2. What are they, and how do they work? MAJOR SCALES SKYVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL Harriet Jarmon, PhD Sounds a little fishy to me!!!!!

3. What is a scale? A SCALE is a series or a group of 8 consecutive tones or pitches that are organized in a PATTERN. These patterns are organized in “whole steps” and “half steps” as seen below: WWH - WWWH This pattern will work for any scale on any key!

4. C Major Scale W W H W W W H DO RE MI FA SO LA TI DO C D E F G A B C Can you sing it?

5. Let’s kick it up a notch shall we……! Are you SHARP or are you..... FLAT ? Get “jiggy wid it”!!! Hmm, I don’t know about kickin’ it, how ‘bout a dip in the pool?

6. How low can you go??? Listen and watch an example: http://method-behind-the-music.com/keyboardpop.html W E FINALLY GET TO USE THE BLACK KEYS ! A half step in your major scale pattern (WWH-WWWH) that has a FLAT will be a signal to you that the sound or pitch of that note is going to sound slightly LOWER than its natural sound. B Catch a clue: going to the left makes the pitch lower!

7. F Major Scale W W H W W W H F G A Bb C D E F DO RE MI FA SO LA TI DO Bb Remember: flats lower the pitch down a ½ step

8. Lookin’ a little sharp! M OVIN ’ ON U P ! A half step in your major scale pattern (WWH-WWWH) that has a SHARP will be a signal to you that the sound or pitch of that note is going to sound slightly HIGHER than its natural sound. It’s tight but it right! # F Listen and watch an example: http://method-behind-the-music.com/keyboardpop.html

9. G Major Scale W W H W W W H F# G A B C D E F# G DO RE MI FA SO LA TI DO Remember: sharps raise the pitch Up a ½ step

10. Get hooked and learn!!! I think you’ve gotten the hang of it now. Scales can be a little confusing at first, but if you just “catch on” to the clues and remember the PATTERN, you’ll be fishin’ up tunes in no time! You’re hooked once you know your scales!