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Notation - Scales

Learn various scales in four clefs.

Setup

Clefs
Use these checkboxes to select which clefs should be used in the quiz.

Scales
Use these checkboxes to select which scales should be used in the quiz.

Require tonic as well as scale type
Enabling this checkbox will require the user to not only guess what type of scale is being shown, but also what the tonic (Do) of the scale is. This will require that they type their answers rather than click on the scale type buttons.

Allow theoretical scales
Enabling this checkbox will allow scales with more than 7 flats or sharps to be displayed. These scales will have a key signature of either 7 sharps or flats. Double sharps and flats will be handled as accidentals.


Learning the Scales

Scales
The best way to learn scales is to think in terms of Solfege. Below is a list of the Solfege for each scale.

Scale

Solfege (if the root is Do)

Ionian (Major)

Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do (and the same on the way down)

Dorian

Do Re Me Fa Sol La Te Do (and the same on the way down)

Phrygian

Do Ra Me Fa Sol Le Te Do (and the same on the way down)

Lydian

Do Re Mi Fi Sol La Ti Do (and the same on the way down)

Mixolydian

Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Te Do (and the same on the way down)

Aeolian (Minor)

Do Re Me Fa Sol Le Te Do (and the same on the way down)

Locrian

Do Ra Me Fa Se Le Te Do (and the same on the way down)

Pentatonic

Do Re Mi Sol La (and the same on the way down)

Whole Tone

Do Re Mi Fi Si Li (and the same on the way down)

Harmonic Minor

Do Re Me Fa Sol Le Ti Do (and the same on the way down)

Melodic Minor

Do Re Me Fa Sol La Ti Do (down: Do Te Le Sol Fa Me Re Do)

Blues

Do Me Fa Se Sol Te Do

Arabic

Do Ra Mi Fa Sol Le Ti Do

An Easier Method
Another method of teaching scales is to learn the two most common scales, Ionian (Major) and Aeolian (Minor), and then learn most of the other scales based on those two. Memorize Ionian (Major) as Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do and Aeolian (Minor) as Do Re Me Fa Sol Le Te Do, and then remember which scale the others are closest to and what the differences are.

Scale

Solfege (if the root is Do)

Dorian

Minor, with La

Phrygian

Minor, with Ra

Lydian

Major, with Fi

Mixolydian

Major, with Te

Locrian

Minor, with Ra and Se

Harmonic Minor

Minor, with Ti

Melodic Minor

Minor, with La and Ti on the way up only