Guitar Theory

Building a Major Scale [Key Center]

In Western music, we don't typically play music (songs) in all 12 tones as a basis. Rather, we play music in 7 tones (heptatonic). Ultimately, the 7 tones we use to play music, creates one tone as the center. Center = home-tone in our ear.

There is 12 tone music (atonal, dodecaphonic). It was pioneered by Arnold Schoenberg. 12 tone music was a 'revolution' that never gained a foothold on the world audience.

Western tonal music is based on the Major scale which can be created using a series of whole & half steps that 'select' the tones for a particular key center.

The Major Scale Pattern

w w h - w w w h or 2 2 1 - 2 2 2 1

w = whole step (2 frets) = 2

h = half step (1 fret) = 1

We prefers the numbers… 221-2221 - it's like a phone number. 'Dial-up' the Major scale. 'Phone home-tone.'

Notes 'selected' by this pattern are part of a lattice of tones that create a tonal or key center.

Together, all of the tones selected point our ears to one tone as home - one tone is the HOME tone in our musical ear. The tone that is home is actually at the center of all of the tones (physically/in nature). The center tone is called the tonic.

12 Major key centers are created by starting this pattern on each of the 12 tones. The Major scale has half steps between step 3-4 & 7-8. It is a 7 tone scale (heptatonic).

It 'eliminates' 5 tones (one at each whole step). Everything that is 'selected' or created from a Major key is called derivative or diatonic.

The derivate vs. parallel lesson expands on this (comparing things to the Major scale).

Here are two examples for the tones C & G. The Major scale creates the numbering system for whatever is the 'starting' point.

 

Points to Remember

There are 12 tones. 7 naturals, 5 sharps/flats. Naturally occurring half steps are between B/C & E/F. The Major scale has half steps between 3-4 & 7-8.

If we start the 221-2221 from C, we skip all the sharps/flats.

Another Look

Guitar Theory: Building Chords from a Major Scale (EON)