Scales

WHAT ARE PIANO SCALES?

According to Wikipedia, “a scale is any set of musical notes ordered by fundamental frequency or pitch.”

Here’s a simpler definition that I like:

“A series of notes arranged in an order according to specific rules.”

The fundamental scales every piano player should know are the major and minor scales. 

Pianists who want to play rock, blues, pop, and jazz should also learn the pentatonic and blues scales. 

Finally, jazz uses even more scales, such as modes, bebop scales, and whole tone scales.

Why is practicing piano scales important?

Piano scales are often associated with technique. 

And while it’s true that practicing your scales will help you play faster and more smoothly, scales are important for understanding theory, too. 

Practicing scales helps us understand concepts like key signature (how many sharps and flats there are in a key).

How are scales used? What’s the practical application of knowing your scales?

Piano scales also help piano players improvise! 

For example, you can use any note from the C major scale to improvise on top of a chord progression in C major. 

Blues and pentatonic scales are also popular tools to improvise with.

We must also understand that scales and chords are closely related. 

Every scale has a strong relationship with a chord. Scales and chords “imply” each other. 

For example, C Mixolydian and C7 share many similarities. 

So, knowing what scale is related to what chord will help you improvise over that chord.

The most fundamental piano scales are major and minor scales, which are seven-note scales with distinct patterns of whole and half steps. 

These scales can be used in various musical styles and can be learned at different levels of piano proficiency. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

1. Major Scales:

• Definition: Seven-note scales with a specific pattern of whole and half steps (W-W-H-W-W-W-H), where W stands for whole step and H stands for half step. 

• Sound: Generally perceived as happy or bright in sound. 

2. Minor Scales:

• Definition: Seven-note scales with a pattern of whole and half steps that differs from major scales (W-H-W-W-H-W-W). 

• Types: Natural Minor, Harmonic Minor, and Melodic Minor. 

• Sound: Often associated with sad or somber emotions. 

3. Pentatonic Scales: 

Five-note scales, often used in folk and blues music.

4. Blues Scales: 

Six-note scales with distinctive "blue notes," commonly used in blues and jazz. 

5. Chromatic Scales: 

Twelve-note scales with consecutive half steps, often used to create a sense of tension or dissonance. 

6. Modes: 

Variations of the major scale that start on different notes, creating unique melodic and harmonic sounds. 

7. Whole Tone Scales: 

Six-note scales with all whole steps, creating a unique, exotic sound.