

This is because when you’re playing a scale you can only use an alphabet letter once. Now you might be asking why I decided to only call it an Eb and not a D# (D-Sharp). Start at C –> Move to D (“W”) –> Move to E (“W”) –> Move to F (“H”) –> Move to G (“W”) –> Move to A (“W”) –> Move to B (“W”) –> Arrive back at C (“H”) You can start on any key and use the above pattern but the C major scale is easy to remember. So for example I’m going to build it on the note of C. Remember the whole steps and half steps? Well here’s the pattern that EVERY major scale uses when moving along the keyboard, no matter what key you start on. So how do you build a major scale? Well it all has to do with the intervals you use. How you build them all depends on the intervals you use. You can build both major and minor patterns for every note/key on the piano. The major is a lot happier sounding while the minor sounds more dark and depressing. So there are two main types in western popular music – the major scale and the minor scale. But if we moved from C to the C#/Db it would be a half step, because there is no key in between the two. This is because there is a black key (a C#/Db) in between the two notes. So, if we start at a C and move to a D, it’s a whole step. So basically, whole steps skip a key and half steps don’t skip any keys. Here’s an image to help you visualize what I’m talking about: On the other hand a whole step is when you move along the keyboard to another key but you DO leave one key in between. A half step is moving along the keyboard (either left or right) from key to key WITHOUT any keys in between. This movement is based on different intervals of HALF STEPS and WHOLE STEPS. So how do you build one? Let’s talk about how they’re built. playing random notes you can hear the difference. It’s hard to describe in words, but when you play a scale on a piano vs. They sound like they go together and they – even though they’re different – sound pleasing to the ear when played one after another. What Is It?Ī scale is a set of notes that sound harmonic when played one after another. You can’t just sit down at a piano or pick up a guitar and play any notes one after another and expect it to sound good (of course, this is debatable depending on what you think sounds “good”).Ĭertain notes work well with others. It’s how music moves so our brains can comprehend the changes in pitch in relation to certain feelings or emotions. These are the basic ones you’ll be working with all the time: A, B, C, D, E, F, G In most western and popular styles there are 12 notes that can be combined in different ways to create music that actually sounds good via “scales” (more on these later). You might already know the basic notes in music but if not here’s a quick refresher. Music is universal, but around the world people use different time signatures, pitches and naming standards when it gets made. In this guide, we’re focused on western popular styles. Once you understand the concepts in this course and put them to use in your compositions, songs and productions, it will become second nature in no time. It can seem pretty complex and mathematical at times, but it’s really not that bad.
MUSICAL NOTEA HOW TO
Now that you know how music moves in time and how to read sheet music, lets dive deeper into the building blocks.
MUSICAL NOTEA SERIES
If you haven’t done so yet, read the first part of this series on time and rhythm in music. Welcome to the 2nd part of our basic music theory course for rappers, singers, songwriters and producers.
