Piano Scales Theory

Scales form the base of all songs and exercises for the piano.

All songs and musical exercises are based on scales. A scale is an ascending or descending collection of pitches in a series of eight notes. There are many scales and types of scales. The most familiar scales are major and minor.

Major Scales

Major scales are a series of intervals that are either whole steps or half steps apart that follow this sequence: W-W-H-W-W-W-H. On the piano, whole steps have one key in between them. A half step is the distance to the nearest key, white or black.

Minor Scales

Minor scales are a series of intervals that are either whole steps or half steps apart that follow this sequence: W-H-W-W-H-W-W. Minor scales are Major scales that have the third, fifth and sixth tone lowered by a half step.

Chords

Chords are constructed on each tone of the scale and are often part of scales training. The first, fourth and fifth chord in a given key are the basis for most songs. Chords are composed of three notes that are each an interval of a third apart.

References

• The Free Dictionary: Scale
• Connexions: Minor Keys and Scales