Scale Steps: Part 2
In the previous lesson we played the C Major Scale for one octave. In order to play only white keys we must skip over some notes on black keys. If two notes are separated by a note they are said to be a Whole Step apart.
To play a whole-step on the piano you play a note and then play another note two keys away. On the guitar you play a whole-step by playing a note in one fret followed by a note two frets away. The major scale begins with two whole steps. One between notes C(1) + D(2) and another between notes D(2) + E(3).
Scales also contain notes that are neighboring tones. These notes are played on adjacent piano keys or frets on the guitar. Notes that are “touching” like this are said to be a Half-Steps apart. The major scale has a half-step between notes E(3) + F(4). We could also say that a whole-step contains two half-steps.
If we analyze the Major Scale as a sequence made up of whole-steps and half-steps we get the following pattern.
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