Define scale in muscial terms

Answer 1

The notes of the musical scale always follow a set pattern of Tones and Semitones. If you look at a piano keyboard, 1 key up is a semitone, 2 keys up is a tone.

The major scale is

Start note, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone

N - T- T - ST - T - T - T - ST

c - d - e - f - g - a - b - c

Hence, the scale of D major would then be

N - T- T - ST - T - T - T - ST

d - e - f# - g - a - b - c# -d

E major

e - f# - g#- a - b - c# - d# e

F major

f - g - a - Bb - c - d - e - f

etc.

The Harmonic Major Scale is

Start note, Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone, semitone, 3semitones, Semitone

i.e.

C minor

N - T - ST - T - T - ST - 3ST - ST

C - D - Eb - F - G - Ab - B - C

D minor

D - E - F - G - A - Bb - C# - D

etc.

Answer 2

Any notes can be used in a scale, but the major scale formula goes;

W W H W W W H

W stands for whole step and H stands for half step, so in C major there is a tone between C and D, a tone between D and E, a semitone between E and F, a tone between F and G, a tone between G and A, a tone between A and B and finally a semitone between B and C.

In the key of G, for example, the note F has to be raised to F♯ to keep the same formula W W H W W W H. Likewise in the key of F the B note needs to be lowered to Bb to keep the same formula. In the key of B major, all the black notes need to be used to keep this pattern.

We also only need to use each letter name once in a diatonic scale, for example it would be incorrect to call F "F" in the F♯ major scale (F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, F, F♯). Notice we have two F notes and no E note in the scale, to resolve this problem - we need to rename F to E♯ (again because E♯ is a semitone higher than E, and there is no accidental key between E and F). Therefore the correct spelling of the scale is F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯.

This is often a confusion for beginners but they will master it eventually.

There are also minor and many other types of scale, but I'm just sticking with the major scale!

Answer 3

A series of notes in ascending and descending order following a pattern. Usually containing 8 notes, however some may not such as a chromatic scale or certain music genre scales.

Answer 4

The first note in any given scale is called "Tonic" or sometimes also referred as "Home."

Answer 5

What is the definition of a musivcal scale?

Scale- an arrangement of pitches from higher to lower according to a specific pattern of whole steps and half steps.

Answer 6

Scale is the correct musical term.