Major Scales and Major Keys

Lesson 3

September 14th, 2020

Lesson 3

Lecture notes:
  • A major scale is made up of 8 pitches
  • Key signatures show which pitch has to be sharpened or flattened in a work
  • Key signatures must be written in order of fifths for sharps and fourths for flats.
  • The order of sharps in a key signature is F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B#.
  • The order of flats in a key signature is Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb, Fb.
  • Major scales are constructed using a pattern of "W, W, H, W, W, W, H" (W = whole, H = half)


This picture shows the circle of fifths.


This picture shows where the key signature is placed between the clef and the time signature.


This video shows you how to create a major scale using a pattern of whole steps and half steps.


This video shows the C major scale being played on the piano.

This is a short-scale exercise in B flat major.


This is a video of me playing the B flat major scale exercise at 90bpm.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Diatonic Sequences

Image
   Lesson 23 October 19th, 2021 Lesson 23 Lecture notes: A sequence is made when a musical idea is expressed , then repeated one or more times . Each repetition of the original idea is transposed up or down from the previous iteration by a consistent interval . A basic musical idea usually comes in either  half , full , or t wo measures . This is what ultimately becomes the sequence pattern when expressed in successive repetition . There are two main types of sequences in music which include the ascending sequences and the descending sequences . The ascending sequences include the ascending-fifth sequence and the parallel 6/3 chords sequence . The descending sequences include the descending-fifth sequence , the Pachelbel sequence , and the descending parallel 6/3 chords sequence . The various sequences follow a specific chord progression pattern . For example, the descending-fifth sequence progression would be I - IV - viio - iii - vi - ii - V - I . The Pachelbel
Read more

Dominant Sevenths

Image
  Lesson 17 March 22nd, 2021 Lesson 17 Lecture notes: The dominant seventh chord contains two tendency notes , including the leading tone and the chordal seventh . In a dominant seventh chord , the third degree of that chord is the leading tone for the tonic chord, which would resolve up to the tonic note ( 7 - 1 ). In a dominant seventh chord , the seventh degree , also known as the chordal seventh , is the tonic chord's fourth degree. This note would resolve down to the third degree of the tonic chord ( 4 - 3 ). The two predominant chords that lead to the dominant chord are the minor second and the perfect fourth . The basic phrase model would look like ( T - PD - D - T ) whenever used. Parallel fifths are easy to occur. An excellent way to avoid this is by omitting a note in either the dominant seventh chord or the tonic chord. The note that can be left out of either chord is the fifth-degree note .  Root position ( 7 ) and second inversion ( 4/3 ) dominant seve
Read more

Variations

Image
  Lesson 30 February 4th, 2022 Lesson 30 Lecture notes: There are multiple types of variations , inclusive of the continuous variation , sectional variation , figural variation , chromatic variation , textural variation , and timbral variation . The continuous variation is the continuous flow of a musical idea and a Fortspinnung phrase structure. This variation type was widely used in the Baroque era of music. Fortspinnung is the development process of a specific musical motif . First, the motif in question is developed into a complete musical using sequences , intervallic changes , and simple repetitions . There are two different types of continuous variations . Ground bass or passacaglia and chaconne . The ground bass / passacaglia  is when there is a repeating bass line , and only the upper voices change or vary . In the chaconne , the harmonic progression is repeated and varied while the bass remains the same for several successive variations , but it e
Read more