Theory And Composition Group

[the-crust]

How come this buddy isnt a sticky like t'others?

[imported_adrianclark]

Le Bump :wink:

Well, you'll all have to start asking some questions


Adrian

[jalapeno]

Please explain the chromatic scale (again )

[imported_adrianclark]

Please explain the chromatic scale (again )

Seriously? Okay, here goes...

Every note in our "western" system of music. And that's really all there is to it. Like any scale, it's often presented in linear form to make it easy to see the patterns, but that's not strictly necessary... it's just a collection of notes. You could look at it as the "master scale" of which any other scale is a subset.

It's important to know the pattern of note names...

A A#/Bb B C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab

In the context of the chromatic scale, you can call the sharp/flat notes by either name, but in other scales their "correct" names will depend on context. For instance, in the key of G minor, you'd have a Bb, but that note would be called A# in the key of F# major.


Adrian

[jalapeno]

Got to start somewhere.

[T_J_G]

Right, i did a bit of reading from The Complete Idiots Guide to Music Theory by Martin Miller.

I read the chapter on scales and modes.

This what i've gathered.

Scales are sound different becasue of the intervals (or steps) .

There are three types of minor : natural,harmonic and melodic minor.

To make the scale you start of on the root note, say A for example, and then move up in terms of tones and semitones in this pattern.

(1=semitone , 2=tone)

Natural Minor : 2 1 2 2 1 2 2

So we start on A then move on a tone to B, and then a semitone to C

(remember: B to C doesn't have a sharp note in between so it's just a semitone jump.)

And you end up with A B C D E F G A.

As i said each scale has it's own pattern it follows, (and i'm trying to find a way or remembering them!) Here they are(again 1 is a semitone and 2 is a tone,and this time 3 is 1.5 tones):

Major : 2 2 1 2 2 2 1

Natural Minor: 2 1 2 2 1 2 2

Harmonic Minor : 2 1 2 2 1 3 1

Melodic Minor : 2 1 2 2 2 2 1

Now this seems pretty easy to me , as long as you can rember those you can make up any scale.

Right know i need to learn the notes of the fretboard so i can 'build' scales.

I will write what i learnt about modes a bit later.

Hope that helps somebody.
Tim

[frankus]

I'd say don't attack all the scales at once.. if you pick them in groups of similar scales you get to pick up the importance of the degrees of the scales.

I'd stick to the modes of the major scale to begin with.

[clarky]

guys...
on the theme of "got to start somewhere"

I think that intervals are a really great place to start..

once you get your head around intervals, the other stuff becomes much easier..

intervals are essentially the alphabet of music..

[frankus]

intervals are essentially the alphabet of music..

Hmm I wonder if there's an intervalic equivlent of Xztphft.

[clare_bear2]

guys...
on the theme of "got to start somewhere"

I think that intervals are a really great place to start..

once you get your head around intervals, the other stuff becomes much easier..

intervals are essentially the alphabet of music..

And I would suggest going to clarky's website and printing off the pdf on Intervals. There are loads of other great lessons too:

http://www.paul-clark.com/