Calmer’s Scale Builder

An easy method to discover scale pitches

of a major scale (Ionian mode).

Calmer’s Scale Builder

You need to know :

What keys are sharp and what keys are flat.

Sharp Keys

The following keys are sharp keys:

G,D,A,E,B,F#,C#

Flat Keys

The following keys are flat keys:

F, Bb, Eb, Ab,

Db, Gb, Cb

Natural Key

The following key is the natural key:

C No Sharps, No Flats

White keys of piano.

Flat and Sharp Keys

Flat Keys

F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb

Sharp Keys G, D, A, E, B, F#, C #

•Sharp keys have Sharp accidental or are single letters.•Flats keys have flat accidentals except for F.

Building Sharp Keys

Write out the alphabet

A B C D E F G A

Building Sharp Keys

Write out the alphabet

Make seventh pitch sharp

A B C D E F G# A

Building Sharp Keys

Write out the alphabetMake seventh pitch sharp

Go through the Order of Sharps

A B C D E F G# A

Order of Sharps

F#,C#,G#,D#,A#,E#,B#

Building Sharp Keys

Write out the alphabetMake seventh pitch sharp

Go through the Order of Sharpsto the seventh pitch

( F#,C#,G#,D#,A#,E#,B#)

A B C D E F G# A

Building Sharp Keys

Write out the alphabetMake seventh pitch sharp

Go through the Order of Sharps to the seventh pitch

( F#,C#,G#,D#,A#,E#,B#)

A B C D E F G# A

Building Sharp Keys

Write out the alphabetMake seventh pitch sharp

Go through the Order of Sharps to the seventh pitch

Plug in the Sharps.( F#,C#,G#,D#,A#,E#,B#)

A B C D E F G# A

Building Sharp Keys

Write out the alphabetMake seventh pitch sharp

Go through the Order of Sharps to the seventh pitch

Plug in the Sharps.( F#,C#,G#,D#,A#,E#,B#)

A B C D E F# G# A

Building Sharp Keys

Write out the alphabetMake seventh pitch sharp

Go through the Order of Sharps to the seventh pitch

Plug in the Sharps.( F#,C#,G#,D#,A#,E#,B#)

A B C# D E F# G# A

Building Sharp Keys

Write out the alphabetMake seventh pitch sharp

Go through the Order of Sharps to the seventh pitch

Plug in the Sharps.( F#,C#,G#,D#,A#,E#,B#)

A B C# D E F# G# A

Building Sharp Keys

Write out the alphabetMake seventh pitch sharp

Go through the Order of Sharps to the seventh pitchPlug in the Sharps.

( F#,C#,G#,D#,A#,E#,B#) Stop

A B C# D E F# G# A

Building Sharp Keys

Write out the alphabetMake seventh pitch sharp

Go through the Order of Sharps to the seventh pitchPlug in the Sharps.

A B C# D E F# G# A

Building Flat Keys

Write out the alphabet

Ab B C D E F G A

Building Flat Keys

Write out the alphabet

Make fourth pitch flat

Ab B C Db E F G A

Building Flat Keys

Write out the alphabetMake fourth pitch flat

Go through the Order of Flats

Ab B C Db E F G A

Order of Flats

Bb,Eb,Ab,Db,Gb,Cb,Fb

bb

b bb

bb

Building Flat Keys

Write out the alphabetMake fourth pitch flat

Go through the Order of Flats to the forth pitch

(Bb,Eb,Ab,Db,Gb,Cb,Fb)

Ab B C Db E F G A

Building Flat Keys

Write out the alphabetMake fourth pitch flat

Go through the Order of Flats to the forth pitch

Plug in the Flats(Bb,Eb,Ab,Db,Gb,Cb,Fb)

Ab Bb C Db E F G A

Building Flat Keys

Write out the alphabetMake fourth pitch flat

Go through the Order of Flats to the forth pitch

Plug in the Flats(Bb,Eb,Ab,Db,Gb,Cb,Fb)

Ab Bb C Db Eb F G A

Building Flat Keys

Write out the alphabetMake fourth pitch flat

Go through the Order of Flats to the forth pitch

Plug in the Flats(Bb,Eb,Ab,Db,Gb,Cb,Fb)

Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab

Building Flat Keys

Write out the alphabetMake fourth pitch flat

Go through the Order of Flats to the forth pitch

Plug in the Flats(Bb,Eb,Ab,Db,Gb,Cb,Fb)

Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab

Building Flat Keys

Write out the alphabetMake fourth pitch flat

Go through the Order of Flats to the forth pitchPlug in the Flats

(Bb,Eb,Ab,Db,Gb,Cb,Fb) Stop

Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab

Building Flat Keys

Write out the alphabetMake fourth pitch flat

Go through the Order of Flats to the forth pitchPlug in the Flats

Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab

Let us practice

E ScaleIs this a sharp or flat key?

Let us practiceE Scale is a sharp key

Use Sharp rules.

Write out the alphabetMake seventh pitch sharp

Go through the Order of Sharps to the seventh pitchPlug in the Sharps.

( F#,C#,G#,D#,A#,E#,B#)

E scale practice

Write out the alphabetMake seventh pitch sharp

Go through the Order of Sharps to the seventh pitchPlug in the Sharps.

( F#,C#,G#,D#,A#,E#,B#)

E F G A B C D E

E scale practice

Write out the alphabetMake seventh pitch sharp

Go through the Order of Sharps to the seventh pitchPlug in the Sharps.

( F#,C#,G#,D#,A#,E#,B#)

E F G A B C D# E

E scale practice

Write out the alphabetMake seventh pitch sharp

Go through the Order of Sharps to the seventh pitchPlug in the Sharps.

( F#,C#,G#,D#,A#,E#,B#)

E F G A B C D# E

E scale practice

Write out the alphabetMake seventh pitch sharp

Go through the Order of Sharps to the seventh pitchPlug in the Sharps.

( F#,C#,G#,D#,A#,E#,B#)

E F#G#A B C# D# E

E scale

E F#G#A B C# D# E

Let us try another scale

Gb ScaleIs this a sharp or flat scale?

Building Flat Keys

1. Write out the alphabet2. Make fourth pitch flat

3. Go through the Order of Flats to the forth pitch4. Plug in the Flats

This is a Flat scale so use flat rules.

Building Flat Keys

1. Write out the alphabet2. Make fourth pitch flat

3. Go through the Order of Flats to the forth pitch4. Plug in the Flats

Gb A B C D E F G

Building Flat Keys

1. Write out the alphabet2. Make fourth pitch flat

3. Go through the Order of Flats to the forth pitch4. Plug in the Flats

Gb A B Cb D E F G

Building Flat Keys

1. Write out the alphabet2. Make fourth pitch flat

3. Go through the Order of Flats to the forth pitch4. Plug in the Flats(Bb,Eb,Ab,Db,Gb,Cb,Fb)

Gb A B Cb D E F G

Building Flat Keys

1. Write out the alphabet2. Make fourth pitch flat

3. Go through the Order of Flats to the forth pitch4. Plug in the Flats(Bb,Eb,Ab,Db,Gb,Cb,Fb)

Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb

Building Flat Keys

Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb

bb

b bb

b

Scale Properties

In addition to interval relationships, each pitch of a scale has a name

and characteristic.

Scale Properties

C D E F G A B C1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Scale Degree:first

Name:Tonic

Often the beginning and ending tone of a composition, andUsually the most frequently used tone in a composition. Feeling of rest, stability or “home base.”

Scale Properties

C D E F G A B C1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Scale Degree:second

Name:Supertonic

Active or unstable tone, generally leads to first or third degree.

Scale Properties

C D E F G A B C1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Scale Degree:third

Name:mediant

Rest tone, important in distinction between major and minor.

Scale Properties

C D E F G A B C1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Scale Degree:fourth

Name:subdominant

Active or unstable tone, usually leads to third degree.

Scale Properties

C D E F G A B C1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Scale Degree:fifth

Name:dominant

Rest tone, usually second most frequently used tone;often used for upbeats.

Scale Properties

C D E F G A B C1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Scale Degree:sixth

Name:submediant

Active tone, often leads to fifth degree.

Scale Properties

C D E F G A B C1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Scale Degree:seventh

Name:Leading tone

Active tone, usually leads to first degree.

Build the following scale

Db

Build the following scale

Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db

Now write the key signature (treble).

Build the following scale

Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db

bb

b bb

Build the following scale

D

Build the following scale

D E F# G A B C# D

Now write the key signature (bass).

Build the following scale

D E F# G A B C# D

This method was created by

D. CalmerIn hopes that anyone

Can learn scales.