MusicianCV · TR

Harmonic major

Open the interactive module

Building scales

Play C D E F G A♭ B C in order. The step pattern is 2 2 1 2 1 3 1, including 3 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 · C D E F G A♭ B C / 2 2 1 2 1 3 1

Pitch sequence / successive semitones

C D E F G A♭ B C 2 2 1 2 1 3 1

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.