Questions tagged [scales]
For questions about playing, understanding, or studying scales.
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Are there two leading tones?
I always took the leading tone to be the 7th degree (the "subtonic") scale degree. According to author David Neumeyer (The Music of Paul Hindemith), there is another? See the following ...
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What BPM should I aim for while learning all the minor scales?
I'm learning to play the minor versions of each scale. What BPM should I aim for, before I move onto the next scale?
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In major keys, since the 7th scale degree resolves up to the 8th, does descending through the scale degrees 8-7-6 violate the leading tone rule?
I need to understand how the leading tone (7th scale degree) functions in major keys.
I see that the 7th scale degree (leading tone) resolves up to the 8th (the tonic) because the leading tone is a ...
user70124
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How does Eb connect musically to C major chord progression like in this song?
Im learning basic music theory and chord progression then I stumbled upon this song (You are my song by Martin Nievera) :
From my understanding, the first 2 lines are simply C major chord ...
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Why is the Dominant 7th based on the Diatonic Scale?
I understand that the Dominant 7th chord as a structure is called like that because its chord structure is playable from the Dominant in a Diatonic scale.
However, I noticed that the same structure is ...
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Is the difference between key and scales just unordered vs. ordered pitches? [duplicate]
Hi guys I was trying to understand the relationship between keys and scales, from what I understood starting from the basic pitch:
A A# B C C# D D# E F F# G G#
if we start from one and take WWHWWWH
we ...
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Help with identifying scales from track [closed]
I've been studying basic drumming, and found this track on YouTube, Prog Metal - Drumless Track For Drummers - "Reckoning".
The tempo is 175 BPM, so to be able to listen to the notes, I slow ...
user73967
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Why Sonata No. 16 K. 545 by Mozart is told to be done in C Major [closed]
I have seen an analysis of Sonata No. 16 K. 545 by Mozart here:
https://www.libertyparkmusic.com/discover-key-music-part-1/image-2-highlights-and-circles-sonata-no-16-in-c-major-k-545/
May I know why ...
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Is there a name for the octatonic scale made from the first sixteen harmonics? And is it good for anything?
When the first sixteen harmonics are octave-displaced and compressed into the span of one octave, the result is an octatonic scale whose pitches have the following frequency ratios:
1
9:8
5:4 (a.k.a. ...
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Finding key of a song with accidentals
I have a very basic understanding of keys / scales and am a keyboard hobbyist. Every now and then I try to find the notes of a song by ear.
The problem I sometimes face is with identifying key/scale ...
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What is the relationship between the 5th and minor 7th in dominant chords?
I've been trying to understand the theory behind dominant sevenths and have been reading a lot of articles. There's just one thing I couldn't understand-- the basic relationship of the minor 7th to ...
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Learning path advices
I played guitar for a while 10 years ago, but I never learned music.
I was only playing the songs that I wanted to play by following YouTube videos.
I know I have to learn music to be able to ...
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A natural minor scale with raised fourth
Good day
I am trying to understand what scale/mode is created by raising the fourth of a natural minor. It sounds quite dark. I understand that natural minor is the Aeolian mode of the major scales, ...
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What is a name of a major scale with raised 2nd degree?
Assuming a major scale that has a raised 2nd degree and no other alterations: 1 ♯2 3 4 5 6 7 (8) (for example, in C it will be C D♯ E F G A B (C)).
This is a bit unusual due to 2 consecutive semitones ...
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What is a scale consisting of Root, m2, m3, P4, b5, M6, m7 called?
For example: A, A#, C, D, D#, F#, G ? Is it an actual known scale? I hear it implied a lot, played over secondary dominants (such as over the transition from the VI to the II in a I-VI-ii-V-I or I-VI-...
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Unconventional approaches for learning to play scales? [closed]
I'm a guitar player who started learning theory a bit later down the road, and there is a practical issue that I can't figure out how exactly to tackle. That would be scales, more precisely, the ...
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Are the names of scale degrees the same for different modes?
Do the naming conventions and their implied function still apply to modes outside the major and minor scale?Is the minor second of the Phrygian mode called the supertonic?Is the augmented fourth of ...
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Chord-Scale Theory: Determine chord qualities
I started to learn about the chord-scale theory lately which i find quite interesting. I came across this table of modes (scales) and their corresponding chords:
Chord-Scales of the Major Modes:
...
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Why is there no fourth minor scale with a natural 6 and a flat 7?
These scales are considered the minor scales:
natural: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
harmonic: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7
melodic: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 (ascending)
However, this scale:
4th min: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 ...
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Is there a theory of heptatonic scales with 1.5-step intervals?
I've been alternating between reading about music theory on Wikipedia and playing around with the scales that I've learned. The "modern Western modes" are defined systematically with their ...
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When writing harmonic/melodic scales without a key signature, is it bad practice to put a natural sign?
Question is in the title,
assuming I'm writing say a f harmonic minor scale WITHOUT a key signature at the beginning. Is it more correct to emphasize that the E should be natural and not Eb by a ...
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The bassline for The Choice is Yours doesn't fit into any known scale; is there a term or theory for what it does? [duplicate]
This started when TuneBat had several different guesses as to what key "The Choice Is Yours" by Black Sheep is in. There is basically only one bassline through the whole track, and little ...
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Starting scales on piano [closed]
I’ve been playing the piano for about 5 years so scales have become a kind of second nature to me. I’m currently playing 3 and 4 notes per tick at 92 for my scales. But this year I have had trouble ...
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Is there such a thing as a stable or unstable tone in scales?
I'm writing a song in 4/4 in A major, and my melody ends first on the 7th degree leading tone (G#) and then the second time on the 6th degree (F#). These are supposed to be unstable tones, yet if I ...
user35708
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Why is the key signature completely different from the actual notes?
Beginner here. So, I wanted to play this little phrase that is written, supposedly, in A major with 3 sharps on F, C and G. However, every G has a natural sign and there's a B and a E with sharps (no ...
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Are pop/rock songs ever written using the melodic minor scale?
I am learning a pop song that was famous about a decade ago and starts on an F chord for a few bars before going to the following descending chord progression.
F Eb Dm7 Bbm/Db
The second time the ...
user35708
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Does the starting note for a song have to be the starting note of its scale?
Does a scale always have to start off with the note it is named after? For example, the Dm scale is defgab♭cd`. If I wanted to sing a song in D minor, would I have to start with the note D? Or could ...
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C or D scales for x15 notes tongue drum? [closed]
I am hoping to get a 15notes tongue drum but need advise on which one to get. Some sites advertised as having C scales and other D scales and I don't know which one to get. Appreciate advice.
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How to find scales to improvise with for "How Insensitive" by Jobim
I am pretty new to improvisation. So far I have improvised over a 2 5 1 change using the diatonic 7th chords and the underlying scale tones that fit in with that chord. I am playing on a guitar.
As a ...
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What is the audible difference between a song written in A Natural Minor scale and a C Major scale? [duplicate]
I started taking music classes to try to learn some theory. I learnt there's something called a major scale. But today, Youtube recommended a video called Minor Scales, so I clicked on it. The video ...
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Any good methods to memorise scales? [duplicate]
I'm a beginning music student interested in learning music theory, and many texts that I've read speak about the importance of committing scales - at least the major and three common minor ones for ...
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How to break out of playing scales up and down when improvising
I play piano, and when I am playing a gospel or a blues song, I always improvise with my right hand. I have been practicing major scales and pentatonic scales for a while now, and when I play, i ...
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what is the name of this chord D F# and C? the "D" is the root [duplicate]
i thought it was d7 but the fifth note(A) is missing
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Beginner's theory: Emaj7 - Em7 - A what key am I in?
I've only very recently started to learn about music theory so forgive me if this is a stupid question.
I was playing around the guitar and was very fond of the following chord progression: Emaj7 - ...
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Can pentatonic scales define a tonal center?
I have a simple progression F#m > E with two bars to each in 4/4. If I play F#m pentatonic it sounds bluesy and with a bit of attitude, if I play the E major pentatonic scale it seems more "...
user35708
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How to construct a pythagorean scale?
I am trying to understand how to construct the pythagorean scale. I have gathered, that the basic idea is to use only the 3/2 ratio starting from some base frequency. As this takes you out of the ...
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I was wondering what scale the following notes are and how to transpose them on an alto saxophone (B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B)
I have been asked to play an audio recording of the scale (B,C#,D#,E,F#,G#,A#,B) but i am not sure which scale this is. It would also be helpful if anyone knew how to transpose these notes on an alto ...
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Why does F# minor chord fit A minor key
Playing the guitar I noticed a really cool sounding, kind of mysterious progression, which looks like this
A minor -> C major -> F# minor -> F major
The F# minor creates some tension which ...
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How to make a I vi iii progression sound like IV ii i
I am trying to write a song that incorporates a tonally ambiguous chord progression and a tonally ambiguous melody. I like the sound of G > Em > Bm > Bm. How can I write a melody to this to ...
user35708
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Is it better for the voice to match the music?
I'm 18 and very new to music theory. I was in band and middle school for a year and took Music Appreciation in my senior year of high school.
But one thing I never came to understand was sound keys ...
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Chord progressions in Harmonic Minor
I'm a noob at music theory, so I want to stick to basics and stay inside the lines (for example, stay diatonic for a given scale) until my knowledge is more advanced.
I've seen a chart all over the ...
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How to determine scale degrees by ear?
I am trying to learn to determine scale degrees by ear. I stumbled across this exercise: https://tonedear.com/ear-training/functional-solfege-scale-degrees, but so far my guesses are not much better ...
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Are all 3 minor scales really just one minor scale? [duplicate]
In most contemporary songs in minor keys that I analyze and try to learn from it seems that there are no real rules as to how composers choose chords and melodies from the 3 minor scales. It seems ...
user35708
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How to (decently) harmonize the modes of the "darkest scale ever"?
I was hearing this very interesting video by Rick Beato and Nahre Sol about the 7 modes of the "darkest scale ever" (the double harmonic major scale):
The 7 ...
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Is one major and one minor scale instrument enough to play any melody?
If I buy a diatonic harmonica, I can play one octave of a major scale and its relative minor properly. Is that enough to play any melody by transcribing to the key of my harmonica?
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Guitar Scale Shapes: Logic or Easyness
I am developing a app for Guitar Scales and want to implement Scale Shapes. And my question is, if is there any logic in those particular shapes(some are four frets stretched, one five, some notes out ...
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What are historical and structural reasons for the prevalence of Major and Minor?
Not knowing the historical reasons, I can at least think of structural reasons for having
a diatonic scale,
equal temperament or other circulating temperaments, and
a distinction in major/minor in ...
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Does a melody ending on the 6th degree mean that the section of a song is in aeolian mode?
I am learning a song that is in C major and most of the phrases end on one of the stable tones (C,E,G) however, there is a part of the song where the melody repeatedly ends on the A note (6th degree) ...
user35708
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What is the origin and original meaning of "tonic", "supertonic", "mediant", etc.?
Each of the pitches in the diatonic scale has a "name":
tonic
supertonic
mediant
subdominant
dominant
submediant
subtonic
I was first introduced to tonic, dominant, and subdominant in the ...
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What are the degrees of a pentatonic scale called?
Given the ideas that:
Diatonic Scales have the scale degree names tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, & leading. These correspond to the 1st through the 7th degree ...
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