Newb question regarding scales
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- KVRist
- 39 posts since 11 Jun, 2009
When im writing a piece using, lets say, a minor scale. When the next tone in the scale is supposed to be a half step, but im an b. Should i count a semitone from b to c??? If not how should i count?
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- KVRAF
- 26033 posts since 20 Oct, 2007 from gonesville
a scale proceeds by letter names.
If you had Bb in a scale, in most keys, you don't proceed scalewise to B. That is two versions of a scale tone, in chromatic usage. This is 'spelling', and depends on context.
The turnaround to Something by The Beatles: the line goes A C A Bb B C
The cadence over the last three notes is Bb G C. That B is a chord tone of G.
But there is no real scale that includes both, in this context. (It 'mixes modes' in the terminology of harmony class. (there are scales jazzers use which can have both, such as octatonic scales, but that is another story)
When people say, C scale, and you go :a step below: that C, it isn't "A#", it's "B flat".
while it IS 'a tone' in British usage, it is also a diminished third. Counting by letter names. And the context of a diminished third is somewhat rare.
A # does the same thing for 'key of B' that B does for 'key of C'
here is an example of spelling differences according to key:
G# minor goes: G# A# B C# D# E, etc
Ab minor goes: Ab Bb C Db Eb Fb, etc
the reasons for calling it one key or another, since on a piano it's the same notes, have only to do with context.
If you had Bb in a scale, in most keys, you don't proceed scalewise to B. That is two versions of a scale tone, in chromatic usage. This is 'spelling', and depends on context.
The turnaround to Something by The Beatles: the line goes A C A Bb B C
The cadence over the last three notes is Bb G C. That B is a chord tone of G.
But there is no real scale that includes both, in this context. (It 'mixes modes' in the terminology of harmony class. (there are scales jazzers use which can have both, such as octatonic scales, but that is another story)
When people say, C scale, and you go :a step below: that C, it isn't "A#", it's "B flat".
while it IS 'a tone' in British usage, it is also a diminished third. Counting by letter names. And the context of a diminished third is somewhat rare.
A # does the same thing for 'key of B' that B does for 'key of C'
here is an example of spelling differences according to key:
G# minor goes: G# A# B C# D# E, etc
Ab minor goes: Ab Bb C Db Eb Fb, etc
the reasons for calling it one key or another, since on a piano it's the same notes, have only to do with context.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 39 posts since 11 Jun, 2009
I dont quite get what you mean. probably because of my lack of knowledge. What im trying to understand is how to count, lets say, an a minor scale. It goes something like a-b-c-d-e-f-g(from looknohands.com) and the intervals between the notes are 2-1-2-2-1-2-2 in semitones. What i dont understand from looking at this, is that they count only one semitone from a to b. and from a to its two semitones. Im confused...please enlighten me!
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- KVRAF
- 6372 posts since 8 Jun, 2009
I think your counting is off by one: the first number is the interval between the first and second note. It's A-2-B-1-C-2-D-2-E-1-F-2-G-2-A.Magus wrote:I dont quite get what you mean. probably because of my lack of knowledge. What im trying to understand is how to count, lets say, an a minor scale. It goes something like a-b-c-d-e-f-g(from looknohands.com) and the intervals between the notes are 2-1-2-2-1-2-2 in semitones. What i dont understand from looking at this, is that they count only one semitone from a to b. and from a to its two semitones. Im confused...please enlighten me!
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 39 posts since 11 Jun, 2009
Darn straight i am! ive been counting wrong it seems. thanx for clearing this upGamma-UT wrote:I think your counting is off by one: the first number is the interval between the first and second note. It's A-2-B-1-C-2-D-2-E-1-F-2-G-2-A.Magus wrote:I dont quite get what you mean. probably because of my lack of knowledge. What im trying to understand is how to count, lets say, an a minor scale. It goes something like a-b-c-d-e-f-g(from looknohands.com) and the intervals between the notes are 2-1-2-2-1-2-2 in semitones. What i dont understand from looking at this, is that they count only one semitone from a to b. and from a to its two semitones. Im confused...please enlighten me!
