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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