There are different types of scales but
there are basically three types which are:
·
Diatonic
scales
·
Pentatonic
scales
·
Chromatic
scales
The diatonic scale is divided into the
diatonic major and diatonic minor scales.
DIATONIC MAJOR
SCALE
A diatonic major scale
is a series of eight notes played in a progression starting from a tonic to the
upper tonic.In a diatonic major scale, the distance
between the 1st& 2nd note, 2nd& 3rd
note, 4th& 5th note, 5th& 6th
note, and 6th& 7th note is a tone, while the distance
between the 3rd& 4th note, and 7th& 8th
note is a semitone. Hence a diatonic major scale follows this pattern; TT ST TTT ST (i.e.Tone, Tone, semitone,
Tone, Tone, Tone, semitone). There are two ways to write a diatonic scale on
the stave:
* with key signature
*with accidentals
With a key
signature you establish the accidentals at the start of the stave. Without a
key signature you define each accidental as it is played.
The diatonic scales are
matched to their key signatures below.
The following steps are guidelines to
constructing a diatonic major scale:
a)
Draw
the stave
b)
Insert
the key signature if you’re using key signature. If not, go on to step three
c)
Construct
the notes in the stave
d)
Insert
the accidentals if you’re using accidentals. If not skip to step five
e)
Show
semi tones with a slur(semitones fall between every 3rd& 4th
and 7th& 8th notes)
f)
Close
the stave with a double bar line
DIATONIC MINOR
SCALE:
There are two types of diatonic minor scales; they are:
v
Diatonic
harmonic minor scale
v
Diatonic
melodic minor scale
The melodic minor scale
would be explained in the next grade.
In constructing the harmonic
minor scale, follow the following steps:
ü Draw the stave
ü Insert the clef
ü Look for the relative major of
that minor key (This is gotten by counting three semitones from that minor
key).
ü Insert the key signature of
that relative major (if you’re using key signature. If not, go on to the next
step).
ü Construct the notes in the
stave
ü Raise the 7th note
with a sharp sign. (note that this is compulsory otherwise it wouldn’t be
harmonic minor scale again)
ü Fix your slurs where
appropriate
ü Close the stave with a double
bar line
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