Basic Music Theory: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music

Basic Music Theory

order to have a half step, we need an F#. And it just so happens that

between the sixth and seventh degree of this scale we need a whole step;

E to F# is a whole step.

Major Scales with Many Accidentals

This same technique can be applied to a scale with any starting note. Just

for kicks, we’ll do one with lots of flats and one with lots of sharps.

You’ll need to follow along with your keyboard for this one, so have it

ready.

A Major Scale with Lots of Flats

Example 21.4 The Db major scale, ascending, whole and half steps shown.

A Major Scale with Lots of Sharps

Example 21.5 The F# major scale, ascending, whole and half steps shown.

More Enharmonics

Use your keyboard to understand the following concept.

Take a look at the seventh degree of the F# major scale above. An E#,

right? The enharmonic note that is the same pitch as E# is F. It’s that

natural half step between E and F that causes this. Similarly, B# is the

same pitch as C.

And going the other way, Fb is the same pitch as E, and Cb is the same

pitch as B.