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 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

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 7 th 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 5 th – 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 3 rd 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 6 th 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 : 7 th 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 : 6 th and 7 th 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 S S S 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 7 th scale degree is a whole step below tonic; NOT A LEADING TONE In the melodic minor scale, the 6 th 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 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 Scale 7 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 5 th or aug 4 th ] 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

Major Modes Inonian : Major scale Mixolydian : Major + b7 Lydian : Major + #4 Minor Modes Aeolian : Natural minor scale Phrygian : Natural minor +b2 Dorian : Natural minor + #6 Church Modes 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!