The Chromatic Scale is comprised entirely of half steps. When constructing this, it is
customary to use sharps when ascending and to use enharmonically equivalent flats
when descending.
Music of the mid-17th Century through end of the 19th Century saw the
formulation of a more or less unified system of composition and its supportive
theory. A
lingua franca
of music was established, essentially a common language
shared by all musicians. Music of the period (roughly!) from Corelli through Brahms
is called the
Common Practice Period
6
, or the Common Practice style.
One of the fundamental attributes of this Common Practice style was the use of two
scale types. These two types,
Major
and
Minor
were “distilled” from the multiple
scale types employed in early music. Major and Minor scales became the
predominant resource for Common Practice music. These scale types shall become
essential tools for many of the acquired tasks and skill-sets in the study of music.
Understanding and recognizing these constructs is a fundamental and necessary
attribute of the music student.
K E Y T A K E A W A Y S
The student should understand:
• The definition of scales and scale types.
• The Foundation (“building-block”) scale steps,
tones
and
semi-tones
(whole steps and half steps).
• The Chromatic Scale.
• The definition of the Common Practice Period.
E X E R C I S E S
1. Obtain a three-ring binder and fill with staff paper. If you wish, purchase
a music manuscript notebook, at least 8.5 x 11. This will become your
Scale Thesaurus
.
2. Draw the ascending and descending Chromatic scale. Use half notes. Use
the appropriate accidentals and enharmonic equivalents ascending and
descending.
6. Music from roughly the 17th-
through the 19th Centuries.
Also may be referred to as
Tonal Music.
Chapter 3 The Foundations Scale-Steps and Scales
3.1 Scales and Scale-Steps
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