Part-II Scales and Modes
Once you are familiar with the ideas I referred to in the first chapter of this article,You can move on to Scales and chord theory.Music Theory as a whole is a very extensive subject,but most people I have known are just familiar with the basics.These are some of the basic concepts that can help you.THE MAJOR SCALE
This scale which consists of each white key from one C to the next higher C constitutes the Major scale.This is the western equivalent of the Karnatic Music Raagam "Shankarabharanam".This was the only bit of theory I knew when I bought my keyboard, back in 10th standard. Familiarizing with how the major scale sounds can be very helpful.Once you have tried the major scale, move on and try the other major scales.They all sound the same.The difference is that,the pitch gets transposed.
Here is a picture showing which notes are included in each major scale.You can use this to familiarize your fingers in them.The important part to realize is that every song in any major scale can be transposed to play in any other major scale.This technique was very helpful to me during the initially.For example, "My Heart will go on" by Celine Dion is originally played in the key of E flat.By Transposing the keyboard by +3, you can play the song in the C major(all white) scale, which is comparatively easier.NOTE:C major scale is easier to play,in the sense that it is easier to visualize while playing.There is no confusion of having to remember which notes are in the scale and which are not.
"The keys that include 2 or 3 black-key notes on the piano anatomically match up better with the human hand. The pianist can keep their shorter fingers (ie. thumb and pinky), on white keys and keep their longer fingers on black keys. It's a more natural position for the fingers than the key of C, which uses all white notes, and which forces you to contort the hand a little more. This explanation applies for the more advanced players. Rookie players need years to recognize the piano-friendliness of these keys. For them the piano-friendliness means that each basic chords have the same black-and-white key pattern."
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THE MINOR SCALE
The next important scale that can be helpful to you is the Minor scale.The easiest example is the A minor scale,(Play all the white keys from A to the next A).The illustration shows the various minor
Melody parts of most of the music from Indian Cinema and English Pop Music can be played once you are familiar with these 2 scales.The Right hand part or the melody part of the music can be followed on the keyboard with practice
MODES
You might have noticed that the C major scale when played from A to the next higher A,constitutes the A minor scale.Similarly, playing the scale starting at different note, and ending at the corresponding note in the higher octave gives a different combination of tones, called as Modes
Try playing the C major scale,each time starting from a different note; ie from D to the next D, E to the next E.. and so on.Each of these form a different mode,Fascinating enough, each mode has a corresponding raga in Karnatic music.These have been listed below.
C D E F G A B C=Ionian-Shankarabharanam
D E F G A B C D=Dorian-kharaharapriya
E F G A B C D E=Phygrian-Thodi
F G A B C D E F=Lydian-Kalyani
G A B C D E F G=Mixolydian-Harikamboji
A B C D E F G A=Aeolian-Natabhairavi
B C D E F G A B=Locrian
Transposing any of these(Shifting every note left or right by the same number of keys) can the mode in each scale.
Try to listen to how each of these modes sound and how they feel.Next week,you get a brief glimpse into chord theory.
Suggested Viewing/Reading before the next chapter:
- "How Music Works by Howard Goodall,Part one."
- Mode(Music)-Wikipedia
