Lesson 6 - Major Scales I
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Terms:

scale
scale degree
tonic
major scale
major interval pattern

A scale represents the tonal material used in a musical composition. There are many different scale types which are distinguished by the number of tones they contain and by the pattern of intervals in which the tones are organized. Each of the successive tones in a scale is referred to as a scale degree. The first scale degree, called the tonic, is considered to be the most important of a scale's tones. A scale's name includes the letter-name of its tonic and a reference to its interval pattern and/or number of tones.

A major scale comprises a series of seven, intervals—five whole-steps and two diatonic half-steps—arranged in ascending order within an octave in the major interval pattern, WWHWWWH. On the keyboard, the major interval pattern is formed by the white keys from C to C, but it can be transposed to begin on any of fifteen tonics. Click the arrow keys in Example 6-1 to see the different major scales illustrated on the keyboard; note the location of the half-steps between the third and fourth and seventh and eight scale degrees.

Example 6-1



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