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The supertonic is still D B is the leading note, because it is the 7th note in the ascending scale.Ī chromatic scale has 12 notes, and each step of the scale is a semitone, (see above for more about semitones). If we write out the scale of C major descending, the second note we write is B. Technical names are worked out from ascending scales.įor example, in C major ascending, the second note we write is D, so D is the supertonic in C major. You need to learn these technical names because there are often general knowledge questions about them in Grade 5 Theory! We use “technical” names to talk about each note of the diatonic scale, instead of saying “first note”, “third note” and so on. If you write a descending melodic scale with a key signature, there are no accidentals to add.į minor melodic descending, with no accidentals. These accidentals must raise each note by a semitone (half step).į minor melodic ascending, with 2 accidentals. If you write an ascending melodic scale with a key signature, you always have to add two accidentals, (natural, sharp or double sharp signs), to the 6th and 7th notes. Notice that on the way up we have A natural and B natural, but on the way down we have A flat and B flat. Minor melodic scales are a little more difficult, because they have one pattern on the way up and a different pattern on the way down:įor example, here is a scale of C Melodic Minor: Here is F minor harmonic written with a key signature. It could be a natural, sharp or double sharp sign, but is never a flat sign. In an ascending scale it is the 7th note, in a descending scale it is the 2nd.
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This accidental must raise the 7th note by a semitone (half step). If you write a harmonic scale with a key signature, you always have to add one accidental. Minor harmonic scales use the same notes on the way down. If you write a major scale with a key signature, there are no accidentals to add.Īll minor harmonic scales have the following pattern, where 3S=three semitones: If you’ve ever wondered why we need notes like "E sharp" when "F" seems to be the same note, you’ll see that we need them in keys like F sharp major! (Remember, you can only use each letter name once per octave). Your browser does not support the audio element. If you take two notes with one note between them, you’ll have found a tone:Ĭ to D is a tone, as are E to F sharp, D to E and B flat to C.Īll major scales are made up with the following pattern, where T=tone and S=semitone: A to B flat is one too, and so is G to G sharp. Imagine a piano keyboard: two neighbouring keys (whatever colour) are semitones:Į to F is a semitone and B to C is a semitone. You are asked to write scales starting on the tonic, which is the technical name for the first note of the scale.Īll diatonic scales have something in common they have a defined pattern of tones (whole steps) and semitones (half steps).
Melodic minor scales treble clef how to#
You need to know how to write all the major, minor harmonic and minor melodic scales, with up to 6 sharps or flats in the key signature. They are the most common type of scale in Western classical music. Most of the scales you will have played up to now will have been diatonic scales. We talk about diatonic scales as being in a certain key, for example, in "C Major". (Even though you might think that G# and Ab are the same note, they aren’t!) The 8th note is the same as the 1st note, but an octave higher or lower.Ī, B, C, D, E, F, G#, A1 is a correct scale, butĪ, B, C, D, E, F, Ab, A natural is not a correct scale, because the letter name A has been used twice: once as A flat and once as A natural. (There is also another type of minor - "natural minor", but you won't be tested on this).ĭiatonic scales are usually played and written in groups of 8 notes, so that they sound finished. There are 3 main types: major, minor harmonic, and minor melodic. For Grade 5 Music Theory, you need to know about diatonic scales and chromatic scales.Ī diatonic scale has 7 notes and each of those notes is given different letter name, A-G.
Melodic minor scales treble clef series#
A scale is a series of notes going up (ascending) or down (descending).
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