Classification of Scales: A Complete Guide for Modes & Scales - 02

Introduction

In our previous lesson Constructing Scales we discussed about how scales are constructed. In this succeeding lecture we will describe types of scales in music. We can categories scales according to different parameters, such as:

1.    Number of notes in a scale

2.    Interval used in scale

Different types of scales are described as follows.

Classification of Scales According to Number of Notes

A scale has a fixed number of notes. Usually we play scales that have seven different pitches such as a Major Scale or a Minor Scale. Apart from these seven note scales there are other scale which have six or five different pitches, such as Blues Scale and Pentatonic Scales. According to the number of pitches found in a scale they could be categorized as:

1.   Heptatonic Scales (7 Notes)

a.   Major Scale

b.   Minor Scale

c.    Lydian Scale

d.   Mixolydian Scale

e.   Phrygian Scale

f.     Locrian Scale

 

2.   Hexatonic Scales (6 notes)

a.   Blues Scale

 

3.   Pentatonic Scales (5 notes)

a.   Major Pentatonic Scale

b.   Minor Pentatonic Scale

 

Classification of Scales According to Intervals

Scales can also be classified according to the pattern of intervals used in the scale. According to the intervals the scales generally classified as Diatonic Scale and Chromatic Scales. There could also be other forms of scales according to number of intervals.

Diatonic Scale

A  Diatonic Scale is an eight note musical scale composed of seven pitches and a repeated octave. The diatonic scale includes five whole steps and two half steps for each octave. The two half steps are separated from each other by either two or three whole steps, depending on their position in the scale. This pattern ensures that, in a diatonic scale spanning more than one octave. Major Scale is an example of Diatonic Scale

Chromatic Scale

A chromatic scale consists of an ascending or descending sequence of pitches proceeding always by semitones. The structure of a chromatic scale is therefore uniform throughout, unlike major and minor scales which have tones and semitones in particular arrangements. In simple words, when you play all twelve notes of music in ascending or descending sequence, it will be chromatic scale. For example playing C Chromatic Scale in ascending order will look like as:

C – C# - D – Eb – E – F – F# - G – Ab – A – Bb – B – C

Chromatic Scale is not used for compositions. In next lessons we will discuss all these scales with their examples. Happy Playing!!