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\n…in ascending or descending order produces a scale — the C major scale.<\/p>\n
Our focus is on the basic things you need to know about omission and repetition as regards scale formation.<\/p>\n
Scales are very important in music for a variety of reasons; the most common being that they govern the formation of intervals and chords, etc. Heck, even chord progressions are influenced by scales.<\/p>\n
Due to the importance of scales in music theory (and practice), we’ll be investing the next 7 to 10 minutes of this lesson into learning how omission and repetition can affect the spelling of a scale.<\/p>\n
But before we get started, let’s refresh our minds on traditional scales.<\/p>\n
A scale is a melodic progression of notes in ascending or descending order, based on a fixed formula. Playing all the notes in the key of C major:
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\n…in ascending or descending order produces a scale — the C major scale.<\/p>\n
In European art music (aka – “classical music”), there are long-established scales that have been associated with intervals, chords, and progressions for over 400 years and they are generally referred to as traditional scales.<\/p>\n
“Let’s Consider Them…”<\/em><\/p>\n The natural major scale can be formed by playing all the white notes on the keyboard from C to C: “Check Out Other Natural Major Scales…”<\/em><\/p>\n Db natural major scale: The natural minor scale can be formed by playing all the white notes on the keyboard from A to A: “Check Out Other Natural Minor Scales…”<\/em> Raising the seventh tone of the natural minor scale by a half-step produces the harmonic minor scale. For example, the A natural minor scale: “Check Out Other Harmonic Minor Scales…”<\/em><\/p>\n Bb harmonic minor scale: Lowering the third tone of the natural major scale by a half-step produces the melodic minor scale. For example, the C natural major scale: “Check Out Other Melodic Minor Scales…”<\/em><\/p>\n C# melodic minor scale: Musical notes can be represented using the first seven letters of the alphabet:<\/p>\n \u00a0A B C D E F G<\/p><\/blockquote>\n …and pitch modifiers (sharp and flat symbols):<\/p>\n # b<\/p><\/blockquote>\n It is important to know that in the formation of scale, the letters and pitch modifiers are used\u00a0in alphabetic order\u00a0<\/strong>without\u00a0omission\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0repetition.<\/strong> This means that after every A-note is a B-note; after every B-note is a C-note and so on and so forth.<\/p>\n This produces two guidelines:<\/p>\nThe Natural Major Scale<\/h3>\n
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\nThe natural major scale can be played starting from other notes too.<\/p>\n
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\nD natural major scale:
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\nEb natural major scale:
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\nE natural major scale:
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\nF natural major scale:
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\nGb natural major scale:
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\nG natural major scale:
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\nAb natural major scale:
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\nA natural major scale:
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\nBb natural major scale:
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\nB natural major scale:
\n<\/p>\n
The Natural Minor Scale<\/h3>\n
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\nThe natural minor scale can be played starting from other notes too.<\/p>\n
\nBb natural minor scale:
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\nB natural minor scale:
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\nC natural minor scale:
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\nC# natural minor scale:
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\nD natural minor scale:
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\nEb natural minor scale:
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\nE natural minor scale:
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\nF natural minor scale:
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\nF# natural minor scale:
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\nG natural minor scale:
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\nG# natural minor scale:
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The Harmonic Minor Scale<\/h3>\n
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\n…can be used in the formation of the A harmonic minor scale. Raising the seventh tone (which is G):
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\n…by a half-step (to G#):
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\n…produces the A harmonic minor scale:
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\nThe harmonic minor scale can be played starting from other notes too.<\/p>\n
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\nB harmonic minor scale:
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\nC harmonic minor scale:
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\nC# harmonic minor scale:
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\nD harmonic minor scale:
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\nEb harmonic minor scale:
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\nE harmonic minor scale:
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\nF harmonic minor scale:
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\nF# harmonic minor scale:
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\nG harmonic minor scale:
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\nAb harmonic minor scale:
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The Melodic Minor Scale<\/h3>\n
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\n…can be used in the formation of the C melodic minor scale. lowering the third tone (which is E):
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\n…by a half-step (to Eb):
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\n…produces the C melodic minor scale:
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\nThe melodic minor scale can be played starting from other notes too.<\/p>\n
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\nD melodic minor scale:
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\nEb melodic minor scale:
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\nE melodic minor scale:
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\nF melodic minor scale:
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\nF# melodic minor scale:
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\nG melodic minor scale:
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\nAb melodic minor scale:
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\nA melodic minor scale:
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\nBb melodic minor scale:
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\nB melodic minor scale:
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\nC melodic minor scale:
\n<\/p>\n
Beware Of Omission And Repetition In Scale Formation<\/h2>\n