1.3 Scales and Melody

Scales

• A @@scale@@ is a collection of arranged pitches used as the basis for music
• The distance between any two pitches is an @@interval@@
• An @@octave@@ is an interval between two pitches where they sound very similar, just higher or lower. the frequencies are related in a 2:1 ratio
• The @@diatonic scale@@ is the Western music set of seven pitches which make up the octave (eight span), as the first is repeated (just the white keys)
• The @@chromatic scale@@ is the 12 pitches, including the diatonic scale and the five in between (white and black keys)
• Diatonic pitches are notated on @@lines and spaces@@ in the staff
• Chromatic pitches are notated with either flat (@@b@@) or sharp (@@#@@)
• A @@half step@@ (semitone) is the smallest easily identifiable interval (C to C#, B to C, E to F, etc.)
• A @@whole step@@ is two half steps, and the distance between two white keys which are separated by a black key

Melody

• A melody is an organized series of pitches built from any scale
• Pitches can be organized in a melodic line
• A tune is a simple, easily singable, catchy melody (a special, relatively short, kind of melody)
• Motives and themes are like the tunes of longer pieces?
• Phrases are typically 2, 4, or 8 bars long, sometimes longer, but balanced!
• Balance between phrases can be strengthened with parallelism (same notes, different words)
• Sequence is the duplication of a phrase at 2+ different pitch levels
• A climax is a distinct high point
• A cadence is a stopping or pausing place
• The distinctive fragment of melody repeated in a composition is its motive
• A theme (topic) is the basic subject matter of longer pieces

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