Glossary
Blues Scale
A six-note scale that adds a 'blue note' (a chromatic passing tone, typically a diminished 5th or augmented 4th) to the minor pentatonic scale, creating a distinctive soulful sound.
Example:
When improvising over a blues progression, musicians frequently employ the blues scale to capture the genre's characteristic expressive quality.
Chromatic Scale
A 12-note scale consisting entirely of half steps, encompassing every pitch within an octave in Western music.
Example:
Playing every single note on a piano keyboard from C to the next C, including all the black keys, demonstrates a chromatic scale.
Flats (♭)
An accidental symbol that indicates a note should be lowered in pitch by one half step.
Example:
To play a B*♭*, you would play the note that is a half step lower than B natural.
Half Step
The smallest interval in Western music, representing the distance between two adjacent notes on a piano keyboard.
Example:
The interval from C to C# is a half step, as is the interval from E to F.
Interval Recognition
The skill of accurately identifying the specific distance and quality (e.g., major, minor, perfect) between any two given notes.
Example:
Strong interval recognition allows a musician to quickly identify that the distance between C and G is a perfect fifth.
Major Pentatonic Scale
A five-note scale derived from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th degrees of a major scale, often associated with bright and uplifting melodies.
Example:
The melody of 'Amazing Grace' can be played entirely using the G major pentatonic scale, highlighting its simple and resonant quality.
Minor Pentatonic Scale
A five-note scale derived from the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th degrees of a natural minor scale, commonly used in blues and rock music.
Example:
The iconic guitar riff in 'Stairway to Heaven' by Led Zeppelin heavily utilizes the A minor pentatonic scale.
Pentatonic Scale
A five-note scale widely used across various musical cultures, known for its consonant and versatile sound.
Example:
Many simple melodies, like those found in folk music or children's songs, are built using the pentatonic scale due to its inherent pleasantness.
Scale Identification
The ability to recognize and name different types of scales, such as chromatic, whole-tone, or pentatonic, by their sound or written notation.
Example:
On the AP exam, a common task is scale identification, where you might be asked to identify a given melodic passage as a whole-tone scale.
Sharps (#)
An accidental symbol that indicates a note should be raised in pitch by one half step.
Example:
If you see an F*#* in a musical score, you play the note that is a half step higher than F natural.
Whole Step
An interval consisting of two half steps, or the distance between two notes separated by one intervening note on the piano.
Example:
The distance from C to D is a whole step, as is the distance from F# to G#.
Whole-Tone Scale
A six-note scale where each note is separated by a whole step, creating a symmetrical structure and a dreamy, unstable sound.
Example:
The ethereal opening of Debussy's 'Voiles' famously uses the whole-tone scale to create a sense of floating ambiguity.