MusicianCV · TR

Descending classical melodic minor

Open the interactive module

Building scales

Play A G F E D C B A in order. The step pattern is 2 2 1 2 2 1 2, including 2 semitone steps.

Play the displayed notes in order. The numbers are semitone distances between adjacent pitches. In a descending example they measure downward distances.

Example

Pitch sequence / successive semitones · A G F E D C B A / 2 2 1 2 2 1 2

Pitch sequence / successive semitones

A G F E D C B A 2 2 1 2 2 1 2

Try it

How do you move the pattern to a new starting pitch?

AnswerChoose a new start and apply the same steps in the same direction. The tetrachord examples use four notes.

Related topics

Chromatic scale and spelling

References

Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom · Further reading

Subject-expert review pending.