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 Remember
our discussion in the "Starter Studies"
about half steps? At the end of the discussion
I asked you to file away the words "whole
step" and "natural." Well
bring them back out because we are about
to talk about them.
In
the figure above there are two measures. In
measure 1 is the C scale. This scale is 1
octave (from 1 C to another C). It's formal
name is the "C major scale." A "Major"
scale is a scale that sounds relatively happy
when you play it. Play the C major scale on
your keyboard now. Each scale has a formula
to use to play it. The formula for a "major
" scale is:
whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half
This
formula refers to half steps and whole steps.
A whole step is 2 half steps. It is that
simple. Put your right hand thumb (#1 finger)
on middle C. To go from C to C sharp is
one half step. To go from C sharp to
D is another half step. Add them together
and you get 1 whole step. Look at measure
1 in the figure above. The BLUE areas above
the notes show the whole steps. The YELLOW
areas above the notes show the half steps.
Play each note up the scale and as you do,
notice how each whole step or half step
is determined. Try this until you have a
good idea of what we are trying to show
for the "major" scale formula.
(Note:
the fingering to play this scale is 1,2,3,
curl your thumb under your palm then 1,2,3,4,5).
Now
look at measure 2. This is the D major scale.
All major scales are constructed in the same
way. Put your right hand thumb (#1 finger)
on D. To go from D to D sharp is one half
step. To go from D sharp to E is another
half step. Add them together and you get 1
whole step. Look at measure 2 in the figure
above. The BLUE areas above the notes show
the whole steps. The YELLOW areas above the
notes show the half steps. Play each note
up the scale and as you do, notice how each
whole step or half step is determined. Try
this until you have a good idea of what we
are trying to show for the "major"
scale formula. (Note:
the fingering to play this scale is 1,2,3,
curl your thumb under your palm then 1,2,3,4,5).
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