added scale degrees and solfege

scales.md

@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@ layout: post
 title: Scales
 ---
 
-A scale is a succession of pitches ascending or descending in steps. A half step (H) consists of two adjacent pitches on the keyboard. A whole step (W) consists of two half steps. Usually, the pitches in a scale are each notated with different letter names, though this isn't always possible or desirable. 
+A scale is a succession of pitches ascending or descending in steps. There are two types of steps: *half steps* and *whole steps*. A half step (H) consists of two adjacent pitches on the keyboard. A whole step (W) consists of two half steps. Usually, the pitches in a scale are each notated with different letter names, though this isn't always possible or desirable. 
 
 ### The Chromatic Scale ###
 
-A scale consisting entirely of half steps. The chromatic scale uses every pitch on the keyboard within a single octave. Here is the chromatic scale that spans the pitches C4 through C5.
+The chromatic scale consists entirely of half steps, and uses every pitch on the keyboard within a single octave. Here is the chromatic scale that spans the pitches C4 through C5.
 
 ![The chromatic scale][chromaticscale]
 
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ Here is the D major scale. It is called the "D major scale" because the pitch D
 
 ### Scale degrees and solfège ###
 
+While ISO notation allows us to label a pitch in its specific register, it is often useful to know where that pitch fits within a given scale. For example, the pitch class D is the first (and last) note of the D-major scale. The pitch class A is the fifth note of the D-major scale. When described in this way, we call the notes *scale degrees*, because they're placed in context of a specific scale. Solfège syllables, [a centuries-old method of teaching pitch and sight singing], can also be used to represent scale degrees (when used in this way, this system is specifically called movable-*do* solfège). 
+
+<a href="Graphics/scaleDegreesSolfege.png"><img src="Graphics/scaleDegreesSolfege.png" width="50%"></a>
+
 ### The natural minor scale ###
 
 A natural minor scale consists of eight whole (W) and half (H) steps in the following succession: W-H-W-W-H-W-W.