Reviewing 4 Scales

Reviewing Scales

You have probably played, sung, and heard music based on many different scales.

Play the scales below. Listen to their sounds.

I have highlighted the keys visually in green.

Reviewing the Meaning of Half Steps and Whole steps

Play these example on the piano and hear their sounds:

Half Step Examples:

C-C#, E-F, A-Ab, B-C.

Whole Step Examples:

C-D, E-F#, A-G, Bb-C

Major Scale
                                                

Whole step = D-E
Whole step = E-F#
Half step = F#-G
Whole step = G-A
Whole step = A-B
Whole step = B-C#
Half step = C#-D

A fun song in a major key is 'Marching To Pretoria.' Here it is on YouTube.

Minor Scale

W = D-E
1/2 = E-F
W = F-G
W = G-A
1/2 = A-Bb
W = Bb-C
W = C-D

Here's an article on How to play minor piano scales. An example of the minor sound can be heard by Pete Seeger and Ruth Rubin.

Dorian Mode

W = D-E

1/2 = E-F

W = F-G

W = G-A

W = A-B

1/2 = B-C

W = C-D

A favorite song that captures the Dorian sound is Simon & Garfunkle's Scarborough Fair.

Mixolydian Mode

W = D-E
W = E-F#
1/2 = F#-G
W = G-A
W = A-B
1/2 = B-C
W = C-D

More on out-with-blues-scale-in-with-mixolydian.

A great Irish jig with the Mixolydian sound is The Old Gray Goose.

Assignment

• Build each of the four scales, starting on a pitch other than D, by following the intervallic pattern. 
• Improvise melodies on each of the four kinds of scales. Compose melodic settings for original poems, using scales.
• Work with other kinds of pitch organizations.
• Show increasing ability to identify major, minor, and modal scales (both aurally and visually) and should be able to use them creatively with increasing skill.

I have shared four tips on playing scales in an earlier post that may be helpful to you. This resource can help you understand music theory, 300pg Course Book.

Wishing you all the best!

-- LadyD


 "The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

What Is Bebop?

Image via Wikipedia

  "Swing arrangements mainly consisted of composed sections, but with certain sections designated for improvisation. A bebop tune, however,, would simply consist of a statement of the head, or main theme, extended solos over the head’s harmonic structure, and then one final statement of the head. It was common for bebop musicians to compose new, complex melodies over well-known chord progressions. One example of this is Charlie Parker’s “Ornithology,” which is based on the changes from “How High the Moon,” a popular show tune in the 1940s. "

For more description, read about Bebop Musicians 

Here's an overview of a very cool article (focusing on solo development) written by Dr. Stylani Tartsinis. I have learned a lot from it and I think you will, too.

To understand the Bebop approach in music, we have to take a look at chromatics. 
 
 If you're not familiar with Bebop, listen to these Bebop mp3s 

Bebop patterns are like embellishments to the bare melodic structure. Remember that in jazz, the scale degrees are referred to as numbers rather than letters.

Example #1

C E G Bb

1      3 5 b7

Here’s a diatonic exercise to practice, approaching the target tone by a whole step above and below. When the target tone is approached by a whole step above, it forms a 9^th; if approached from below, it forms a flat 7 in the chord.

Example #2

D to C = Whole step above

9-1

Bb to C = Whole step below

b7-1

Extra tones: Dominant 7^th (natural 7), Major (#5), Minor (natural 3) and Half-dim (natural 5). Begin the scale on the odd numbers. If the scale is begun on the even beats (2, 4 or 6), the student will have to insert a half-step to prevent these added tones from falling on downbeats.

Example #3 Major

C D  E F G  G# A B C

1  2   3  4  5  #5   6  7

Example #4 Minor

C D Eb E F G A B C

1 2  b3  4  5  6  7

Example  #5 Dominant 7^th Scale

C D E F G A Bb B C

1 2  3  4 5  6  b7  7

Example #6 Half Dim Bebop

C  Db Eb   F  Gb G Ab Bb C

1b 2b 3 4b 5n 5b  6  b7

Chromatic Approach Tones

Here are some examples of approaching the target note C (tonic or1). The approach tones are proceeded with a half-step (above or below), but at times, could be approached by a whole step. It is this chromatic sound that defines the bebop style. It is also important to keep in mind that these exercises are strictly for developing the bebop sound. You should further practice these bebop examples to extend these patterns with combinations of other chord tones an scales.

Single Note Approach

C# to C Half-step above

B to C Half-step below

Note: The above and below examples note #1 (C#) as b9 (Db). Note that the #1 (C#) is the enharmonic or the same tone to b9 (Db). B9 is preferred because of its frequent use as an extension.

C# to B to C = Half-step above and below

B to C# to C  = Half-step below and above

Double Note Approach

D to C# to C = Two half-steps above

Bb to B to C  = two half-steps below

Combination of Single and Double Note Approach

C#-Bb-B-C = 1 half-step above & 2 half-steps below

B9-b7-7-1

For more reading on this great article, check out http://www.jazzedmagazine.com/2318/articles/master-class/the-bebop-approach/

Chord Chart to How High The Moon

A7                Dm7                  Dm7  G7
Somewhere there's music, how faint the tune.
                  Cm7                  Cm7    F7
Somewhere there's heaven, how high the moon?
Bb+7        Em-5            A7      Am7       Em7-5
There is no moon above when love is far away, too.
     A7       D9         Em7      A7     Fm7    F7 Em7
Till it comes true, that you love me, as I love you.

#2.
    Em7   A7      Dm7                  Dm7  G7
Somewhere there's music, how near, how far?
                  Cm7                    Cm7 F7
Somewhere there's heaven, it's where you are.
    Bb      Em7-5                A7                   Dm7
The darkest night would shine if you would come to me soon.
A7-9      Fm7       F7       Em         Em7  A7-9  D6
Until you will, how still my heart, how high the   moon???

 

  You'll stay on beat with your solo development if you use the Song Robot Software

 All the best,






"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

Alicia Keys Diary and The Major's Sad Cousin (The Relative minor)

 "Diary" by: Alicia Keys 

There's a couple of chords you need here to play the song and these minor seventh chords sound so good.

Do you know these chords... Abm7, Ebm7, Dbm7,  Dm7 and all black notes for glissando?

Key Ab minor (Cb major) LH/RH

Ab / Ab, Eb, Cb, Db, Eb, Db, Cb, Ab
Eb / Db-Gb-Bb
Db / Cb-Fb-Ab
Ab / Ab, Eb, Cb, Db, Eb, Db, Cb, Ab
Eb / Db-Gb-Bb
Db / Fb-Ab-Cb
Ab / Ab, Eb, Cb, Db, Eb, Db, Cb, Ab
Eb / Db-Gb-Bb
D / C-F-A
Db / Cb-Fb-Ab
Eb / Db-Gb-Bb

OR

Ab / Eb-Ab-Cb I won't tell
Eb / Db-Gb-Bb
Db / Cb-Fb-Ab
Ab / Eb-Ab-Cb Your secrets
Eb / Db-Gb-Bb
Db / Cb-Fb-Ab
Ab / Eb-Ab-Cb Your secrets
Eb / Db-Gb-Bb are
Db / Cb-Fb-Ab safe with me
Ab / Eb-Ab-Cb
Eb / Db-Gb-Bb
Db / Cb-Fb-Ab
Ab / Eb-Ab-Cb I will keep
Eb / Db-Gb-Bb
Db / Cb-Fb-Ab
Ab / Eb-Ab-Cb Your secrets
Eb / Db-Gb-Bb
Db / Cb-Fb-Ab
Ab / Eb-Ab-Cb Just think of me as the
Eb / Db-Gb-Bb pages in
D / C-F-A your
Db / Cb-Fb-Ab diary-
Eb / Db-Gb-Bb yyyyy
(repeat)

Hear and Play Forum

 Here's another piano tutorial to see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvU_7f1lgh8&feature=related

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
I just finished writing this article and wanted to share it with you:


The Major's Sad Cousin: The Relative Minor

If I were to ask you for a list of sad songs, what would come to mind? Perhaps you would say Moody River by Pat Boone, maybe Eva Cassidy's Songbird. What about Eric Clapton's Tears in Heaven?

Elton John wrote "Sad Songs Say So Much." So true and then there is the music structure to look at because for sure minor chords sound sad or mysterious in many ways. If I were to ask you for a list of sad songs, what would come to mind? Perhaps you would say Moody River by Pat Boone, maybe Eva Cassidy's Songbird. What about Eric Clapton's Tears in Heaven?
What is a relative minor chord you ask? Well, every major chord, scale or key has a relative minor chord, scale or key. So for every MAJOR KEY, there is a RELATIVE MINOR KEY that also shares the same key signature. 

Each relative minor scale begins on the 6th degree (Aeolian) of the RELATIVE MAJOR SCALE. The 6th note is the keynote (first note played) of the minor scale and the note from which the scale gets its name. 

C Major and A Minor 

D Major and B Minor 

E Major and C# Minor 

F Major and D Minor 

G Major and E Minor 

A Major and F# Minor 

B Major and G# Minor 

D Flat/ C# Major and B Flat Minor 

E Flat/ D# Major and C Minor 

G Flat/ F# Major and E Flat Minor 

A Flat/ G# Major and F Minor 

B Flat/ A# Major and G Minor 

STEPS TO PLAYING A MINOR SCALE: 

1. Find the relative major key of the minor scale that you want to play.
2. Play the relative major key starting and ending on the sixth degree. (the sixth degree of the relative major key should be the keynote of the minor scale that you want to play. You can also verify the relative major key by counting 3 half steps to the right. If it takes more or less than 3 half steps to get to the relative major key, then the relative major key that you have chosen is not correct.) 

So, now we’ve learned that the relative minor key, like the relative minor chord, begins and ends on the sixth note of a major scale. Here’s how you find a major key’s relative minor key. Find the sixth degree of the major scale. Starting there, playing the notes of the major scale all the way ‘til you hit the sixth degree one octave higher. Here’s an example using the key of C: 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6

C D E F G A B C D E F G A 

So you just found the relative minor of C major: The Key of A minor: The scale itself is a minor scale. Minor scales differ from the major scale in that they come in different flavors. That is, there are a handful of them. This one is the natural minor scale. 

Then there is The Harmonic Minor Scale: 

One of the strongest forces in Western music is the pull from the V chord to the I chord. By raising the lowered seventh of the natural minor back to a natural seventh, you make the dominant chord major rather than minor. 

Harmonic Minor: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 (8)
C Harmonic Minor: C D Eb F G Ab B ©

The Melodic Minor Scale: 

The melodic minor scale exists for melodic reasons. The b6 is raised to a natural 6 in the melodic minor but only when ascending. When descending, the need for the strong melodic pull from the natural 7 to 8 is gone, so the melodic minor is returned to its natural state: the natural minor scale, complete with b6 and b7. So in this respect, the melodic minor is a unique case in western music; a scale that is different in its ascending and descending forms. 

Melodic Minor Scale Pattern and C Melodic Scale: 

1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 (8) b7 b6 5 4 b3 2 1 

C D Eb F G A B (C) Bb Ab G F Eb D C 

You have now learned Natural, Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales. Believe me, there’s still more minor scales to learn.


Charlie Parker once said "Learn the changes and then forget them."

The Natural Minor Scale

The Natural Minor Scale
The natural minor scale begins on the 6th degree of the major scale. Also, the natural minor scale uses the same notes that are in relative major scale. So, if you want to find the relative minor of a major key, you go to the 6th scale degree, or count down 1 1/2 steps. The formula for building a Natural Minor Scale is:
W - H - W - W - H - W – W

Here is a list of all the relative minor scales:
A minor = A B C D E F G A
A# minor = A# B# C# D# E# F# G# A#
Bb minor = Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb
B minor scale = B C# D E F# G A B
C minor scale = C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
C# minor scale = C# D# E F# G# A B C#
D minor scale = D E F G A Bb C D
D# minor scale = D# E# F# G# A# B C# D#
Eb minor scale = Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb
E minor scale = E F# G A B C D E
F minor scale = F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F
F# minor scale = F# G# A B C# D E F#
G minor scale = G A Bb C D Eb F G
G# minor scale = G# A# B C# D# E F# G#
Ab minor scale = Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab

There are four types of minor scales: natural, harmonic, melodic ascending, melodic descending. Just the one scale is covered here.
Gospel music is closely associated with the minor scale. If a song ends with a lot of 7-3-6s, then you are most likely in a minor key.
http://www.giftedplayer.com/gospelweeklytip-42506.php
As far as chords and progressions, the minor key uses the same notes and progressions as the major key. The only difference is 6 becomes your 1. You can tell from the sound of the song if it's in a major or minor key. Songs written in minor keys can be sad, mysterious, and ominous. But not all minor key songs are sad sounding. An example of this is Santana's "Oye Como Va".

A few good examples:

* Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day

* Faceless Man by Creed
* Bring Me To Life by Evanescence
∑ Are You Happy Now? by Michelle Branch
∑ Hotel California by the Eagles

Fingering for Scales: http://www.robertkelleyphd.com/scalfing.htm
http://homepage.mac.com/barrieb/technique/patterns.html#bbandeb

Why Learn the Natural Minor Scale?

Much like the major scale, the notes of the natural minor scale serve as basis for many, many songs. When a song is in a minor key, the notes making up the song’s chords, melody and bass line mostly come from the natural minor scale.


http://www.LadyDpiano.com