1.1 Scales, Key Signatures, and Intervals
3 min read•august 6, 2024
Scales, key signatures, and intervals form the foundation of tonal music. These elements work together to create the harmonic and melodic structures we hear in Western music. Understanding their relationships is crucial for analyzing and composing music effectively.
Major and minor scales, with their unique patterns of whole and half steps, define the tonal center of a piece. Key signatures, represented by sharps or flats, indicate which notes are consistently altered throughout a composition, simplifying notation and revealing the underlying scale.
Scales and Keys
Major and Minor Scales
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- consists of a specific pattern of whole steps and half steps (W-W-H-W-W-W-H) starting on the note
- has three variations: natural, harmonic, and melodic each with a unique pattern of whole steps and half steps
- follows the pattern (W-H-W-W-H-W-W) and is the relative minor of a major scale
- raises the 7th scale degree by a creating an augmented 2nd interval between the 6th and 7th scale degrees
- raises the 6th and 7th scale degrees ascending and reverts to the natural minor descending
Key Signatures and the Circle of Fifths
- indicates which notes in a scale are consistently or throughout a piece of music
- Major key signatures can be determined by the last sharp in the key signature which is the leading tone (7th scale degree) of the key (F# major)
- Minor key signatures can be determined by the last sharp in the key signature which is the 2nd scale degree of the key (D minor)
- organizes key signatures in a sequence of ascending perfect fifths or descending perfect fourths
- Moving clockwise in the circle of fifths, each key gains one additional sharp (C major to G major adds an F#)
- Moving counterclockwise in the circle of fifths, each key gains one additional flat (F major to B-flat major adds a B-flat)
Interval Basics
Perfect, Major, and Minor Intervals
- Interval refers to the distance between two notes measured in scale degrees and quality (perfect, major, minor, augmented, or diminished)
- Perfect intervals include unisons, fourths, fifths, and octaves and remain perfect when inverted ( inverts to )
- Major intervals include seconds, thirds, sixths, and sevenths and become minor when inverted (major third inverts to minor sixth)
- Minor intervals are a half step smaller than their major counterparts (minor second vs. major second) and become major when inverted
Interval Inversion and Compound Intervals
- occurs when the lower note is placed above the upper note or vice versa changing the quality and numerical value of the interval
- Inversion of an interval can be calculated by subtracting the interval number from 9 (perfect fifth (5) inverts to perfect fourth (9-5=4))
- Compound intervals are larger than an octave and can be reduced to their simple interval counterpart by subtracting 7 (minor 10th reduces to minor 3rd)
- of a melody or harmony can be analyzed to determine its musical qualities and tonal implications (minor 2nd vs. major 2nd in a melody)
Altered Intervals
Augmented and Diminished Intervals
- Augmented intervals are a half step larger than their major or perfect counterparts (augmented 4th vs. perfect 4th) and remain augmented when inverted
- Diminished intervals are a half step smaller than their minor or perfect counterparts (diminished 5th vs. perfect 5th) and remain diminished when inverted
- Augmented and diminished intervals are considered dissonant and create tension in tonal music often requiring resolution
- Augmented and diminished intervals can be enharmonically equivalent to other intervals (augmented 2nd is enharmonically equivalent to minor 3rd)
Interval Ear Training and Solfege
- Interval ear training involves identifying intervals by ear and singing intervals accurately using solfege syllables or scale degree numbers
- Solfege syllables (do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti) correspond to scale degrees (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) in a major scale and can be altered to represent intervals in other scales
- Singing intervals using solfege helps internalize the sound and feel of each interval in different contexts (major 3rd vs. minor 3rd in a melody)
- Interval dictation exercises require notating the intervals heard in a melody or harmony using accidentals and proper interval notation (M3, P5, d7)
Key Terms to Review (23)
Augmented interval: An augmented interval is a musical interval that is one half step larger than a perfect or major interval. It increases the distance between two notes, creating a sound that is often perceived as tense or dissonant. Augmented intervals can be found in various musical contexts, influencing harmony, melody, and the overall character of a piece.
Circle of Fifths: The circle of fifths is a visual representation of the relationships among the twelve tones of the chromatic scale, their corresponding key signatures, and the associated major and minor scales. This concept helps to understand how keys are related, as each key is a fifth apart from its neighbors, making it essential for recognizing patterns in chord progressions, modulation, and tonal relationships.
Compound interval: A compound interval is an interval that spans more than one octave, effectively extending the range of a simple interval beyond the octave. These intervals can be constructed by adding octaves to simple intervals, which are the basic building blocks of melody and harmony. Understanding compound intervals is essential for grasping the broader concepts of scales and key signatures, as they play a crucial role in the relationship between notes in various musical contexts.
Consonance: Consonance refers to a harmonious combination of sounds that creates a sense of stability and resolution in music. It is often associated with intervals and chords that are pleasing to the ear, contrasting with dissonance, which tends to create tension. Understanding consonance is essential for constructing triads, seventh chords, and in effective four-part writing, as well as in recognizing how motion within harmonies affects musical flow and coherence.
Diminished interval: A diminished interval is a musical interval that is one half step smaller than a minor interval. It occurs when a note is lowered by a semitone, resulting in a unique sound that often conveys tension or instability. Understanding diminished intervals is essential for recognizing their role in harmonic structures, scale construction, and their function in creating musical tension within compositions.
Dissonance: Dissonance refers to a combination of tones that creates a sense of tension or instability, often leading to a desire for resolution. It plays a crucial role in tonal music by adding complexity and emotional depth to harmony, which can be especially relevant in chord structures, melodic progressions, and the overall musical narrative.
Flat: In music, 'flat' refers to a note that is lowered by a half step (or semitone) from its natural pitch. This concept is crucial in understanding scales, key signatures, and intervals, as it allows for the alteration of notes to achieve different tonalities and harmonic colors. Flats are represented by the symbol '♭', and they help define the specific pitches that make up various musical structures.
Half Step: A half step, also known as a semitone, is the smallest interval used in Western music, representing the distance between two adjacent keys on a piano keyboard. This concept is crucial for understanding scales and key signatures, as it forms the building blocks of intervals and helps establish the relationships between notes within a musical context.
Harmonic minor scale: The harmonic minor scale is a seven-note scale that is derived from the natural minor scale but with a raised seventh degree. This unique alteration creates a distinctive sound, often associated with tension and resolution, making it especially useful in tonal music for creating harmonic progressions. The raised seventh gives the scale a leading tone that drives towards the tonic, enhancing its melodic and harmonic potential.
Interval Inversion: Interval inversion occurs when the lower note of an interval is raised an octave, while the upper note remains the same, or vice versa. This process fundamentally alters the perceived distance between the notes, changing how they function within a musical context. Understanding interval inversion is essential for grasping how intervals relate to scales and key signatures, as it can transform the harmonic and melodic implications of notes.
Intervallic Content: Intervallic content refers to the specific distances between pitches in a musical context, detailing how notes are spaced apart and the relationships they create. This concept is crucial for understanding scales, key signatures, and intervals as it directly influences harmony, melody, and the overall structure of music. By analyzing intervallic content, musicians can determine the characteristics of a scale or chord and how these elements function within a piece.
Key Signature: A key signature is a set of sharp or flat symbols placed at the beginning of a musical staff to indicate the key of the piece, defining which notes are to be played as sharp or flat throughout the music. It serves as a crucial reference for understanding the tonal center of a composition and plays a vital role in the organization of scales, harmonies, and modulations.
Major Interval: A major interval is the distance between two pitches that spans a specific number of half steps, typically defined as being either four or five half steps apart, depending on the context. This interval is a fundamental component in music theory, as it helps establish the sound and character of scales and chords. Major intervals play a critical role in constructing major scales, which form the basis for much of Western music.
Major scale: A major scale is a diatonic scale that consists of seven distinct notes, with a specific pattern of whole and half steps creating a bright and happy sound. This scale forms the foundation for Western music, influencing key signatures, melodies, and harmonies. The major scale is essential for understanding tonal relationships, as it establishes a home note or tonic, which is the starting point for chord progressions and modulations.
Melodic minor scale: The melodic minor scale is a musical scale that ascends with a raised sixth and seventh degree compared to the natural minor scale, and typically descends as a natural minor scale. This unique alteration allows for a smoother melodic line, making it particularly useful in both classical and jazz contexts. It helps to create tension and resolution in melodies while providing composers with greater flexibility in harmonic choices.
Minor interval: A minor interval is the distance between two pitches that is one half step smaller than a major interval. In Western music, minor intervals are essential for establishing the quality and mood of melodies and harmonies, contributing to the overall tonality of a piece. They play a key role in the construction of minor scales, which have a darker or more somber character compared to their major counterparts.
Minor scale: A minor scale is a seven-note musical scale that has a specific pattern of whole and half steps, producing a sound that is often described as sad or dark compared to its major counterpart. The natural minor scale consists of the following intervals: whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole. This structure creates a distinct tonality that influences key signatures and interval relationships in music.
Natural minor scale: The natural minor scale is a seven-note scale that is derived from the major scale by lowering the third, sixth, and seventh degrees. This scale creates a distinct sound characterized by its darker and more melancholic qualities compared to its major counterpart. Understanding the natural minor scale is essential as it connects to the concepts of scales, key signatures, and intervals, forming the foundation for many musical compositions.
Perfect Fifth: A perfect fifth is an interval between two notes that spans seven half steps, representing a harmonious and stable sound in music. It is one of the most fundamental intervals and serves as a building block for scales, chords, and harmonization. Recognized for its consonant quality, the perfect fifth plays a vital role in establishing the tonal center of a piece, connecting it to concepts such as key signatures, Roman numeral analysis, and triadic harmony.
Perfect Fourth: A perfect fourth is an interval that spans four diatonic scale degrees and is commonly found in Western music. It is characterized by its unique sound, which has a consonant quality, making it stable and pleasing to the ear. This interval plays a crucial role in constructing scales, defining key signatures, and forming harmonic structures.
Sharp: A sharp is a musical symbol that raises the pitch of a note by a half step, or semitone. This alteration is crucial for defining the relationships between notes in scales and helps establish the tonal center in key signatures. In this way, sharps play a significant role in creating musical harmony and can affect the overall sound of melodies and chords.
Tonic: The tonic is the first note of a scale and serves as the home base or focal point of a musical key. It provides stability and resolution, making it essential in establishing a sense of tonality, harmonic function, and progression within music.
Whole Step: A whole step is the distance between two pitches that are two half steps apart, creating a larger interval in music. This term is crucial for constructing scales, determining key signatures, and understanding intervals, as it lays the foundation for how we organize and perceive pitch in music theory. By understanding whole steps, musicians can build scales and recognize the relationships between notes within a musical context.