Evil Kramer’s Theory Corner

~ Circles of Strife part ii ~

There are some things you should know about the major scale. One, it is simply delicious. A major scale is like a vegatabe platter with slices of havarti cheese, easy on the palate and fun to display. Two, there are seven tones in it. Ascending or descending, it doesn't matter. If played right, after the seventh note is struck, the next note should be the same one as the first one you struck only one octave higer. Yummy, no?

Two, it follows a pattern. A couple of different patterns, actually, but who's counting. We will focus on just one. The pattern is this. Say it with me:

I to II        Whole

II to III      Whole

III to IV     Half

IV to V      Whole

V to VI      Whole

VI to VII    Whole

VII to VIII  Half

VIII of course being I only an octave higher.

That is to say from the root note (I), or tonic, there is one whole step to the next note (II). From II to III a whole step. From III to IV a half step, and so on. Think of this this way: If your first note is $0 then your next note is $1. Your next note is $2. But your your next note is $2.50. Horizontially it looks like this:

/\  /\  /\  /\  /\   /\   /\

 W W H W W W H

Caveat: the third thing you should know about the major scale, and this applies to all western music theory, there is only a half step between C and F and also between E and F This means that an E# has the same tone of an F, not an Fb, as seems more intuitive. The Fb, of course has the same tone as an E. In practice the major scale looks like this. In C:

 /\  /\  /\  /\ /\  /\  /\

C D E F G A B C

From C to D is a whole step. From D to E is a whole step. From E to F is only a half step per our previous caveat.

How does this tie into my last column? If you would be so kind as to retreive it or go to http://www.musicliberationproject.com/4/4/kramer.html and review that the goal is to understand the way we decide on what to call any given note. Well, in the next installment we will use this information to write out each and every major scale using the circle of fourths that I am sure you have retained your powerful, powerful brains. I implore you, have you questions? Doubts? Concerns? Delightful Recipes? Please, oh please, drop me a line at:

evilkramer@musicliberationproject.com

Otherwise, I will assume you have progressed to yet another rung on the the ladder of western music theory. As for me, I must tend to my duck, which currently resides in the sauna I like to call my oven. Marmalade, anyone?