Musical Chord
An application for you to study music.
Tools for musicians, exercises on music theory, ear training, and direct-to-the-point theoretical content. Designed for singers, guitarists, keyboard players, bassists, drummers, and general musicians from beginners to advanced levels.
Scales
A musical scale is a sequence of musical notes in ascending or descending order. Each scale is defined by a specific pattern of intervals (distances between notes). The starting note of the scale is called the tonic, and it is from this note that the intervals are measured. There are various musical scales, each with its own characteristics and uses. The important thing is not to know all the possible scales, but rather the types that are most used in music. The most common ones are:
Natural Scale
The natural scale is a sequence of notes that follows the natural pattern of sounds produced, without alterations of sharps or flats. It is the basis of diatonic scales and is commonly referred to as the C major scale when using Western note nomenclature.
Characteristics
- Composed of seven notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, B.
- Does not have sharps (#) or flats (b).
Chromatic Scale
The chromatic scale is composed of twelve notes, each separated by a semitone. It includes all possible notes within an octave, covering all natural notes and their altered variations (sharps and flats).
| Flat | Natural | Sharp | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | ||
| 2 | Db | C# | |
| 3 | D | ||
| 4 | Eb | D# | |
| 5 | E | ||
| 6 | F | ||
| 7 | Gb | F# | |
| 8 | G | ||
| 9 | Ab | G# | |
| 10 | A | ||
| 11 | Bb | A# | |
| 12 | B | ||
| 1 | C |
Characteristics
- Composed of twelve notes: C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B.
- Each note is separated by a semitone.
- No specific tonic or dominant note, as all notes are equally spaced.
Diatonic Scale
The diatonic scale is composed of seven notes with a specific sequence of tones and semitones. There are various diatonic scales, with the most common being the major and minor scales. The diatonic scale is the basis of many Western musical traditions.
Characteristics
- Composed of seven notes.
- Specific sequence of intervals of tones and semitones: (T-T-S-T-T-T-S for major and T-S-T-T-S-T-T for minor).
- Includes two main forms: major and minor.
Major Scale
The major scale is one of the most important forms of the diatonic scale. It is characterized by a bright and cheerful sound and is the basis of much Western music.
| Degree | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | C |
| 2 | D |
| 3 | E |
| 4 | F |
| 5 | G |
| 6 | A |
| 7 | B |
| 8 | C |
Characteristics
- Composed of seven notes: Tonic, Supertonic, Mediant, Subdominant, Dominant, Submediant, and Leading Tone.
- Pattern of intervals: Tone, Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone, Tone, Semitone.
- Example: C major scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C.
Minor Scale
The minor scale, in contrast to the major, has a darker and more melancholic sound. There are three main types of minor scales: natural, harmonic, and melodic.
| Degree | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | C |
| 2 | D |
| 3 | Eb |
| 4 | F |
| 5 | G |
| 6 | Ab |
| 7 | Bb |
| 8 | C |
Characteristics
- Composed of seven notes, with variations in intervals depending on the type.
- Natural minor scale: Tonic, Supertonic, Mediant minor, Subdominant, Dominant, Submediant minor, Subtonic.
- Interval pattern of the natural minor: Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone.
- Example: C minor scale: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C.
The harmonic and melodic minor scales are variations of the natural minor scale that add specific nuances, providing a harmonic and melodic richness that is widely explored in Western music. Let's detail each one of them and explore their characteristics and applications.
Harmonic Minor Scale
The harmonic minor scale is an adaptation of the natural minor scale. The seventh note is raised by a half step, creating an interval of a tone and a half (or three semitones) between the sixth and seventh notes. This alteration creates a stronger sense of resolution when returning to the tonic.
| Degree | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | C |
| 2 | D |
| 3 | Eb |
| 4 | F |
| 5 | G |
| 6 | Ab |
| 7 | B |
| 8 | C |
Characteristics
- Composed of seven notes.
- Pattern of intervals: Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone, Semitone, Tone and a Half, Semitone.
- Example: C harmonic minor scale: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, B, C.
Melodic Minor Scale
The melodic minor scale is an adaptation of the natural minor, providing a smoother and less dissonant melodic line. The sixth and seventh notes are raised by a half step when ascending, but return to the natural minor pattern when descending.
Ascending
| Degree | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | C |
| 2 | D |
| 3 | Eb |
| 4 | F |
| 5 | G |
| 6 | A |
| 7 | B |
| 8 | C |
Descending
| Degree | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | C |
| 2 | Bb |
| 3 | Ab |
| 4 | G |
| 5 | F |
| 6 | Eb |
| 7 | D |
| 8 | C |
Characteristics
- Ascending: Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone, Tone, Tone, Semitone.
- Descending: Follows the natural minor pattern: Tone, Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone, Semitone, Tone.
- Ascending Example: C melodic minor scale: C, D, Eb, F, G, A, B, C.
- Descending Example: C melodic minor scale: C, Bb, Ab, G, F, Eb, D, C.
Scales
Musical scales are one of the pillars of music theory, providing a structural framework for the creation and understanding of music. From the familiar major scale to the Greek modes and the exotic whole-tone scales, each brings its own color and emotion to the musician's palette. Understanding and mastering scales is essential for any musician who wishes to deepen their knowledge and skill in the art of music.
There are numerous musical scales such as the pentatonic, blues, penta blues, hexatonic, whole-tone, diminished, dominant-diminished, and many others. Each of these scales has unique characteristics and specific applications in music. However, to avoid extending the subject too much, we will write specific materials for each of them. This way, we can explore in-depth the particularities and uses of each scale, providing a more detailed understanding