1. Chapter 4: Half and whole steps, major scales and the circle of fifths
Pathways to Harmony
Chapter 4: Half and whole steps, major scales and the circle of fifths
4.2 The Major Scale
G DeBenedetti

2. Some definitions
A key note is the most important note of a piece of music. Pieces almost always end on the key note.

3. Some definitions
A key note is the most important note of a piece of music. Pieces almost always end on the key note.
If eight notes of a piece are arranged in order without skipping lines or spaces and if the first note is the key note, then the notes form a scale.

4. Some definitions
A key note is the most important note of a piece of music. Pieces almost always end on the key note.
If eight notes of a piece are arranged in order without skipping lines or spaces and if the first note is the key note, then the notes form a scale.
A major scale is eight notes in ascending order which are separated from each other according to this pattern:

5. An example: the E-flat major scale
Scales are named after their first note, or key note.

6. An example: the E-flat major scale
Scales are named after their first note, or key note.
As you progress through the next slides:
LISTEN to the notes of an E-flat major scale
WATCH the above illustration as it moves from note to note
NOTICE the sequence
W W H W W W H
where W is whole step and H is half step

7. An example: the E-flat major scale
Scales are named after their first note, or key note.
As you progress through the next slides:
LISTEN to the notes of an E-flat major scale
WATCH the above illustration as it moves from note to note
NOTICE the sequence
W W H W W W H
where W is whole step and H is half step

8. An example: the E-flat major scale
Scales are named after their first note, or key note.
As you progress through the next slides:
LISTEN to the notes of an E-flat major scale
WATCH the above illustration as it moves from note to note
NOTICE the sequence
W W H W W W H
where W is whole step and H is half step

9. An example: the E-flat major scale
Scales are named after their first note, or key note.
As you progress through the next slides:
LISTEN to the notes of an E-flat major scale
WATCH the above illustration as it moves from note to note
NOTICE the sequence
W W H W W W H
where W is whole step and H is half step

10. An example: the E-flat major scale
Scales are named after their first note, or key note.
As you progress through the next slides:
LISTEN to the notes of an E-flat major scale
WATCH the above illustration as it moves from note to note
NOTICE the sequence
W W H W W W H
where W is whole step and H is half step

11. An example: the E-flat major scale
Scales are named after their first note, or key note.
As you progress through the next slides:
LISTEN to the notes of an E-flat major scale
WATCH the above illustration as it moves from note to note
NOTICE the sequence
W W H W W W H
where W is whole step and H is half step

12. An example: the E-flat major scale
Scales are named after their first note, or key note.
As you progress through the next slides:
LISTEN to the notes of an E-flat major scale
WATCH the above illustration as it moves from note to note
NOTICE the sequence
W W H W W W H
where W is whole step and H is half step

13. An example: the E-flat major scale
Scales are named after their first note, or key note.
As you progress through the next slides:
LISTEN to the notes of an E-flat major scale
WATCH the above illustration as it moves from note to note
NOTICE the sequence
W W H W W W H
where W is whole step and H is half step

14. An example: the E-flat major scale
Scales are named after their first note, or key note.
As you progress through the next slides:
LISTEN to the notes of an E-flat major scale
WATCH the above illustration as it moves from note to note
NOTICE the sequence
W W H W W W H
where W is whole step and H is half step

15. Here is an example of a scale used in "real" music, an intermezzo from Mascagni's opera, La Cavalleria Rusticana
CLICK on the icon of the speaker and
LISTEN for the scale at the end of the excerpt

16. Scales must be orderly
The notes of a scale must be orderly

17. Scales must be orderly The notes of a scale must be orderly
They must be in alphabetical order and

18. Scales must be orderly The notes of a scale must be orderly
They must be in alphabetical order and
They must alternate lines and spaces when written on a staff

19. Scales must be orderly The notes of a scale must be orderly
They must be in alphabetical order and
They must alternate lines and spaces when written on a staff
Therefore when writing a scale,

20. Scales must be orderly The notes of a scale must be orderly
They must be in alphabetical order and
They must alternate lines and spaces when written on a staff
Therefore when writing a scale,
FIRST write the notes alternating lines and spaces

21. Scales must be orderly The notes of a scale must be orderly
They must be in alphabetical order and
They must alternate lines and spaces when written on a staff
Therefore when writing a scale,
FIRST write the notes alternating lines and spaces
THEN add sharps or flats for the proper sequence of half and whole steps

22. In the scale taken from the above minuet, the next-to-the-last note must be an F-sharp, not a G-flat so that:

23. In the scale taken from the above minuet, the next-to-the-last note must be an F-sharp, not a G-flat so that:
The letter names continue alphabetically and

24. In the scale taken from the above minuet, the next-to-the-last note must be an F-sharp, not a G-flat so that:
The letter names continue alphabetically and
The notes alternate lines and spaces

25. In the scale taken from the above minuet, the next-to-the-last note must be an F-sharp, not a G-flat so that:
The letter names continue alphabetically and
The notes alternate lines and spaces
PLAY this phrase

26. Now it's your turn
DOWNDLOAD Chapter Four OR Expanded Chapter Four of Pathways to Harmony from this website
DO worksheets to 4.4 from Chapter Four OR worksheets 4Ex.6 and 4Ex.7 from Expanded Chapter Four