Scales, while all being with different notes and different tones, all have the same basic structure. The starting note, or what is called the root note, is almost always the lowest note you play in the scale. This is also the name of the scale. For example, if the root note (the lowest note) is a C, then the scale is a C scale (Carter 82). Every note in a scale has a specific name. I will be using a C scale for all of my examples because it is simple. The root note is a C, the note after is called a major 2nd (D), then major 3rd (E), perfect 4th (F), perfect 5th (G), major 6th (A), and then the last note is the major 7th (B). Musicians also measure the distance of pitch between the notes. These can be marked as whole or half notes but more commonly, tone and semitone. "The root note is the first thing that the name of a chord lists" (Carter 82). In the past quote and paraphrase, I used both scale and chord. Scales and chords are very connected, as I will demonstrate in later postings. Going off of my example with the C scale, if I play a C chord, the notes I use for the chord are the same notes that are in the scale. A typical C chord consists of C, E, and G, which are all in the C scale (explained better later).
This video demonstrates the C scale throughout three different octaves. It shows how each octave of the scale can be built off of the previous one. (P.S. it's supposed to be "scales" not "chords" I'm just really bad with technology and don't know how to fix it).
Do you think learning scales is imperative to having a good foundation for music?
Carter, Nicolas. Root Notes Explained. Music Theory From Absolute Beginner to Expert. N.p.: Nicolas Carter, 2016. 82. Print.
Hey Kara! Your blog post was really great, and super informative! I agree that scales are one of the most important parts about music. It lays the perfect foundation for learning any song because every song is just a different combination of the scale with words attached. As I was learning to read music, one of the first things I was taught was the scale, and it has helped me so much even 6 years later.
ReplyDeleteHi Fern! I think scales are just as important as knowing the individual notes because that's what makes up songs. You can't have a song without a specific key which includes the scale because it wouldn't sound very good. I was also taught scales as one of the first things during piano and it helps me more than anything even now eleven years later.
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