Intervals and Scales

Scales
Most melodies we will cover in this course are built around scales.   A scale starts with the note that names the key. This note is the tonal center of that key, the note where music in that key feels “at rest.” It is also called the tonic, and it’s the “do”  (pronounced “doh”) in the solfeggi system. Two types of scales  concern us in this course: major  and minor.  When we discuss whether a selection is major or minor, we use the term “mode.”  Example: “This selection is in the major mode.”

Intervals
Refer to the discussion under the topic: Melody above regarding conjunct and disjunct  melodies.  These terms are defined in terms of the intervals or how narrow or wide the distance is in frequency between the pitches. This also applies to scales  Whereas  Conjunct melodies would comprise narrow intervals  Disjunct melodies would have wide intervals scales have a series of intervals which give them their their specific character and sound.

 Major and minor modes
The arrangement of half and whole steps govern whether a scale  will sound major or minor. (If you had access to a piano keyboard and had more “keys” on it, you could construct a major or minor mode on any note, if you know the arrangement of steps shown  below.  Otherwise use the virtual keyboard below.

Virtual keyboard
Click the  following link is to a  virtual piano keyboard:  (open in a new window) It can  demonstrate  major and minor scales.  Note the arrangements of whole and half steps on the keyboard. This is what enables a scale to sound major or minor.
Chromatic scale:  First  play the chromatic scale. .  This scale involves only half steps – having  12 pitchs. simply go up each successive black and white key. You will be performing the chromatic scale. Although you can can play any note with your cursor. you can also play the tab key and the succeeding row of  keys on your  keyboard  Click on:  Tab,q,w,e,r…etc.  You will be playing all the white keys of the piano or a C major scale. Press other keys on your computer keyboard for chords etc.

Major Scale: Begin  on middle C. Play each successive white key and  play 8 successive notes.  Count the intervals (including black notes) on the keyboard using this formula: Two whole steps  plus  one  half step plus three whole steps plus one  half step  Follow this formula on any note and you will be playing a major scale…

Minor scale: Here is an easy way to play the  minor scale beginning  on A. Count down three white keys from middle   “C” to  the note:  “A”.   Starting  on “A”  play eight successive notes  using only the white keys   Note the more somber sounding minor mode. 

Compose a melody yourself!  Follow these rules.  Begin and end your melody on “C,” .  This melody would be in  the major mode. Be sure to begin and end on “C”   for major and the “A” for minor.  As a bonus, you should get a feel of the tonal center (tonality)

Create a major or minor scale  on other notes using the formulas above. See arrangement of steps under the topic:

What are your feelings  regarding the difference between and major and minor scales?  A student offered this  insight  regarding Major and minor modes. It might be helpful:

“Major mode has a carefree and happy feel to it. Minor mode sounds as if the music is strained and not quite complete, almost like it needs to change in order for it to feel right. Think of a Bugs Bunny cartoon. Major mode is Bugs Bunny happy and jumping along, minor comes along when the weather begins to snow, and he’s down on his luck looking for food. This might sound odd, but a lot of cartoons are set to the very music in this class, and if you can visualize some of them, you might be able to relate the different modes.”

Listen to the following selections and hear the difference between Major and Minor modes:

The major scale often sounds happy. The following is an example of a composition based on a major scale. The  fast tempo and also contributes. to the happy mood of this selection.

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Minor sounds sad. Here’s an example of a composition based on a minor scale. The slower tempo contributes toward the somber mood. However it is the scale (arrangement of whole  and half steps) that  defines the mode.

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The two following selections are  fugues  played on piano by Handel.
The Grand Fugue #1 is in minor mode and the fugue in F is in the  major mode.
Can you hear the difference?

A Power Point file available  in the Harmony topic  provides some reference to intervals and  scales.  (Same Pp[  also available  under Melody.)