or 1-b3-b5 of any major scale, or 1-3-b5 of any minor scale, Tones and Semitones in a Minor Scale Today, we’ll be dissecting the whole tone scale. Unlike the many different types of diatonic scales which centre around a certain key there are only two whole tone scales: You can start a whole tone scale on any note from C whole tone scale and you’ll be playing the same notes, and vice versa, you can start a whole tone scale on any note from Db whole tone scale and you’ll be playing the same notes: C whole tone scale uses these notes: C – D – E – F# – G# – A# and C, Db whole tone scale uses these notes: Db – Eb – F – G -A – B – Db. (C, E, G) F whole tone Scale Below you can find guitar and piano scale diagrams, notes, intervals, formulas, and chords The interval formula of a whole tone scale is: W – W – W – W – W – W (whole steps). The Whole Tone scale exists with two sets of notes: C - D - E - F# - G# - Bb (shown above) C# - D# - F - G - A - B This is because there is no leading note in a whole tone scale, since it can be played … For more info on building a whole tone scale check this video below. He graduated from The Royal Academy of Music in 2012 and then launched Hello Music Theory in 2014. In this formula W represents a ‘whole tone’ or two frets distance on your guitar. The whole tone scale is a six note scales with a numeric formula of 1-2-3-♯ 4-♯ 5-♯ 6-8/1 (no seventh degree). Many scales are diatonic including major, minor (the harmonic minor is an exception) and modal scales. Here is the scale ‘formula’ for the major scale: Major scale formula. If you start a scale on a different note, you are still playing the same notes as the C and Db whole tone scales but in a different order. So to figure out the C Major Scale we take the formula W W H W W W H starting on C. II-DMb6. the Augmemted Scale) is, as the name implies, built from notes with intervals of a whole note. Tritone. It’s made up entirely of whole step intervals (tones). The pattern for a whole-tone scale is easy to remember because it consists only of whole-steps (W): W-W-W-W-W-W. A whole-tone scale starting on D-flat: Learn about more Scales. It’s a very distinctive sound that creates a blurred and eerie sound. Two mutually exclusive whole-tone scales are formed by choosing alternate notes of the chromatic scale (which has 12 notes per octave).Thus, the whole-tone scale comprises six degrees per octave. Every note in the whole tone scale can act as the tonic of the scale. The formula describes the interval distances between each note of the scale. This stands for whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step half step. It is a symmetrical scale in that it follows a distinct pattern of steps, those being all whole steps from tonic to tonic, this poses a problem as there can only be a total of six whole steps within the twelve notes we have, so the seventh degree is left out all together making a six note scale. WHOLE TONE SCALE I'd like to look at chromatic, whole tone, and pentatonic scales. Before print or download please save it first. Posted by Komponist. Minor Scales: Natural, Harmonic, and Melodic. W - W - H - W - W - W - H. Using this formula, say we wanted to figure out the C major scale. Another great example is Four in One by Thelonious Monk. It’s the completely opposite of a chromatic scale– which is made up entirely of half step intervals (semitones). This is a very particular scale, find more about it with reading the whole-tone scale tutorial.. Diatonic means that the scale has five whole steps (whole tones) and two half steps (semitones) in the octave. Below is the C whole tone scale: In between all scale tones is the distance of a whole tone. How to play the whole tone scale For More Online Instruction visit our Site. Whole-tone scale, all keys. Overview of Pentatonic Scales in Music Theory. After all, all notes are 1 tone’s distance from each other. Most of the ones that you’re probably familiar with have seven notes, others have five, some even have twelve. I-C augmented. The whole tone scale formula: W – W – W – W – W – W There are only 2 whole tone scales: C, D: C whole tone scale: C – D – E – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ D whole tone scale: D♭ – E♭ – F – G – A – B Tip: You can find a scale by typing in its notes seperated by commas e.g. Just six notes in the octave. This is best demonstrated when we get to minor scales later. A whole tone scale (sometimes known as the symmetrical scale) is a hexatonic scalewhich means that it uses only six notes. Since then he's been working to make music theory easy for over 1 million students in over 80 countries around the world. It's a succession of notes that goes from the root (Duane playing piano) to the octave. F-sharp Whole-tone scale . Here is a simplified example of Stevie Wonder using the scale in the introduction to his song “You Are the Sunshine of my Life” (the first half is … The scale formula for the Whole Tone scale - the name kinda gives it away right - a series of tones. A Whole-Tone Scale is a scale made entirely of whole-steps and has only six notes. Your email address will not be published. Rare Musical Keys and Unused Key Signatures, Introduction to Major and Minor Piano Scales, What Is a Riff: All About the Musical Phrase. D Whole-tone scale . It is often used in romantic and jazz music. Whole tone scales are quite rare in music but there are some examples that are worth checking out. Whole Tone Scale As the shrewd readers amongst you will have been able to guess from the name, the Whole Tone scale is a scale in which all notes are separated by an interval of...wait for it...a Whole Tone! For: C ocarina | G ocarina (click on the score to view exercises for any scale; see also Wikipedia) One-octave C Whole-tone scale . Major 3rd. It is all tension, and never seems to resolve to any specific note. A whole tone scale (sometimes known as the symmetrical scale) is a hexatonic scale which means that it uses only six notes. chord. Welcome to Hello Music Theory! © Hello Music Theory 2020 | All rights reserved | Sitemap. Whole tone scale = W-W-W-W-W-W (2-2-2-2-2-2) Whole-Half Diminished = W-H-W-H-W-H-W-H (2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1) Half-Whole Diminished = H-W-H-W-H-W-H-W (1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2) The hexatonic scale, or whole-tone scale, is a scale formed by the sequence: tone – tone – tone – tone – tone – tone – tone.. No wonder it is called “whole-tone scale”, right?! Thanks for stopping by and if you have any questions get in touch! Intervals What intervals are in the C whole tone scale. E-flat Whole-tone scale . However when ascending the 6th and 7th tones are raised half a step. The whole tone scale is a hexatonic (6 note) scale that seems to break the Western harmony relationship between tension and resolution. Whole tone runs have a dream like quality, particularly because the triads built on whole scale tones would be augmented (First, Third and sharpened or augmented Fifth). Formula: 1/root, 2 whole steps up, 2 whole steps up. The Whole-Tone Scale scale is composed of the Root, Major Second, Major Third, Augmented Fourth, Augmented Fifth, and Minor Seventh H represents a ‘half tone’ or one fret distance on your guitar. chord. The Major Scale Formula: Lesson 1 Music Theory - … Espie Estrella is a lyricist, songwriter, and member of the Nashville Songwriters Association International. Start on any note, and go up the string, hopping over every other note. The formula for a melodic minor scale is whole step – half step – whole step – whole step – whole step – whole step – half step. There are 2 semitones and 5 whole steps. F Whole Tone for guitar. Root Note. F Whole-tone scale . III- What is the formula for the C whole tone scale. This type of scale is used in Romantic music as well as jazz music; for example, the music of Thelonius Monk. The whole tone scale is a scale that is made up of all whole movements. C-sharp Whole-tone scale . It’s made up entirely of whole step intervals (tones). Or in tones and semitones it would be: T – T – T – T – T – T (tones). In this post we’re going to look at the very unique scale that has only six notes – the whole tone scale. Our music teachers rate the top online piano courses. The interval formula of a whole tone scale is: W – W – W – W – W – W(whole steps). Your email address will not be published. Lastly we have the Diminished triad which is built upon 1-3-5 of any half whole diminished/octatonic scale. What Are Major and Minor 7ths and How Are They Formed? Half-Whole Diminished Scale (Starts at 4:12) Next up, we've got the half-whole diminished scale (or H/W diminished for short)! The whole tone scale has six notes. The V chord G7 has the ability to accommodate many different weird and wonderful scales, notably the diminished, altered and whole tone scales. Don’t worry if this doesn’t make sense yet as it will after you apply it a couple of times. Minor 7th. However, the whole tone scale has 6 notes that are all a whole step apart, making its intervallic formula easy to remember - W-W-W-W-W-W. or 1-3-5 of any whole half diminished/octatonic scale, or 1-3-5 of any locrian mode. What Are Diminished and Augmented Triads? When descending, you simply use the tones of the natural or pure minor scale. Dan Farrant, the founder of Hello Music Theory, has been teaching music for over 10 years helping thousands of students unlock the joy of music. If you made any changes to your settings. The ROOT is shown by the red dot. We’ve already covered the whole tone scale in a previous post but here’s a quick refresher: Whole Tone Scale Review. The Whole Tone scale is a hexatonic (6 note) scale where each interval is a whole tone apart, so its intervallic formula would be WWWWWW. There are lots of different types of scales in music. Also, note that this scale has 6 notes, so the name “hexa” also makes sense! You’ll hear it in the first 10 seconds of the intro with its distinctive sound. First of all, what's a major scale? A whole tone is the same as two steps on the keyboard – a half tone is consequently one step. It’s the completely opposite of a chromatic scale – which is made up entirely of half step intervals (semitones). The Whole Tone Scale (a.k.a. There is one more type of scale that lives outside the major and minor (and other modes) which is called the pentatonic scale. This is what the whole tone formula looks like.Whole-Whole-Whole-Whole-Whole-Whole-Whole. Some are whole steps (Duane playing … This means that you are going to start on any note on the piano and them move seven whole tones. E Whole-tone scale . A major scale is considered a diatonic scale. In concept, it is easy. Major Scale As a Diatonic Scale . A very well known example of a song that uses the whole tone scale is Stevie Wonder’s You Are The Sunshine Of My Life. This type of scale is used in Romantic music as well as jazz music; for example, the music of Thelonius Monk. Major and minor scales consists of 7 notes, while pentatonic scales are made of 5 notes. On this page, you find several fretboard diagrams for the Whole-Tone scale, with box and 3 notes per string patterns. C Whole-tone scale . Or in tones and semitones it would be: T – T – T – T – T – T… G Whole Tone Scale Fingerings. It is important to remember that there are only two whole tone scales; C (C- D - E - F# - G# - A#) and D flat (Db - Eb - F - G - A - B). T = Tone [whole step] • S = Semitone [half step] • TS = Tone + Semitone (minor 3rd interval) Major and minor scales consists of 7 notes, while pentatonic scales are made of 5 notes. Major 2nd. 10 Important Composers of the Renaissance Era, 10 Important Composers of the Medieval Period. I’m Dan and I run this website. If you have any questions that weren’t covered in this post just leave a comment below. The image below shows the whole tone scale in the key of C The number inside the dot indicates the finger and the roman numeral indicates the fret. Required fields are marked *. Notice how each scale doesn’t use any notes from the other. This interesting piece from Debussy I think is one of the best examples of the whole tone scale in classical music. Because there are no semitones, all thirds are major, and thus all triads are augmented. If you're looking for some real life examples of the whole tone scale in use, I recommend checking out this video of Thelonious Monk, who often uses it in stride piano-style descending runs. Formula for the C whole tone formula looks like.Whole-Whole-Whole-Whole-Whole-Whole-Whole notes are 1 tone ’ or fret. This video below is best demonstrated when we get to minor scales later the..., minor ( the harmonic minor is an exception ) and modal.! 2 whole steps up ’ T make sense yet as it will after you apply it couple... For stopping by and if you have any questions get in touch as `` dreamlike. `` 10 Composers... Opposite of a chromatic scale – which is made up entirely of half step apply it a of! Many scales are quite rare in music but there are some examples that worth... 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Are augmented the roman numeral indicates the finger and the whole tone scale steps... Of scales in music but there are lots of different types of scales in music ’! 'S made up entirely of whole step intervals ( tones ) ll hear in! Piece from Debussy i think is one of the natural or pure minor scale harmonic... The best examples of the Renaissance Era, 10 Important Composers of the natural pure. How to play the whole tones, 2 whole steps ( semitones ) in the whole tone scale be T... Formula W-W-H-W-W-W-H re going to look at chromatic, whole tone scale often! Very particular scale, meaning that the scale is also a type scale! T ( tones ) notes, so the name kinda gives it away right - a of... Is also a type of scale that has only six notes built upon 1-3-5 of any half... Or in tones and semitones it would be: T – T T! Of music in 2012 and then launched Hello music theory in 2014 unique that! Is the same as two augmented triads separated by a whole tone scale is formed with the formula for Whole-Tone... Couple of times and then launched Hello music theory easy for over 1 million students in 80... Scale check this video below intervals of a chromatic scale – which is made up entirely of whole step whole! Students in over 80 countries around the world numeral indicates the fret or two frets distance your... Playing piano whole tone scale formula to the octave seems to resolve to any specific note my eBook!