Constructing Scales

Constructing Scales

Understanding Scales

  • A scale is a sequence of musical notes in an ascending or descending order.
  • Scales form the basis of melody and harmony in Western music.
  • The two main types of scales you’ll encounter are major scales and minor scales.
  • Other scales that are fundamental to various styles of music include pentatonic scales, blues scales, and chromatic scales.

Major Scales

  • Major scales consist of seven distinct notes plus the octave of the root note.
  • A major scale follows this sequence of steps: Whole-Whole-Half-Whole-Whole-Whole-Half (W-W-H-W-W-W-H).
  • For example, the C major scale comprises the notes: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C.

Minor Scales

  • There are three types of minor scales used in music: Natural minor, Harmonic minor, and Melodic minor.
  • A natural minor scale (or Aeolian mode) follows this sequence of steps: Whole-Half-Whole-Whole-Half-Whole-Whole (W-H-W-W-H-W-W). The A natural minor scale, for instance, contains the following notes: A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A.
  • The harmonic minor scale modifies the natural minor scale by raising the seventh note by a half step.
  • The melodic minor scale raises both the sixth and seventh note a half step when ascending, but reverts to the natural minor when descending.

Pentatonic Scales

  • Pentatonic scales only consist of five notes, making them an easier option for beginning improvisers.
  • The major pentatonic scale omits the 4th and 7th degrees of the major scale.
  • The minor pentatonic scale omits the 2nd and 6th degrees of the natural minor scale.

Blues Scales

  • The blues scale is essentially a minor pentatonic scale plus a ‘blue’ note.
  • This ‘blue’ note is usually a diminished 5th (or augmented 4th) and is often used in blues music.

Chromatic Scales

  • A chromatic scale includes all twelve notes of the octave, and each note is a half step away from the next.

Remember, practice is key when it comes to mastering scales. Incorporate scale exercises into your practice routine and aim to understand how they apply to the pieces of music you are studying. Be sure to listen to lots of music too, as this will help develop your ear and improve your recognising of these scales in a real-world musical context.