Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Scales - facts 16

1) A minor blues scale can be formed by using the intervals of: whole and a half, whole, half, half, whole and a half, whole (3 2 1 1 3 2). C minor blues scale would be (C, Eb, F, F#, G, Bb, C). You can also form a minor blues scale by adding a note after the third note in the minor pentatonic scale. Just raise it a half step from the third note. The C minor pentatonic scale is (C, Eb, F, G, Bb, C). The blues scale for C minor would be (C, Eb, F, F#, G, Bb, C). The F# was added.

2) A major blues scale can be formed by using the intervals of: whole, half, half, whole and a half, whole, whole and a half (2 1 1 3 2 3). C major blues scale would be (C, D, Eb, E, G, A, C). You can also form a major blues scale by adding a note before the third note in the major pentatonic scale. Just lower it a half step from the third note. The C major pentatonic scale is (C, D, E, G, A, C). The blues scale for C major would be (C, D, Eb, E, G, A, C). The Eb was added.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Scales - facts 15

1) A whole tone scale can be formed by starting on a note, and going up two semitones to the next note. C whole tone scale would be (C, D, E, F#, G#, A#, C)

2) C sharp whole tone scale would be (C#, D#, F, G, A, B, C#)

Scales - facts 14

1) A major pentatonic scale can be formed by dropping the fourth and seventh notes of the major scale. C major pentatonic scale would be (C, D, E, G, A, C)

2) A minor pentatonic scale can be formed by dropping the second and sixth notes of the minor scale. C minor pentatonic scale would be (C, Eb, F, G, Bb, C).

Scales - trivia 8

1) What is the third degree of a scale called?

a) supertonic
b) mediant

2) What is the sixth degree of a scale called?

a) dominant
b) submediant

Check comments for the answers.

Tonic

The tonic is the eighth degree of a scale. It is shown as VIII. The first degree of a scale is also called the tonic.

Subtonic or leading tone

The subtonic or leading tone is the seventh degree of a scale. It is shown as VII. The natural minor scales have a subtonic for the 7th note rather than a leading tone. The other scales have a leading tone.

Submediant

The submediant is the sixth degree of a scale. It is shown as VI.

Dominant

The dominant is the fifth degree of a scale. It is shown as V.

Subdominant

The subdominant is the fourth degree of a scale. It is shown as IV.

Supertonic

The supertonic is the second degree of a scale. It is shown as II.

Mediant

The mediant is the third degree of a scale. It is shown as III.

Tonic

The tonic is the first degree of a scale. It is shown as I. The eighth degree of a scale is also called the tonic.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Music terms - trivia 14

1) What does tenuto mean?

a) shorten the note
b) hold the note a little longer

2) What does vivace mean?

a) to play lively and quick
b) to play slow

Check comments for the answers.

Music terms - trivia 13

1) What does senza mean?

a) with
b) without

2) What does poco a poco mean?

a) a lot
b) little by little

Check comments for the answers.

Music terms - trivia 12

1) What does poco mean?

a) lot
b) little

2) What does sempre mean?

a) always
b) never

Check comments for the answers.

Music terms - trivia 11

1) What does dissonance mean?

a) intervals and chords that sound stable
b) intervals and chords that sound unstable

2) What does con brio mean?

a) to play with spirit and vigor
b) to play solemn and slow

Check comments for the answers.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Vivace

Vivace means to play lively and quick.

Tenuto

Tenuto means to hold the note a little longer.

Poco a poco

Poco a poco means little by little.

Senza

Senza means without.

Sempre

Sempre means always.

Poco

Poco means little.

Con brio

Con brio means to play with spirit and vigor.

Brillante

Brillante means to play brilliant, bright.