Scales - Construction
A scale is a series of notes with various combinations of half steps, whole steps, or other intervals. There are many possible combinations of notes which can create many different types of scales. Undoubtedly the most common scale in "classical music" is the major scale. The most familiar of all is the C major scale which begins on C and uses only the white keys on the piano as it progresses up and down the musical alphabet.
If we look closely at this scale we discover the following: 1) the pitches move up (or down) the alphabet consecutively and 2) the scale consists of whole steps, except between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth notes of the scale.
As it turns out, if we replicate this pattern beginning on a different note, we will end up with a major scale. In fact, any note can serve as the home key note or tonic. Let's try beginning on the note G and creating a series of whole steps and half steps where the half steps fall between 3-4 and 7-8. First we find the note that is a whole step above G:
Now we need to go up another whole step from A:
Then, since B is the 3rd scale degree, we only go up a half step to reach the fourth note:
Now another whole step:
Another whole step:
Another whole step:
And finally, a half step to take us from the 7th scale degree up to our tonic note (8):
If you have a piano nearby, try playing these pitches - they'll sound just like a major scale!
Guess what - time to practice this on Javamusic! I encourage you to go to the options menu and first choose "No accidentals on tonic". Master these before you add more starting notes!