What I learned from Chapter 3
One of my favorite things i've learned from chapter 3 would have to be the pentatonic scales. I think it's very complex at first, but after you really dig into it's fairly easy. In a pentatonic scale there are only five notes, unlike our regular major and minor scales with eight notes. This specific scale does not have the fourth or seventh scale degree in it, meaning that it only contains 1,2,3,5, and 6. The reason that this is somewhat easy for me is because I just write out the entire scale and take out the fourth and seventh scale degree. It helps me determine if i'm correct easier and quicker in my opinion.
We also learned the difference between chromatic and diatonic scales. A chromatic scale is made up entirely of half steps, while a diatonic scale is seven different letter names in a particular arrangement. This wasn't very difficult for me to understand either, considering the fact that I've learned how to play chromatic and diatonic scales in band. Being able to tell the difference between a chromatic and diatonic scale when someone else is playing it out loud can sometimes be difficult to me though. I thought it would be easy to be able to distinct the two different scales, but once we went over them in class I realized that I need to study them a bit more.
Another thing we learned was the circle of fifths, however, I already have this engraved in my brain from being in band. The circle of fifths is an easier way for me to be able to determine how many sharps or flats are in my major and minor scales. As long as you remember that the letter C is on the very top, informing you that there are no flats or sharps, you should then easily be able to label the circle. Sharps go down the right side, while flats go down the left side. In fact, they even spell out the order of flats and sharps --> BEADGCF -->> FCGDAEB. As long as you know how to label the circle of fifths you will easily be able to memorize your scales.
We also learned the difference between chromatic and diatonic scales. A chromatic scale is made up entirely of half steps, while a diatonic scale is seven different letter names in a particular arrangement. This wasn't very difficult for me to understand either, considering the fact that I've learned how to play chromatic and diatonic scales in band. Being able to tell the difference between a chromatic and diatonic scale when someone else is playing it out loud can sometimes be difficult to me though. I thought it would be easy to be able to distinct the two different scales, but once we went over them in class I realized that I need to study them a bit more.
Another thing we learned was the circle of fifths, however, I already have this engraved in my brain from being in band. The circle of fifths is an easier way for me to be able to determine how many sharps or flats are in my major and minor scales. As long as you remember that the letter C is on the very top, informing you that there are no flats or sharps, you should then easily be able to label the circle. Sharps go down the right side, while flats go down the left side. In fact, they even spell out the order of flats and sharps --> BEADGCF -->> FCGDAEB. As long as you know how to label the circle of fifths you will easily be able to memorize your scales.