Piano Scales

     The word "scale" comes from the Latin word "la scala" meaning "ladder". So a scale is a ladder of notes that leads from the root up to the octave note. The root is the starting point of each scale: in the key of C, C is the root. In the key of Db, Db is the root, and so on. The word "octave" comes from the Latin "octavo" which means eight (octopus, octagon, etc.).

     A major scale moves from the root note up the ladder of 8 notes to the octave note in this pattern:

Whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step,  half step

     A whole step skips a key, whether the key is black or white. A half step is the closest possible two keys. So from C to D is a whole step, because it skips the black key in between. From D to E is also a whole step, since it skips the black key in between. But from E to F is a half step because they are the two notes closest to each other.

     Any two adjacent black keys are whole steps, because there are white keys in between.

     Is the distance between B and C# a half step or a whole step?

     Correct. It is a whole step. Why? Because it skips a key -- C.

     So all major scales follow this pattern of  whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step.

     Every major scale has a kissing cousin called a relative minor scale.  It is a relative because it uses the same notes as it's relative major scale (with two exceptions) and starts on the 6th degree of the major scale.

     Minor scales are formed from major scales. There are 3 forms of minor scales: natural minor scales (a natural minor scale uses exactly the same notes as it's relative major scale, but starts on the 6th degree of that scale; melodic minor scales (we won't get into it, since it is kind of confusing and is not used a great deal anyway); and harmonic minor scales.

     Harmonic minor scales are like major scales with two differences: the 3rd note of the scale is lowered 1/2 step, and the 6th note of the scale is lowered 1/2 step.

Here are the 12 major scales and their relative harmonic minor scales

     Here is how the C major scale appears on a piano keyboard. Notice the whole and half steps:

     It's easy to see because only white keys are being used. Any other major scale has one or more black keys because of the rule of WWHWWWH. Here is the Gb major scale:

     For a complete course on scales, we have a DVD in which Duane demonstrates major and minor scales on the keyboard as well as other kinds of scales such as whole tone, chromatic, and all 7 modal scales -- Dorian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and so on.