So like, do we need to weigh our notes and we need a major scale for that?
In this tutorial, we are going to take a look at major scales. So, let's have some fun.
2. Major scales in detail
A musical scale is an ordered set of pitches that are found in the same octave. An octave is the frequency interval between two notes with the same fundamental pitch of which one has double the frequency of the other.
Major scales contain 7 different notes. Each major scale begins on a note called the root note (or tonic) and ends on the same note, but an octave higher.
However, in order to have a proper major scale, notes need to be located at certain tonal distances between one another.
Let's take the C major scale as an example. The notes are C, D, E, F, G, A, B and C, which we end the scale on. Based on this, we can identify that major scales have the following tonal distance formula:
What that means is that the distance between the first note and the second note is one tone, the difference between the second note and third note is one tone and so on. Note that some of you may know these tonal distances as steps and half-steps.
You can apply this formula on any possible note and obtain a new major scale. Of course, the key signature of the scale will change. For that, you can use the circle of 5ths, which we already discussed in another tutorial.
Let's check out the C major scale now:
You can listen to it here.
That about covers it for this one. Next time, we're going to talk about natural minor scales and how they relate to major scales. See you then.
- Topics of discussion
- Major scales in detail
In this tutorial, we are going to take a look at major scales. So, let's have some fun.
2. Major scales in detail
A musical scale is an ordered set of pitches that are found in the same octave. An octave is the frequency interval between two notes with the same fundamental pitch of which one has double the frequency of the other.
Major scales contain 7 different notes. Each major scale begins on a note called the root note (or tonic) and ends on the same note, but an octave higher.
However, in order to have a proper major scale, notes need to be located at certain tonal distances between one another.
Let's take the C major scale as an example. The notes are C, D, E, F, G, A, B and C, which we end the scale on. Based on this, we can identify that major scales have the following tonal distance formula:
Tone Tone Semitone Tone Tone Tone Semitone
What that means is that the distance between the first note and the second note is one tone, the difference between the second note and third note is one tone and so on. Note that some of you may know these tonal distances as steps and half-steps.
You can apply this formula on any possible note and obtain a new major scale. Of course, the key signature of the scale will change. For that, you can use the circle of 5ths, which we already discussed in another tutorial.
Let's check out the C major scale now:
You can listen to it here.
That about covers it for this one. Next time, we're going to talk about natural minor scales and how they relate to major scales. See you then.
