Learning Objectives
- Define the major scale as a diatonic scale with a particular pattern of whole and half steps.
- Define the term scale degree and learn about the important role of the tonic scale degree.
- Learn the C major scale.
Scales IV: Transposing the Major Scale
Transposition
Up to this point, we have only looked at one major scale: that of C major. This is a good scale to begin learning with because it only uses the white keys on the piano. C major is the only major scale that does not contain sharps or flats. In order to spell any of the other major scales, we will need to use accidentals to maintain the pattern of whole and half steps (WWH W WWH) that makes a major scale sound major. It really doesn't matter what note we begin our major scale on, as long as we consistently maintain this pattern.
For example, we could move our C major scale up a half step so that it begins on a C#. In order to maintain the correct pattern of whole steps and half steps in this scale, we would need to raise all of the scale degrees by the same amount. As illustrated in the example below, we would need to put a sharp in front of each of the pitches in the C major scale, thereby moving the entire scale upwards by a half step. Then we would have a C-sharp major scale.
The C-sharp major scale
Now (slowly) try playing the C-sharp major scale on your virtual keyboard below, to verify whether or not the pattern of whole and half steps has been maintained. Yes—the two half steps in the scale are still between scale degrees 3 and 4 (E# to F#) and between 7 and 8 (B# to C#). Since the pattern is the same as the pattern used for C major, it still sounds like a major scale, only a half step higher.
Click this small keyboard icon below.
Keyboard x
A piece based on the pitches of the C-sharp major scale is said to be in the key of C-sharp major. As we have discovered, this key contains seven sharps (one for every pitch in the scale), and its tonic is C#. The process of moving a piece of music from one key to another is called transposition. In this case, we have transposed the C major scale up a semitone to C-sharp major.
Now let's try transposing the C major scale down by a half step. What would we need to do to maintain the correct pattern of whole and half steps? That's right—we would need to lower every scale degree by a half step, by putting a flat in front of each pitch (as illustrated in the example below). Now we have transposed the C major scale down a semitone to C-flat major. And we have discovered that the key of C-flat major contains seven flats.
The C-flat major scale
Again, try playing the C-flat major scale on your virtual keyboard, to verify that the correct pattern of whole and half steps has been maintained. Yes—the two half steps are still between scale degrees 3 and 4 (E♭ and F♭) and between 7 and 8 (B♭ to C♭). All of the other steps in the scale are whole steps.
Click this small keyboard icon below.
Keyboard x
We could continue transposing the C major scale in this manner, moving it up and down to begin on each of the twelve chromatic pitches. In the next lesson, we will learn another way to build major scales that does not require transposition.