Lesson 16: Introduction to Scales
- Play a full major scale and two shorter scale patterns evenly.
- Hear the small half-steps inside a major scale.
A scale is a melody in eight notes.
A scale puts notes in pitch order. A half-step is the smallest step; a whole-step spans two half-steps. Major scales follow W·W·H·W·W·W·H.
One full scale, two shorter patterns
On alto these read as F major (Bb), C major, and Bb major (Bb, Eb). Exercise titles name soprano keys.
Play: Ode to Joy
Play two bars at a time, then join them; listen for the small step between the third and fourth notes of the key.
Chubb, Mutopia 528; public domain, soprano part only.
Now play these
- Ode to Joy — complete Chubb hymn
- A melody made of scale fragments.
- Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
- Keep the falling scale steps even.
When the three patterns and Ode to Joy keep the same beat without pauses at the small steps, move on to Lesson 17.