diff --git a/Graphics/scaleDegreesSolfege.png b/Graphics/scaleDegreesSolfege.png new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a21767a5 Binary files /dev/null and b/Graphics/scaleDegreesSolfege.png differ diff --git a/scales.md b/scales.md index 50bd8ac6..5e912cac 100644 --- a/scales.md +++ b/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). + + + ### 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.