Scale
an ordered collection of pitches in whole and half step patterns
Chromatic Scale
a symmetrical scale with all pitches spaced a half step apart
Major Scale
w-whole h-half
W W H W W W H
Key
a specific series of pitches based on a pattern of whole and half steps that define a tonality
Tonality
the principal of organizing a composition around that key note or tonic
Key Signature
written at the beginning of every staff shows which pitches are to be sharp or flat consistently throughout the piece and helps determind the key or tonal center (tonality)
Order of Sharps
F C G D A E B (fat chickens go dancing after eating burritos)
half step above the last sharp is generally the key
Order of Flats
B E A D G C F
next to last flat is generally the key
Natural Minor Scale
W H W W H W W (lowered 3, 6 and 7 scale degrees)
Relative (Natural) Minor
major and minor scales that have the same pitches and therefore the same key signature (C Major & A minor)
Harmonic Minor Scale
lowered 3 and 6 scale degrees
Melodic Minor Scale
on way up lower 3, on way down lower 3, 6, 7
Major Solfege
Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do
Natural Minor Solfege
Do Re Me Fa So Le Te Do
Harmonic Minor Solfege
Do Re Me Fa So Le Ti Do
Melodic Minor Solfege
Do Re Me Fa So La Ti Do
Subtonic
a whole step below tonic (root), 7th scale degree
Parallel
major and minor keys with different key signatures but with the same tonic are called parallel (A Major and A minor)
Scalar Variance
the use of natural, harmonic, and melodic minor within one composition
Artificial/Altered Scales
scales that vary from the key signature and require the use of additional accidentals to create the scale
Labels of Notes in Major Scale
Tonic, Supertonic, Mediant, Subdominant, Dominant, Submediant, Leading Tone, Tonic
Active Tones
scale degress 4, 6, and 7
Resolution Tones
scale degrees 1 and 3 because the active tones resolve to them
Diatonic
within the scale
Pentatonic Scale
have five tones, taking five consecutive pitches from the Circle of Fifths and rearranging the order so they fit within one octave (C-D-E-G-A-C)
Whole-Tone Scale
has seven tones including the octave-each pitch a whole step apart
Diminished Scale (Octatonic Scale)
this scale is distinguished by alternating whole-step with half-step intervals (9 notes including octave)
Blues Scale
7 note scale counting the octave, doesn't have a 2 or 6 scale degree and includes the flatted 5 (C-Eb-F-Gb-Bb-C)
Church (Diatonic) Modes
a scale with a different pattern of whole and half steps from major and minor (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian)
Ionian Mode
same as major scale (C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C)
Aeolian Mode
same as the natural minor scale (C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C)
Dorian Mode
natural minor with a raised 6 (C-D-Eb-F-G-A-Bb-C)
Phrygian Mode
natural minor with a lowered 2 (C-Db-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C)
Lydian Mode
major mode with raised 4 (C-D-E-F#-G-A-B-C)
Mixolydian Mode
major with a lowered 7 (C-D-E-F-G-A-Bb-C)
Locrian Mode
used less than other modes, has a diminished tonic triad, minor with a lowered 2 and 5 (C-Db-E-F-Gb-A-B-C)