| A music scale usually refers to a progression of single | | | | scales are not often used in Western music. The |
| notes upwards or downwards in steps. The word | | | | major exception to this rule would be in American |
| scale comes from the Latin word la scala which | | | | blues and some rock music. They are preferred in |
| means ladder, or stairway. A musical scale is a ladder | | | | other cultures though, such as Asian. Pentatonic |
| of notes that runs from the root note to the octave | | | | scales are also common in Celtic and African music. |
| note (octave means eight, as in octopus, octagon, | | | | Less common are hexatonic (six steps) and |
| etc., therefore eight notes in a scale.) | | | | heptatonic scales (seven steps). Scales may also be |
| Most beginners in music are introduced to the | | | | octatonic (containing eight steps). These are |
| concept of scales very early in their training. Despite | | | | commonly found in modern classical and jazz music. |
| this, it sometimes takes a few years of training to | | | | The intervals between the notes on any scale |
| get good understanding of how scales work. | | | | (diatonic, chromatic, etc.) determine the type of |
| A scale begins with a root, called the tonic. In a C | | | | scale. An interval is defined as the distance between |
| scale (the first one most beginning musicians learn) | | | | two notes. They are also sometimes referred to as |
| the tonic note is C. The scale progresses either up or | | | | steps. Scales can be major (M), minor (m), perfect |
| downward until it reaches the same note in the next | | | | (P), augmented (A) or diminished (d or dim). The |
| octave. The C scale is an easy example. It begins | | | | type of scale is determined by the size of the |
| with the tonic C. Going upward, the notes following | | | | intervals. Interval sizes can be unisons, seconds, |
| are D, E, F, G, A, B and C. Downward, the note | | | | thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths and sevenths. Major and |
| progression is C, B, A, G, F, E, D and C. The C scale | | | | minor scales are 2nds, 3rds, 6ths, and 7ths. Unisons, |
| has a total of eight notes. The distance from the | | | | 4ths, 5ths and octaves are perfect. |
| tonic note to the next note of the same name is | | | | Sometimes scales may be referred to as modal. A |
| referred to as an octave. A scale in eight notes is | | | | simple definition of a modal scale is a series of notes |
| called a diatonic scale. | | | | in a scale, but which lack a primary or tonic note. |
| Most modern instruments, including the piano, actually | | | | Therefore many scales may have several modes. For |
| contain 12 notes in an octave. This is because | | | | example, every major scale actually has seven |
| semitones are included. The notes that comprise the | | | | different modal scales. |
| semitones on a piano in a C scale are the black keys. | | | | It can take several years of training before a |
| A scale that includes the semitones is known as a | | | | musician gets a good handle on scales and chords. |
| chromatic scale. A chromatic C scale going upwards | | | | However, even the youngest and newest of |
| would be C, C sharp, D, D sharp, E, F, F sharp, G, G | | | | musicians use scales and the principles behind them |
| sharp, A, A sharp, B and C. Downward, the notes are | | | | every day. Mastering their theory may come later. Of |
| C, B, B flat, A, A flat, G, G flat, F, E, E flat, D, D flat | | | | course, every musician knows that only practice |
| and C. | | | | makes perfect! |
| A pentatonic scale is scale of five notes. Pentatonic | | | | |