Download Minor Scales

Scales & Intervals
Theory I
9th grade
Ms. Wasko
What is a scale?
 The arrangement of notes in an
ascending and descending order
 All twelve pitches within an octave make
up the chromatic scale.
 Two main scales played are major and
minor.
 Each consist of eight notes, each scale note
numbered 1-8.
Major scales
 Played in a manner of
whole and half steps:
 Two whole steps, a half
step, three whole steps
and another half step
make up a major scale.
 Key signatures change
when scale begins on
different notes, keeping
within the step rule
stated above.
Minor Scales
 Every major scale has a relative minor.
 Relative minor means it shares the same key
signature as the major.
 There are three types of minor scales:
 Natural minor – contains only the key signature from
relative major. No pitches are altered.
 Harmonic Minor – the same as the natural minor
scale, only the seventh scale degree is raised in
ascending and descending.
 Melodic Minor – a natural minor scale with the sixth
and seventh degrees raised ascending, and lowered
back to natural minor on descending.
Natural Minor Scale
 The natural minor scale
is found by going to the
relative major’s sixth
scale degree. That is the
tonic of the natural minor
scale.
 The tonic is the first note
of the scale.
 In this case, C is the sixth
scale degree of Eb major,
so C is the tonic of the
relative minor, keeping the
Eb major key signature.
Harmonic Minor Scale
 Harmonic minor scale is
the same as the natural
minor, only the seventh
scale degree is raised.
 In this case, the B is made
into B natural.
 Remember that the
seventh is raised in
ascending as well as
descending!
Melodic Minor Scale
 The scale is the same as
the natural minor, but
with two differences:
 The sixth and seventh
scale degrees are raised
in ascending.
 The raised sixth and
seventh degrees are
lowered back to natural
minor on descending.
Audio Examples of Scales
Click to play
Major Scale
Click to play
Harmonic Minor Scale
Click to play
Natural Minor Scale
Click to play
Melodic Minor Scale
Intervals
 There are two types of intervals:
 A diatonic interval
 A chromatic interval
 These can be simple intervals (happening within
one octave of a scale), or compound intervals
(happening outside of one octave of a scale).
Terms for Intervals
 Five qualifying terms for intervals, and their
abbreviations:
 Major (M) – whole steps between notes.
 Minor (m) – half steps between notes.
 Both of these are applied to the following scale degrees: 2nds, 3rds,
6ths and 7ths.
 Perfect (P) – always a major interval.
 This applies only to 4ths, 5ths, and octaves.
 Augmented (+) – adding a half step to a major interval to raise
it.
 Diminished (o) – taking away a half step of a major interval to
lower it.
 These last two can apply to any scale degree, but least commonly
with the perfect intervals.
Diatonic Intervals
 These are intervals found within the key
signature given.
 In C major, the only intervals can be built
using any two of these pitches: C, D, E, F, G,
A and B.
Chromatic Intervals
 These intervals do not stick with the key
signature. They use flats or sharps to
alter the interval chromatically.
 In the key of C, any pitch can work as a
chromatic interval. So you can have an
interval between C and F#, and that is
considered a chromatic interval!
Sounds of Intervals
 Intervals can be classified by how they
sound: consonance and dissonance.
 Consonance refers to an interval sounding
without any tension when you hear it.
 Dissonance refers to the interval sounding
with tension when you hear it.
Reference Slide
 Turek, Ralph. The Elements of Music,
Concepts and Applications, Volume One.
New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1996.
 Music Theory. Posting Dates unknown.
Music Notes on Thinkquest. Accessed 25
November, 2006.
<library.thinkquest.org/15413/theory/inter
vals.htm>