Church Modes

Locrian : Natural minor + b2, b5

Church ModesI Don’t Particularly Like Modes A Lot

Marine’s Mode Way

What Key Am I In?!Key Signature is just one factor. Look at the music!

Which note seems to be the center or main note?

Look for common occurring patterns

What are the accidentals telling you?

Look for key melodic patternsLeading Tone is a HUGE clue!

Know that music moves around keys, but usually likes to stay near home base

Why are there so many keys?

Imagine a world with only Vanilla Ice Cream… MADENSS! Only having one kind of scale or key in all music would be just as bland and boring. When looking at music, look beyond just the key signature! There are lots of different “flavors” out there!

Questions?!!??!?It’s review & worksheet time!