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Practical Theory: Lesson #4
The Major Scale, or, Julie Andrews eat your heart
out, or, what is Solfege anyway?
By Pi |
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Hello, and welcome to Lesson 4 of Practical Theory. Let's
review what we've covered so far, In Lesson 1 we got acquainted
with the 12 notes that exist in western music, their names,
and their positions on your particular instrument. In Lesson
2 we discussed intervals, the distances between any 2
notes, and practiced singing intervals. In Lesson 3 we covered
the basic chords (Major minor, diminished, augmented and
Suspended). This month we are going to take a linear approach (scales)
to all this material we've been discussing. BTW, I said last lesson
that we would be discussing inversions, but after the feedback
I've received, I think that this topic will be more helpful at this
point- inversions will be later- and thanks for all your feedback!
The Major scale is the Grand pubah of all scales, so it's
important that you know it, (even if you do have bad associations
with cute singing, dancing, Austrian kids!). Knowing the Major scale
will help you understand all the chords and intervals we've been
discussing.
Once you understand the major scale, you will have a good basis
for understanding other scales, PLUS, scales are what you need to
create ripping solos, and everyone loves a chick that shreds!
I will also be introducing Solfege in this lesson, a very
handy sight singing method technique based on the major scale that
is used by most music schools. So without further ado, the Major
Scale!
EX 1: Hopefully, you have seen "the sound of music", or if not,
are at least familiar with the "Do - a deer" song. If not, see:
http://geocities.com/foreverkids2002/alldoremi.wav
*Yeah, this is from Comedy Central's "kids in the
hall", and yes, they sing a little flat, but it's the best version
I could find (you'll need QuickTime to open it.)
Now- lets play the major scale on your own. Go to your instrument,
and play the following notes, singing both the letter names and
the SOLFEGE (Do, re, Mi, Fa So, la, ti, Do) names as well. Lastly,
sing the number names.
C = Do = 1
D = re = 2
E = Mi = 3
F = Fa = 4
G = So = 5
A = la = 6
B = ti = 7
C = Do = 8
This probably sounds familiar. Pianists will note
that (as should the rest of you!) the Major scale starting on C
on the piano is all the white keys within one octave.
EX 2: Every Scale can be broken down into half and whole steps as
well, Another way to understand the Major scale is to memorize the
interval distance between the adjacent notes: For the Major scale,
the pattern is Whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. This
is a good way to get comfortable in all keys on your instrument.
Now try playing that pattern in any key (besides C, give yourself
a challenge here!):
1 = Do
Whole step
(two frets up on your guitar/bass, the second key
up on the piano)
2 = re
Whole step
3 = MI
half step
(one fret up on your guitar/bass, the next key up
on the piano)
4 = Fa
Whole step
5 = So
Whole step
6 =la
Whole step
7 = ti
half step
8 = Do
Ok, great, now that you can play the major scales in all the keys,
lets do something useful with it:
The Major scale can be used to create chords: by skipping every
other note, you can create what is called "Diatonic Chords"
(that just means chords built from the major scale: These chords
will end up having different "chord qualities" (Lesson 3 remember?)
Major, minor, and diminished (no augmented or suspended chords come
from diatonic chords.
For example, play these:
EX 3: By now, you should know your way around the Major Scale pretty
well in all the keys, now, keeping in mind that this is only the
first of many scales you will learn, and it is sonically limited,
go to: www.thatcrazychick.com/
(BTW- this is my Web site, feel free to poke around, check out some
tunes, see when I'm playing live, etc.)
Download the "Major Scale extravaganza". Now you can play along,
make up solos, etc. using the major scale: Note that the scale notes
1 3 5 and 7 will all sound very consonant against the chords, while
the scale notes 2, 4 and 6 will sound somewhat dissonant.
Have fun, and as always, please feel free to E-mail me with questions
and comments. Get down with you bad selves.
xo-
Pi |
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_________________________________
 Practical
Theory Lesson # 1 appeared in the September Issue of WOMANROCK.com.The
second issue Practical Theory
Lesson # 2 appeared in December 2002. The third issue Practical
Theory Lesson # 3 appeared in February 2003. Pi's album
Irrational is available for purchase at the WOMANROCK
MusicShop. |
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_________________________________
Pi
is a singer-songwriter who once thought she would be the female
"Jaco Pastorius" . After getting a BA in Music, she worked as a
studio and touring musician/teacher. Pi recently landed a deal with
the Atoll label in France. She performs in NYC, and tours regularly.
For more information, please visit her Web site: http://www.thatcrazychick.com. |
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