Major and Minor

A scale is a sequence of notes that can be used to build melodies and harmonies. The sequence is determined by a formula of whole steps and half steps, and this formula determines the type of scale.

The most common types of scales are Major and Minor. The formula for the major scale is (1 W 2 W 3 H 4 W 5 W 6 W 7 H 8). There are 3 types of minor scale. The formula for the natural minor scale is (1 W 2 H 3 W 4 W 5 H 6 W 7 W 8). The formula for harmonic minor is (1 W 2 H 3 W 4 W 5 H 6 m3 7 H 8). The melodic minor’s formula changes depending on whether you are ascending or descending. It is (1 W 2 H 3 W 4 W 5 W 6 W 7 H 8 W 7 W 6 H 5 W 4 W 3 H 2 W 1). In all these scales, the 1^st note and the 8^th note are the same. Because the scale begins on this note, the scale is named after it. Thus, a major scale beginning on F is called F major, while E minor would be a minor scale beginning on E.
Practice Problems:

On the sheet provided, please notate:

F major, A major, Bb major, A minor, C minor, E minor
Intervals
Summary:

An interval is the difference between two notes. An interval is described in two parts: a number and a quality. The number is the difference in letter names between the two pitches. For example, the interval between a C and an F will always be a 4^th, regardless of the sharps or flats. The quality is more difficult. If the interval falls on the major scale, then it is a major interval. For example, a D to a C# would be a major 7^th, because C# is the 7^th note of the D major scale. A minor interval is one half step smaller than a major interval. For example, a D to a C would be a minor 7^th, because it is one half step smaller than a major seventh.

There are, however, exceptions to this rule. The 4^th and 5^th are not referred to as major or minor, but Perfect. That is because these notes are the same in both the major and minor scales. If these notes are sharp or flat, they are referred to as augmented or diminished, respectively. Thus, a C to G# is an augmented 5^th, while a D to Ab is a diminished 5^th.
Practice Problems:

Please notate: major 3^rd above C, minor 7^th above D, perfect 4^th above Ab, diminished 5^th below A, augmented 5^th above Bb, minor 2^nd below B.

A triad is a chord composed of 3 notes. These notes are the root, third, and fifth note of a scale. A major triad is comprised of the root, 3^rd, and 5^th note of the major scale. Thus, Ab, C, and Eb compose an Ab major triad. A minor triad is comprised of the root, 3^rd, and 5^th note of the minor scale. Thus, Ab, Cb, and Eb comprise an Ab minor scale (notice that the 5^th is the same, the only thing that changes is the middle note). A triad is augmented if the 5^th is sharp and the 3^rd is major (ie C, E, and G# are a C augmented triad). A triad is diminished if the 5^th is flat and the 3^rd is minor (ie D, F, and Ab are a D diminished triad).

Notate the following triads. A major, Bb minor, B major, C diminished, Db augmented, G major.

A 7^th is a 4 note chord, composed of the root, 3^rd, 5^th, and 7^th notes of a scale. If the 3^rd and 7^th are from the major scale, the chord is called a major7 (so D, F#, A, C# is a D major7). If the 3^rd and 7^th are from the minor scale, the chord is a minor7 (so D, F, A, C is a D minor scale). If the 3^rd is major and the 7^th is minor, it is called a dominant7 (so D, F#, A, C is a D dominant7).

Practice problems:

Notate the following 7ths: D dominant, C major, Ab major, Bb minor, A dominant