![]() In this case, the 7th note is called the subtonic. ![]() In contrast, the D natural minor scale has a whole tone (two half-tones / semitones, two notes on the piano keyboard) between the 7th and 8th notes, and the 7th note does not lean towards the 8th note in the same way. The D harmonic minor scale and D melodic minor scale scales share the same property - they both have only one half-tone / semitone between the 7th and 8th notes. It does this because in this scale, the 7th note is only 1 semitone away from the 8th note - the octave note. In the major scale, the 7th note is called the leading note or leading tone because the sound of the 7th note feels like it wants to resolve and finish at the octave note, when all scale notes are played in sequence. 1st note is always tonic, 2nd is supertonic etc.), but obviously the note names will be different for each scale / key combination. Scale degree names 1,2,3,4,5,6, and 8 below are always the same for all major and minor scales (ie. This step shows the D major scale degrees - tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, leading note / tone, and octave.In music theory, each note in this scale has what is called a scale degree name, which describes the relationship of that note to the tonic(1st) note. D major scale No.įor this major scale, all notes have a match, and so the Match? column shows the major scale note names. From the note E, we will take another whole step to F. Let’s build a D major scale starting on D. W represents a whole step, while H represents a half step. ![]() The 8th note - the octave note, will have the same name as the first note, the tonic note. Major scales are constructed with the formula W W H W W W H. If the natural white note can be found in the scale note, the scale note is written in the Match? column. Then list the 7 notes in the scale so far, shown in the next column.įor each of the 7 notes, look across and try to find the White note name in the Scale note name. To apply this rule, firstly list the white key names starting from the tonic, which are shown the White column below. a bass or treble clef), there is no possibility of having 2 G-type notes, for example, with one of the notes needing an accidental next to it on the staff (a sharp, flat or natural symbol). This is needed to ensure that when it comes to writing the scale notes on a musical staff (eg. The rule ensures that every position of a staff is used once and once only - whether that position be a note in a space, or a note on a line. The 7 unique notes in a scale need to be named such that each letter from A to G is used once only, so each note name is either a natural white name( A. This step tries to assign note names to the piano keys identified in the previous step, so that they can be written on a note staff in the Solution section. G is the subdominant of the D major scaleĬ# is the leading tone of the D major scale The stave diagrams above shows the scale notes without a key signature, with the sharp / flat adjustments inserted before each note on the staff.įor the key signature of this scale, showing these symbols grouped correctly next to the bass or treble clef symbol at the beginning, have a look at the D major key signature. On the bass clef, Middle C is shown with an orange ledger line above the main 5 staff lines. These note names are shown below on the treble clef followed by the bass clef. Middle C (midi note 60) is shown with an orange line under the 2nd note on the piano diagram. This major scale key is on the Circle of 5ths - D major on circle of 5ths, which means that it is a commonly used major scale key. It also shows the scale degree chart for all 8 notes. To become familiar with all possible key signatures, it is helpful to understand the circle of fifths.This step shows the ascending D major scale on the piano, treble clef and bass clef. The pattern of major scales moves upwards in a sequence called the circle of fifths. So a piece of music written in the key of F will have a B flat in the key signature. The seventh note is F, so a piece of music written in the key of G will have an F sharp in the key signature.Īn F major scale will need to use a flat in order to make the major scale pattern. So a piece of music written in the key of C, will not have any flats or sharps in the key signature.Ī G major scale will need the seventh note of the scale to be sharped, in order to make the pattern. Two tetrachords with a whole step between them, andĪ tetrachord is two whole steps and a half step.Ī C major scale will not need any flats or sharps to complete the pattern. Give your brain some time to absorb the logic. Most musicians learn these concepts over a span of years. The following sections present advanced concepts which are mathmatically complex. For example, a C scale begins on a C and creates the key of C. That is called 'playing one octave' of a major scale.Įach scale is named by the note it starts on. A musician can begin on any note to play a major scale by playing the pattern for a major scale up eight notes and back down to the original note.
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