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There are KEYS on a keyboard. And there are KEYS that tell us what pitch DO is.
The reason for NOTATION was to make it easier to play and sing music.
The reason for NOTATION was to make it easier to play and sing music.
If the scale has too many sharps, or flats, the sheet is cluttered with symbols and reading it can be very confusing. The only scale that doesn’t normally require any accidentals is the key of C. Every other KEY requires sharps, or flats, to make the scale correct.
The solution for us is the KEY SIGNATURE. Placed at the start of each staff you can recognize which notes are to be considered changed. If there is one flat, we know that every B is now B flat. See three sharps and know every F, C, & G is now F#, C#, & G#.
The first note in the DIATONIC scale has several names:
the ONE
the TONIC
the FUNDAMENTAL
Do
Do can move!
Do can move!
When composers move Do, they are changing the KEY of the song.
When composers move Do, they are changing the KEY of the song.
This is called MODULATION.
This is called MODULATION.
If you start the scale on C you are in the KEY of C.
Start from F and you are in the KEY of F.
There are 12 places you could start.
There are 12 places you could start.
Talented writers can use key modulations very effectively to make the melodies and harmonies much more interesting. Listen to Leonard Bernstein’s song “Tonight” for a great example of modulating.
Diatonic Scales
Diatonic Scales
The DIATONIC scale must follow the step formula: Whole step, Whole step, Half step, Whole step, Whole step, Whole step, Half step. W, W, H, W, W, W, H.
You are most familiar with this scale as Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, LA, Ti, Do.
When you start this Diatonic scale on C, you don’t need to add any accidentals to make the steps correct. On the staff it is line, space, line, space, line, space, line, space.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti,
Here we see the 7 note Diatonic Scale start on middle C as 1.
Starting anywhere else will require notes to either be raised a half step, or lowered a half step to make the steps correct. Diatonic SCALES sound alike. They are relative because of their similar construction.
What makes a Diatonic (7 note) scale?
What makes a Diatonic (7 note) scale?
There are no black notes between B&C, E&F.
Do you think the distance between each successive pitch in a DIATONIC scale is the same?
They are not. You can easily recognize this when you look at a keyboard.
There are no black notes between B&C, E&F.
There are no black notes between B&C, E&F!
There are no black notes between B&C, E&F!
It bears repeating. It bears repeating. (Pardon me, that was a Phillip Glass joke.) In fact this reality deserves to be MEMORIZED by anyone wanting to understand music & notation.
Take a minute to MEMORIZE this now.
E&F, B&C are HALF STEPS
E&F, B&C are HALF STEPS
Do moves to E
Do moves to E
Starting on E we place notes upward moving line, space, etc. to begin a DIATONIC scale. However, the steps aren’t correct.
You need to add accidentals to make the intervals correct for our scale.
In this case, we need to raise the pitches, so we use sharp signs.
Putting 4 sharp signs on the lines & spaces indicating F#, C#, G#, &D# just after the Treble Clef Sign at the head of the measure is using a KEY SIGNATURE. This immediately creates less graphic s on the notated page making it easier to read.
Do moves to Eb
Do moves to Eb
Let’s make a DIATONIC scale beginning on Eb.
First, place your notes on a STAFF.
Put a Flat sign in front of E to make an Eb. Then follow the Whole Step, Whole Step, Half Step, Whole Step, Whole Step , Whole Step, Half Step formula putting the appropriate accidental where needed.
Use a KEY SIGNATURE to make it easier.
Putting FLAT signs on Bb, Eb, & Ab create the Key Signature of Eb. The Diatonic Scale beginning on Eb.
Circle of Fifths
Circle of Fifths
If you were to continue making DIATONIC scales you would eventually recognize the idea called the Circle of Fifths and the Circle of Fourths.
If you were to continue making DIATONIC scales you would eventually recognize the idea called the Circle of Fifths and the Circle of Fourths.
The key of C has no sharps, or flats. It’s the only key that doesn’t need an accidental to make the steps correct.
It’s usually presented graphically as a circle. Here it is in a linear way.
Starting with the KEY of C and then it’s Fifth, G, you can see how the sharps follow a pattern of Fifths.
Starting with the KEY of C and then it’s Fifth, G, you can see how the sharps follow a pattern of Fifths.
Every new sharp is the Fifth of the previous one.
Every new sharp is the Fifth of the previous one.
Circle of Fourths
Circle of Fourths
Starting with the KEY of C and then it’s Fourth, F, you can see how the flats follow a pattern of Fourths.
Starting with the KEY of C and then it’s Fourth, F, you can see how the flats follow a pattern of Fourths.
Every new flat is the Fourth of the previous one.
Every new flat is the Fourth of the previous one.
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