A sequence of musical notes in ascending or descending order of pitch belonging to a single key within the compass of one octave.
1
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1answer
88 views
Figuring out the difference between major and relative minor scales?
I always seem have difficulty determining whether a song is in a major scale, or the relative minor. (the 3rd note back into it, but minor)
Lets use the Pokemon theme song for example. As I ...
5
votes
4answers
131 views
Comfortable notes in a key
I've been playing guitar for some time, and often when i do improvisation exercises, I hit notes which sound too tense to finish a run/lick/riff on. Kind of like having a sentence which no full stop.
...
-2
votes
0answers
29 views
Harmonic Minor Scale [closed]
Does anyone else use the harmonic minor scales??
I was stuck playing the pentatonic scales and I was just starting to learn the basic Major scale ( IONIC ) Someone introduced me to the relative or ...
1
vote
2answers
73 views
What actually changes in related scales?
I'm a guitar newbie, and I've only been taking lessons for about 2 months now. My goal is to rock out on an electric guitar - for the time being, I have a cheap classical one.
Thus far I've been ...
14
votes
9answers
6k views
Why learn scales? What are they for?
I tried Googling but it seems there is no answer for this one. So the internet assumes everyone knows what scales are for? Why should I learn them? Are they important to be a good guitarist?
13
votes
5answers
367 views
The major scale - why and how?
background: I am an amateur guitarist. I was trained in Indian classical music as a kid. Most of what I know in music theory is from books or Google. So please feel free to correct me or tell me if ...
-2
votes
0answers
54 views
Mathematical basis for Ionian mode as most natural? [duplicate]
I realize that there is a mathematical basis for the seven-tone scale because of overtones. However, is there any mathematical basis for the Ionian mode as being the "most natural", as opposed to the ...
1
vote
4answers
93 views
Improvisation on Major and relative minor scales
I'm aware that A Minor is the relative key to C Major but how does this change the methods for improvising?
Would you use the Pentatonic as you would with C Major or are there other scales which can ...
2
votes
2answers
507 views
What is a good solo to learn in the major scale?
I am starting to play / improvise in the major scale and would like to learn some guitar solos that are good examples of this scale so that I see how other people use it. What are some famous solos in ...
2
votes
5answers
210 views
scales on the guitar
I'm new to learning music theory, so i'm sorry if the following question seems strange and obvious to some.
From what i understand, a scale is a logical combination of 8 notes. On the guitar, ...
56
votes
9answers
3k views
Why do minor keys sound “sad”?
Oftentimes major keys are called "happy" and minor keys are "sad". Why is this? Is it universal across cultures that use these scales? Do similar connotations exist in other scale systems?
(If this ...
8
votes
2answers
176 views
Can I play `A scale` song on a `C scale` harmonica?
Here is how to play a C scale on a harmonica. But I found a song which is in the A scale. So, is this possible: to play the A scale song on the same harmonica? If so, What would the table look like? ...
11
votes
4answers
447 views
Algorithms for music composition
I'm a beginner in music but I also like to fool around with simple computer programs . So I found a little python library to generate MIDI files . So what I do now is that I have a few rhythm ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
What is a good guitar solo to learn in the minor scale?
I am starting to play and improvise in the minor scale, and I would like to learn some guitar solos that are good examples of this scale so that I see how other people use it. What are some famous ...
6
votes
3answers
212 views
On a piano scale what is considered “middle C”?
I'm learning to play the piano and I'm slightly confused after reading this:
http://pianoscale.org/scales/root/c/major/
Is the 1st note in the treble clef the same as the 8th notes in the bass ...
0
votes
1answer
86 views
Complete fingering-technique reference book for keyboard player for chords and scales?
I'm now studying harmony and since my instrument is not keyboard, I don't know how to execute complex chords such as 13 or other chords that involve more than 5 notes.
Do you play them with just one ...
-2
votes
1answer
91 views
2 guitar progression [closed]
These are progression from a song that I was playing with a friend but we don't understand it at all. Can somebody please explain conceptually why they sound good when played together i.e first ...
8
votes
2answers
162 views
Was the pitch A given that letter because the minor key was originally the “basic” mode?
It's something that's puzzled me; The key that has no sharps and no flats, in essence the "basic" key, is C Major. Well, fine, but why C? Why not label that key and note A, if it's the foundation of ...
8
votes
2answers
192 views
The differences between natural, harmonic and melodic minors
I'm studying scales and came across the natural, harmonic, and melodic minors. I understand the patterns for each scale but what other important differences exist between the three?
5
votes
1answer
123 views
Why does the minor pentatonic scale sounds “oriental” to me?
I've been training my minor pentatonic scale on guitar for a while (mostly playing it in A with the first position) and it always sounded somewhat oriental to me, in the sense of the musical airs ...
3
votes
1answer
93 views
Was the ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras the first one who referred to a musical scale?
I' ve read that the ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras was the first one who scientifically proved the theory of music.
Also it is refered that he invented the Pythagorean musical scale.
Was the ...
2
votes
2answers
92 views
Repeating the tonic when the scale is ascending and then descending
When I started to learn piano about 2 years ago, I practiced scales with my piano teacher. For practicing C Major, she recommended repeating the tonic:
C D E F G A B C C B A G F E D C
When I ...
4
votes
1answer
73 views
What is the word for 'repeating the tonic at the “end” of spelling a scale?'
I am referring to the practice of repeating the root or tonic of a scale when spelling (not playing) a scale. I recall being told to __ my scale but I cannot remember the word… at all.
12
votes
2answers
992 views
What scale is this? [closed]
This is a very minor question, but I'm trying to learn a piece (a Bach Concerto in D minor) that has the following sequence of notes played in order:
A B C# D E F G A
My piano teacher said it was a ...
3
votes
2answers
392 views
Riders on the storm fingering for piano
I'm talking about this little run:
I can't think of a proper fingering of this, so it sounds very smooth.
Its basically in the Dmajor scale starting on b.
Can anyone help me getting the ...
4
votes
1answer
464 views
What can I do about my problems with piano scales which manifest in just one direction?
I've been practicing scales for some time now, and I found them mostly easy and fun to play. The problems begin when I have to play them faster, but oddly enough my problem manifests only when playing ...
5
votes
3answers
982 views
What is a good solo to learn in the Dorian mode?
I understand that Dorian is a commonly used mode in rock. I am starting to play / improvise in the mode and would like to learn some guitar solos that are good examples of this scale so that I see how ...
29
votes
4answers
1k views
Why are there twelve notes in an octave?
I know that one scale consists of 12 half-tones. But my question is still: Why? Why not 13 or 11?
8
votes
2answers
406 views
Scale modification in sus2 and sus4 chords
I've recently been looking at what makes chords what, and hence my first target for this was looking at major, minor, sus2, and sus4 chords. I know major chords are made up of the first, the third, ...
4
votes
2answers
163 views
Does playing in scale mean only using notes from that scale?
Many melodies contain notes that are not from scale they are composed in. For example, "Stairway Heaven" solo contains an A minor pentatonic scale plus an additional F note. I've read that this is not ...
23
votes
8answers
1k views
Key signature for writing in modes other than major and minor
I have trouble deciding what accidentals to put in the key signature for pieces in dorian, phrygian, lydian or mixolydian modes. There seem to be tradeoffs associated with each choice.
For example, ...
6
votes
2answers
131 views
Converting to harmonic and melodic minor
Is this correct?
In converting from major to harmonic minor of the same root (not the relative minor (with the same key signature)), flatten the 3rd and 6th.
In converting from major to ...
3
votes
3answers
568 views
How do you compose a Dominant Seventh Scale?
It seems like you just make the seventh note flat, but are there any restrictions to that? Can any scale become a Dominant Seventh Scale by slight modification? Or does it differ on a case-by-case ...
0
votes
0answers
106 views
What is the pattern in this sequence of notes? [closed]
I am wondering if someone could explain the makeup of this run of notes. It is from Canzone by Barber for flute, and occurs in the fourth to last measure. The piece has a key signature of E Major. ...
1
vote
2answers
254 views
Need help identifying a scale
The song/riff in question is in the intro of a song by "After the Burial" called "Cursing Akhenaten".
I cut a full measure out of the intro and looped it. I uploaded it for anyone who wants to take ...
12
votes
3answers
2k views
What is the importance of practicing scales on piano, and the proper fingering of them?
First of all I want to point out that I practice scales a lot and even enjoy it.
I just don't know why they are so important, as this site says for example:
"Proper fingering of the scales on the ...
9
votes
8answers
1k views
What is the difference between a mode and a scale?
I can't seem to find a straight definition for both.
14
votes
6answers
1k views
Is it possible to write a song without a key?
"This song is in F Major", "That song is in A Minor", "This song is in D Minor, but modulates to F Major in the middle", etc.
Can we say "This song has no key"? Are there songs that have/follow no ...
0
votes
1answer
75 views
Are modes and scales the same? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the difference between a mode and a scale?
Are modes and scales not the same? If not, how are modes different from scales?
12
votes
4answers
196 views
What are modes and how are they useful?
I'm a self-taught guitarist with zero to little experience in music theory. After marrying a violinist I found that there's a lot to music theory that I know tribally but don't understand the ...
16
votes
5answers
4k views
What does it mean to write a song in a certain key?
I have been searching for a while to try to correctly understand this.
What exactly does it mean if for example a song is written in C Major? Does it mean the song's notes cannot contain any sharps ...
1
vote
1answer
679 views
How to find the root note?
I'm a guitar beginner and I want to learn some scales.
The problem is that I can't find very detailed tutorials that explain how to find the root note.
Can you give any good basic theories on how to ...
0
votes
2answers
326 views
The use of the root note in a scale
I found an article on Cyberfret.com showing how to play C major scale :
The Whole Guitar Neck Mapped Out
Ref. Pattern 3
Well, I can guess how to play the pattern number 3 but, what the purpose ...
5
votes
4answers
751 views
Why does the Dorian mode on C have two flats?
I'm studying scale modes and I just found on Wikipedia that the Dorian mode on C has two flats...
Why is this? Because the Dorian mode is just the major scale (Ionian) starting from the second ...
11
votes
5answers
1k views
Why are the white and black keys on the piano placed the way they are?
I am pretty convinced it is not just for historical reasons.
I have found a mathematically-sound explanation of the twelve-tone musical scale, thanks to this question. Does anyone know a similar, ...
4
votes
1answer
323 views
Using modes and static harmony
Edit: i know what modes are and how they are related to major scale..etc. question is about modal harmony and chord progression in modal harmony. not what is a mode and name of other modes..etc
What ...
13
votes
1answer
207 views
Is this piece of renaissance music really in the locrian mode?
A fifteenth-century dance manual contains this piece of music:
which appears to be (uncharacteristically) in the locrian mode. Is it really, or am I mis-reading? Does anybody know of other music ...
1
vote
2answers
267 views
Determining modes in a minor Key
Speaking of Functional harmony; If a song is in key C, then we call the C major scale from E to E is a Phyrigan mode. Good, what if a song is in key Am, which is actually relative of C and also Am ...
3
votes
2answers
244 views
How to Harmonize uncommon scales?
How do you harmonize scales like
C C# F F# Bb
Whole tone scale : C D E F# Ab Bb
?
(The scales above are just examples.)
Scales like these do not seem to bias to Major or Minor harmony, ...
1
vote
2answers
477 views
What scale is used in the Morrowind theme?
Do you know the name of this scale? C D E♭ F G A♭ B
It's used in the Morrowind theme:
...
