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

2. 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.

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

4. 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

5. 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)

6. Circle of Fifths

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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