Joey Goldstein wrote:
> Dylan wrote:
>> It seems like sclaes theory is quite im****tant for playing improv. so
>> I've got a few more newbie questions.
>>
>> If I know the scale in C, is there a rule I can learn for changing
>> keys?
>>
>> Why does the minor scale have flattened 3rd, 6th and 7th notes?
>>
>> Kind regards
>> Dylan
>
> 1. When spelling any major scale we use all 7 letter names.
>
> 2. Observe the numbers of semitones between each note in the C major
scale:
> C D E F G A B C
> 2 2 1 2 2 2 1
> This pattern of semitones will be the same for any major scale.
>
> So, if we want to construct some other major scale, we start with a
> note, lay out the other letter names, and then adjust the distances
> between the notes with sharps or flats to fit the 2212221 pattern of
> semitones.
>
> Eg. Forming the G major scale:
> G A B C D E F G
> 2 2 1 2 2 1 2
> That's the wrong pattern of semitones for a major scale. But if change F
> to F# we get the right pattern:
> G A B C D E F# G
> 2 2 1 2 2 2 1
>
> Eg. The F major scale:
> F G A B C D E F
> 2 2 2 1 2 2 1
> Wrong pattern unless we change B to Bb:
> F G A Bb C D E F
> 2 2 1 2 2 2 1
Here's how key signatures for major keys work.
• The key sig with no sharps or flats is C major.
C D E F G A B C
2 2 1 2 2 2 1
• The key sig with 1 sharp, F#, is G major.
G A B C D E F# G
2 2 1 2 2 2 1
• The key sig with 2 sharps, F# and C#, is D major.
D E F# G A B C# D
2 2 1 2 2 2 1
• The key sig with 3 sharps, F# C# and G#, is A major.
A B C# D E F# G# A
• The key sig with 4 sharps, F# C# G# D#, is E major.
E F# G# A B C# D# E
• 5 sharps, F# C# G# D# A#, is B major.
B C# D# E F# G# A# B
• 6 sharps, F# C# G# D# A# E#, is F# major.
F# G# A# B C# D# E# F#
• 7 sharps, F# C# G# D# A# E# B# (all 7 letters), is C# major.
C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C#
Notice the order of the sharped notes that are use within the key
signatures:
F C G D A E B
this is a cycle of 5ths (up 5) starting on F.
The following mnemonic is often used to remember this order:
Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
Notice also how the last sharp in the key signature is one semitone
below the first note, aka the tonic, of the scale/key. So if the last
sharp in a key sig is A#, the tonic/key is B. etc.
• The key sig with 1 flat, Bb, is F major.
F G A Bb C D E F
2 2 1 2 2 2 1
• 2 flats, Bb and Eb, is Bb major.
Bb C D Eb F G A Bb
• 3 flats, Bb Eb and Ab, is Eb major
Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb
• 4 flats, Bb Eb Ab and Db, is Ab major.
Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab
• 5 flats, Bb Eb Ab Db Gb, is Db major.
Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db
• 6 flats, Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb, is Gb major.
Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb
• 7 flats, Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb Fb (all 7 letter names), is Cb major.
Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb
"Battle Ends And Down goes Charlie's Father" can help to remember the
cycle of 4ths (up 4) for the order that the flats are used within a flat
key sig.
Notice that the 2nd last flat, of any flat key sig containing more than
1 flat, is the tonic of the scale/key.
So, with 4 flats (Bb Eb Ab Db) the key is Ab major.
--
Joey Goldstein
<http://www.joeygoldstein.com>
<http://homepage.mac.com/josephgoldstein/AudioClips/audio.htm>
joegold AT sympatico DOT ca
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