Scales and Key Signatures

First degree of scale

tonic

Second degree of scale

supertonic

Third degree of scale

mediant

Fourth degree of scale

subdominant

Fifth degree of scale

dominant

Sixth degree of scale

submediant

Seventh degree of scale

Leading note

Major scale

tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone

Natural minor

Lower 3rd, 6th and 7th

Harmonic minor

Same as natural minor but raise 7th

Melodic minor

ascending: lower only 3rd

descending: lower 3rd, 6th and 7th

chromatic scale

consists of all 12 semitones within an octave

whole tone scale

a scale consisting entirely of whole steps

pentatonic scale

made up of five notes per octave

major: no 4th or 7th degree of a scale

minor: no 2nd or 6th degree of a scale

no sharps and flats (need to know bout 6 sharp or flat key signiture)

c major and a minor

to find the next sharp key signiture

every sharp is a fifth away from the preceding one

to find the next flat key signiture

every flat is a fourth away from the preceding one

Order of sharps

Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

Order of flats

Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father

What will give you a major scale that the key signature (sharp) belongs to

Look at the last sharp and go up a semitone.

What will give you a major scale that the key signature (flat) belongs to

Look at the second to last flat