To make that point more clear, look at the example of the C Major scale below. The distance between notes in a major scale always follow this pattern: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.Įach note in a major scale can also be called a "Scale degree." What is a major scale?Ī major scale is made up of seven unique notes (and one repeated) that span the range of an octave. Some seem angry and could be used when writing pieces about war, others sad, and some joyous. When reading scales, you'll notice that the key is set in the key signature, not by accidentals on each note.Įach key also has character traits. There are several categories of scales: Major, minors, and modes. If you look at a scale, it looks like a ladder where each rung is a note that fits in the key signature. For you history buffs, or if you just want to rock on trivia night, then remember that the word scale comes from the Latin word "Scala," which means ladder. If you were to use just those notes, you could make melodies and harmonies that would sound good together. Tchaikovsky's Manfred Symphony in B minor ends in B major.Scales are collections of the eight notes that make up a key. The "Tuileries" movement from Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition is in the key. The second movement of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. Brahms also wrote the slow movement to his Second Symphony in B major, as well as the fourth and last piece of the Ballades, Op. 8, is in B major, though the piece ends in B minor. The aria " La donna è mobile" from Verdi's opera Rigoletto is in the key, as is the " Flower Duet" from Lakmé. įew large-scale works in B major exist: these include Haydn's Symphony No. You can download the audio file.Īlthough B major is usually considered a remote key (due to its distance from C major in the circle of fifths and fairly large number of sharps), Frédéric Chopin regarded its scale as the easiest of all to play on the piano, as its black notes fit the natural positions of the fingers well as a consequence he often assigned it first to beginning piano students, leaving the scale of C major until last because he considered it the hardest of all scales to play completely evenly (because of its complete lack of black notes). Audio playback is not supported in your browser.
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