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The University High School Band
The History and Theory of Music

Scales

The scale you saw in the last lesson has a certain pattern of whole tones and semitones.

C to Dwhole tone
D to Ewhole tone
E to F♯whole tone
F♯ to Gsemitone
G to Awhole tone
A to Bwhole tone
B to Csemitone

If you form a scale using the same notes, but start on a different pitch (D in this case), the pattern will change:

D to Ewhole tone
E to F♯whole tone
F♯ to Gsemitone
G to Awhole tone
A to Bwhole tone
B to Csemitone
C to Dwhole tone

Each different pattern in a scale is called a mode. We will learn more about modes later, but for now we are going to focus on one specific mode called the Ionian, more commonly known today as major. Using the scale from the example, we will get this mode by starting on G.

G to Awhole tone
A to Bwhole tone
B to Csemitone
C to Dwhole tone
D to Ewhole tone
E to F♯whole tone
F♯ to Gsemitone

This pattern can be applied to any note to build an Ionian (major) scale.

Each pitch-class, or letter, must appear exactly once in any given scale. This determines the correct "spelling" (i.e. whether to use F♯ or G♭.)

Important Points
  • Scales with different patterns of whole tones and semitones are called modes.
  • Each pitch-class, or letter, must appear exactly once in any given scale.
  • The Ionian mode is known as major today.
Assignment
  • Writing major scales.