Musical scales
A scale is a set of eight notes going from one note to the same note an octave higher.
Major scales
All major scales use the same pattern of steps:
Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half
Notes in a major scale are named by scale degree:
- Tonic
- Supertonic
- Mediant
- Subdominant
- Dominant
- Submediant
- Leading tone
- Tonic
Minor scales
There are three minor forms:
Natural minor
Pattern: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole
Harmonic minor
Same as natural minor but with a raised seventh.
Melodic minor
- Ascending: raised sixth and seventh.
- Descending: natural minor form.
Chromatic scale
A chromatic scale uses every semitone in the octave.
Modes
Modes start on different notes of a major scale:
- Ionian – major scale
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Aeolian – natural minor
- Locrian
Sources
- The Complete Idiot's Guide To Music Theory by Michael Miller
- Music Theory For Dummies by Michael Pilhofer and Holly Day