Overview
- historically, music was based on the seven natural pitches A-G.
- different types of scales could be formed by arranging these notes to start and end on different pitches.
- several such scales were in common use in the Renaissance.
- the scale starting on C was called the Ionian mode and is equivalent to the modern major scale.
- major scales can be formed on other pitches by using accidentals.
- the major scale was originally seen as no more significant than other arrangements of the seven natural pitches.
- the leading tone was one attribute of the major scale that was often "borrowed" in other scales.
- as the major scale rose in prominence, the desire to build major scales on other pitches led to standardization in the use of accidentals and the development of modern tuning systems.
- for the past several centuries, major scales have formed the basis for most of Western melody and harmony.
- learning and practicing major scales is an important step towards gaining instrumental or vocal proficiency.
- when it comes to gaining musical proficiency, even better is to practice making melodies using the notes of a scale.
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