index review. scales, key, and modes! chapter 3 scales! scales : an ordered collection of pitches in...
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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!