UNIT 1
BUILDING MUSIC VOCABULARY ________________________________________________________________________________________________LESSON FOUR: Scales
In next lesson you will learn how the chords are built. However, you will need to know some concepts before that: Scales and Intervals.
Intervals
An interval is the space between two notes. When you measure an interval, you must count the bottom and the top. Look at the examples below:
2nd 3rd 4th
5th 6th 7th
Activity 1
Write out the intervals requested. Notice that you can start with any note you want.
3rd 2nd 5th 7th
Activity 2
Take this beautiful tune to practise intervals. Notice that you can count intervals in ascending or descending way. Say just the size of the intervals and if they are ascending or descending. Let's take, for example, the three first intervals of the tune: Fourth ascending, Third ascending andThird descending.
Amazing Grace
Major scales
There are different kind of intervals, depending on the tones and semitones they have. Let's take the basic C Major scale and see the tones and the semitones the intervals have:
semitone semitone
Tone Tone Tone Tone Tone
Check this information below. Is it correctly done?
1 tone 2 tones 2 tones and 1 semitone
3tones & 1semitone 4tones & 1semitone 5tones & 1semitone
Activity 3
Take the intervals from the Activity 1 and write down how many tones and semitones they have.
Activity 4
Now, try to build the D Major scale. Follow these rules:
a. Write out the notes of the D scale.
b. Count and see whether all intervals have the same tones and semitones as C major scale or not.
c. Keep the intervals that have the same tones or semitones and modify those which don't in order to become the same.
d. Remember that you can use Sharpsto raise the pitch of a note by a semitone and Flats
to get them lower by a semitone.
Activity 5
Write down the F Major scale.
Activity 6
Write down the G Major scale.
Now, you already now that all the intervals you form from the first note of a Major scale are Major intervals. Fourth and Fifth intervals are called Perfect
Major 2nd Major 3rd Perfect 4th
Perfect 5th Major 6th Major 7th
Activity 7
Write out the following major intervals. Use at least, one sharp
Major 3rd Perfect 4th Perfect 5th Major 7th
MINOR SCALES
Next step is to learn minor scales. A minor is the basic minor scale. Notice the different position of the tones and semitones.
semitone semitone
Tone Tone Tone Tone Tone
Activity 8
Now, try to build the B minor scale. Follow the same rules as Activity 3 with the proper changes.
Activity 9
Write down the E minor scale.
Activity 10
Listen to the scales the teacher will play and say whether they are Major or minor. You might be more accustomed to hear Major scales rather than minor.
a. ____________
b. ____________
c. ____________
d. ____________
Interval Quality
As we said above, there are different kinds of intervals and the name of any interval is qualified using the terms:
This is called: Interval quality.
See the Interval Quality Box
Major 2nd
1 tone minor 2nd 1 semitone Major 3rd 2 tones minor 3rd 1 tone and 1 semitone Perfect 4th 2 tones and 1 semitone diminished 4th 2 tones Perfect 5th 3 tones and 1 semitone diminished 5th 3 tones Major 6th 4 tones and 1 semitone minor 6th 4 tones Major 7th 5 tones and 1 semitone minor 7th 5 tones
Activity 11Write an example of each interval inside the third column above.
Activity 12Ask your partner about quality intervals. Follow this English pattern:
What is a Major 2nd above C?
What is a minor 3rd from A?
It's D
It's C
Activity 13
Listen to the interval the teacher will play and say whether they are Major or minor. You will realize that minor intervals are sadder that Major ones.
a. ________ ________
b. ________ ________
c. ________ ________
d. ________ ________
Activity 14
Now write down all new words you have learnt. Classify them into music words and non music words.
