In this case, the key signature will have three flats (B ♭, E ♭, and A ♭). Moreover, the key signature of the piece of music (or section) will generally reflect the accidentals in the corresponding major scale.įor instance, if a piece of music is in E ♭ major, then the seven pitches in the E ♭ major scale (E ♭, F, G, A ♭, B ♭, C and D) are considered diatonic pitches, and the other five pitches (E ♮, F ♯/G ♭, A ♮, B ♮, and C ♯/D ♭) are considered chromatic pitches. If a piece of music (or part of a piece of music) is in a major key, then the notes in the corresponding major scale are considered diatonic notes, while the notes outside the major scale are considered chromatic notes. 7th: half-diminished seventh chord (vii ø7).The roman numeral analysis is shown in parentheses. The seventh chords built on each scale degree follow a distinct pattern.

Each tetrachord consists of two whole tones followed by a semitone (i.e. The ratio is 3/2 = 1.5 for a perfect fifth, for example from C to G on a major scale, and 5/4 = 1.25 for a major third, for example from C to E.Ī major scale may be seen as two identical tetrachords separated by a whole tone. The sound frequency doubles for corresponding notes from one octave to the next.

Notably, an equal-tempered octave has twelve half steps (semitones) spaced equally in terms of the sound frequency ratio. Whole steps and half steps are explained mathematically in a related article, Twelfth root of two. Where 'whole' stands for a whole tone (a red u-shaped curve in the figure), and 'half' stands for a semitone (a red angled line in the figure). Whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half The sequence of intervals between the notes of a major scale is: The intervals from the tonic (keynote) in an upward direction to the second, to the third, to the sixth, and to the seventh scale degrees of a major scale are called major. Structure The pattern of whole and half steps characteristic of a major scale In Hindustani classical music, it is known as Bilaval. In Carnatic music, it is known as Sankarabharanam. The major scale has a central importance in Western music, particularly that of the common practice period and in popular music. Audio playback is not supported in your browser.

D flat major scales