AP Music Theory Mr. Silvagni Scales AP Music Theory Mr. Silvagni

What are Scales? In music theory, a scale is any set of musical notes ordered by fundamental frequency or pitch. A scale ordered by increasing pitch is an ascending scale, and a scale ordered by decreasing pitch is a descending scale. Some scales contain different pitches when ascending than when descending.

Names of Scale Tones 1 – tonic 2 – supertonic 3 – mediant 4 – subdominant 5 – dominant 6 – submediant 7 – leading tone b7 – subtonic

Major Scales Major scales follow this step pattern: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half Half step = 1 note away Whole step = 2 notes away C Major Scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C Each note has its own major scale

Key Signatures Located after the clef but before the time signature Displays what notes will always be flat or sharp Cannot mix flats and sharps in a key signature Relate to what key the music is in (major or minor mostly)

Circle of Fifths

Minor Scales Shown on Circle of Fifths Relative Minor – same key signature as major but start on the submediant Parallel Minor – same starting note but either lower the mediant, submediant, and leading tone or move three to the left on the circle of fifths

Minor scale alterations Natural Minor – normal minor scale Harmonic Minor – raise the subtonic to the leading tone Melodic Minor – raise the submediant and subtonic when ascending scale…revert back to natural minor when descending

Modes Ionian Mode – major Dorian Mode – use supertonic of relative major or lower mediant and leading tone from parallel major Phrygian Mode - use mediant of relative major or lower supertonic, mediant, submediant, and leading tone from parallel major Lydian Mode - use subdominant of relative major or raise subdominant from parallel major

Modes Mixolydian Mode - use dominant of relative major or lower leading tone from parallel major Aeolian Mode – minor Locrian Mode - use leading tone of relative major or lower supertonic, mediant, dominant, submediant, and leading tone from parallel major

Other AP Theory Scales Chromatic Scale – all half steps…every note on a piano Whole Tone Scale – all whole steps…only two forms of this scale exist Major Pentatonic Scale – tonic, supertonic, mediant, dominant, and submediant tones of the major scale…5 notes

Other AP Theory Scales Blues Scale – tonic, lowered mediant, subdominant, raised subdominant, dominant, and subtonic from parallel major…6 notes Octatonic Scale – alternating series of whole steps and half steps…only three forms of this scale…8 notes