Download Scales, Key, and Modes!

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 Scale
Chromatic 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 Pattern
Major Scale : an asymmetrical scale
pattern of whole and half steps.
ALL major scales share this same pattern
WWHWWWH
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 Signatures
Key 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 Staff
Sharps: Down first-then Up
Flats: Up first-then Down
ACCIDENTALS NEVER ON LEDGER LINES [key signature]
Identifying the Key from the
Key Signature
Sharps: 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 TIME
Major scales and Major keys!
The Minor Scale Pattern
Natural 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 Minor
Harmonic 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 Minor
Melodic 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 Scales
Each 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 Names
Scale 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 Scale
In 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 Chart
Certain pitches in the scale sound stronger or more stable than
others
Active Tones : scale degrees 4, 6, and 7
The most active = leading tone. Most Musical Energy!
Resolution Tones : scale degrees 1 and 3
These are the notes to which active tones move to [resolve]
The Stability Chart
The 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 TIME
Minor scales and Major keys!
Other Scales!
Pentatonic Scale
Whole-Tone Scale
5 tone scale [+octave]
7 tone scale
There are MANY different versions
on the pentatonic scale
Each pitch is a whole step apart
Most Common:
What are the scale degrees? Which
are missing? Importance??
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 Scale
7 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 Modes
The term mode is synonymous with scale
You already know two modes!!!
Ionian = major scale
Aeolian = natural minor scale
Minor modes – Dorian, Aeolian & Dorian
Derived 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
Church Modes
Major Modes
Minor Modes
Inonian : Major scale
Aeolian : Natural minor scale
Mixolydian : Major + b7
Phrygian : Natural minor +b2
Lydian : Major + #4
Dorian : Natural minor + #6
Locrian : Natural minor + b2, b5
Church Modes
I 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 patterns
Leading 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! 