Every major scale features the exact same pattern of whole steps (W) and half steps (H): W-W-H-W-W-W-H .
What is the correct pattern of whole steps and half steps for the minor scale?
The pattern for the minor scale starts a half step plus a whole step lower than the major scale pattern , so a relative minor is always three half steps lower than its relative major. For example, C minor has the same key signature as E flat major, since E flat is a minor third higher than C.
What is the pattern of whole and half tones for a major scale?
A major scale is a diatonic scale. The sequence of intervals between the notes of a major scale is: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. ... Each tetrachord consists of two whole tones followed by a semitone (i.e. whole, whole, half).
What are the 3 major scales?
You should already know the scales of C, D, G and F major which are covered in Grade One Music Theory. In Grade Two ABRSM there are three new major scales which you need to know: A, Bb and Eb major .
What are the rules to the major scale?
2.2 The Major Scale
All major scales use the notes of the musical alphabet in order; no notes are skipped and no notes occur twice . In the example above, the first four notes are D – E – F – G , not D – E – G – G . In D – E – G – G , G erroneously occurs twice and the F between E and G is skipped.
What are half steps and whole steps?
A half-step above a key on the piano is the key to its immediate right, while a half-step below a key on the piano is the key to its immediate left. A whole-step is two half-steps . A whole-step above a key on the piano is two keys to its right, while a whole-step below a key on the piano is two keys to its left.
What is the difference between half-step and whole step?
On the piano keyboard,the distance between any two adjacent keys, white or black, is a HALF STEP. The HALF STEP is the smallest interval. ... The distance between any two pitches that are TWO half steps apart is called a WHOLE STEP. So the interval, or distance, between F and G is a whole step.
Which scale uses only half steps?
Any scale that only moves in half steps is a chromatic scale . When you play a chromatic scale on a piano keyboard, you play every white key and black key in order—all twelve tones. Composers and performers rarely use pure chromatic scales since they lack a tonal center.
What are the 7 major scales?
In this lesson, you’ll meet the major scale’s seven modes— Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian —and learn how you can use their distinctive sounds to create more interesting melodies and chords. A useful way to think of modes is as scales within a scale.
How do you identify a major scale?
- In this example, an A-Sharp is highlighted.
- One half-step up from A-Sharp is B.
- The key is B Major.
What is the major scale formula?
The formula for creating a major scale is “ whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.”
What is the pattern for the natural minor scale?
Natural minor scales follow the interval pattern of WHWWHWW , which translates into Whole step Half step Whole step Whole step Half step Whole step Whole step. ... A natural minor scale is taken from the major scale of the same name, but with the 3rd, 6th, and 7th degrees lowered by one half step.
What are the seven steps used to build a major scale?
Find a C, and use the following formula to play a C major scale: whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step . As you play the scale according to the whole steps and half steps, you’ll also be playing each scale degree from one to seven. Congratulations!
What major scale is flat on B?
B-flat major is a major scale based on B♭, with pitches B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, and A . Its key signature has two flats. Its relative minor is G minor and its parallel minor is B-flat minor. Many transposing instruments are pitched in B-flat major, including the clarinet, trumpet, tenor saxophone, and soprano saxophone.
What is diatonic half step?
A half-step is said to be diatonic when it consists of two notes that differ in letter name . For example, C and Db: ...or C# and D: ...are diatonic half-steps.
How many semitones is a half step?
According to the Harvard Dictionary of Music*, a half step (or semitone) is “one-half of a whole tone, the smallest interval in traditional Western music. ... The octave consists of twelve semitones and the diatonic scale includes two semitones.” (The major scale and the natural minor are diatonic scales.)
