What is a SCALE?

	A SCALE is a stepwise sequence of notes that belong to a particular KEY.
	The SCALE climbs up or down the ladder  of musical pitches, from the TONIC note (or 'at home' note) to the same note an OCTAVE away.
	Each letter of the Musical Alphabet is used in order, without missing or repeating any, apart from the OCTAVE.  (We will learn about some special scales later, which might miss  or repeat a note, but for now, don't miss or repeat any.)

 C  D  E  F  G  A  B  C 

C		8	an OCTAVE higher
B		7	é
A		6	é
G		5	é
F		4	é
E		3	é
D		2	é
C		1	é

There are EIGHT steps in common scales. Climb up the steps with your mouse. (Click to hear the sound)

Playing a Scale

Experiment with different scales using the white notes of the Piano.  Start on any note Play each note ONCE in ORDER until you reach the same note you started on, an OCTAVE away. Try A to A, or G to G, or C to C   These SCALES will all sound slightly different. They are all SCALES, but have different INTERVALS (which we'll learn later) which make them sound different. Of all the scales you played on the white notes, which one did you like the most?

Scales in Melodies

SCALES or parts of SCALES are used in MELODIES (Tunes). e.g. 'Joy to the World'. Try playing the white notes only of the Piano, going DOWN (from R to L), without missing any, from 'C' to 'C'.  Think about the tune of 'Joy to the  World' and copy it's rhythm.  C    B  A G      F E   D    C  Did that sound like the tune you know? Click here to check if you were right. You have just played:  The SCALE of 'C Major' descending  (going down). Now try playing it UP the scale, using the same rhythm.  C    D  E F      G A   B    C  Click here to check if you were right. You have just played: The SCALE of 'C Major' ascending  (going up, C D E F G A B C). Just for fun, you could click here for the DOWN scale again, and play the  UP scale with it. Then, click here for the UP scale, and you play the DOWN one with it. Click here to see if your version was like this one.

       

 

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