MUSIC THEORY(KEYBOARD FUNDAMENTALS II)

Why is it important to study Scales?

It is important to study scales because they make up chords.
Thus, you need to know scales in order to form chords.
For example, to form a major or minor chord, you take the
first (1), third (3), and (5) degrees of a scale and play them
simultaneously (together at once).
Now… if you don’t know what’s the first, third, and fifth
notes of a major scale are, how can you form a major
chord? YOU MUST KNOW YOUR SCALES!
In this study, we will use another method to study scales.
Since you’ve learned half step and whole step relationships,
this should be a breeze!

MAJOR SCALE: A good way to define a scale is to list
the following characteristics:
-A scale is an organized series of pitches (8 notes)
-A scale consists of a series of notes that differ in sound
(you’ll never play the same note twice)
-A scale is linked to the concept of “keys” in that a song
which utilizes a given scale is said to be in that key (for
example… “Mary had a little lamb in C major).
REMEMBER…
Whole steps: Always skip a key
Half steps: From key to key
To form a major scale, you must follow the steps below:
W – W – H – W – W – W – H
W = whole step * H = half step
(You don’t want to forget the property above. Write it
down…memorize it! It is very important in learning to play
all 12 major scales)

The C major scale is the easiest! It’s simply all the white
keys from C to C

 C Major
Let’s examined our secret property as related to the C
major scale
W – W – H – W – W – W – H
Starting at C, from C to D is a whole step (W)
From D to E is a whole step (W)
From E to F is a half step (H)
From F to G is a whole step (W)
From G to A is a whole step (W)
From A to B is a whole step (W)
And from B to C is a half step (H)

With this formula, you can form the major scale of any of the twelve keys. Remember your finger numbering:

Here we have their finger positions:

TO BE CONTINUED...

Sources:http://www.StarlingSounds.com& http://www.SmoothChords.com

Teacher: Aseghiemhe Godwin