SCALES- diatonic major and minor

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 1^st& 2^nd note, 2^nd& 3^rd note, 4^th& 5^th note, 5^th& 6^th note, and 6^th& 7^th note is a tone, while the distance between the 3^rd& 4^th note, and 7^th& 8^th 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 3^rd& 4^th and 7^th& 8^th 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 7^th 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