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Points and Counterpoints
This page contains sound files discussed in the section Major/Minor of Chapter 14,
major-minor sound files On Major / Minor Keys Figure 12 Major and minor (harmonious), and augmented and diminished (unresolved) C chords. Tension can be resolved into a major chord by lowering the highest note in the augmented chord, or the lowest note in the diminished chord. It can be resolved into a minor chord by raising the lowest note in the augmented chord, or the highest note in the diminished chord—by a semitone each. (based on Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary, available online: http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/) In the ensuing tables the scale is divided into twleve semitone intervals. Some squares in the second row are filled with letters designating the notes. A filled square followed by an empty one indicate a whole (two-semitone) interval. Two adjacent filled squares indicate a semitone interval. Note that both the major and the natural minor scales consist of five whole plus two semitone (=12) intervals, but differently distributed. In the "harmonic" minor the seventh note is raised so as to effect a semitone step from the seventh to the eighth note—generating an anomalous sequence of three whole and three half intervals, plus one three-semitone (=12) interval. In the "melodic" minor the sixth note too is raised by a semitone, so as to preserve the five plus two division. Semitone and three-semitone intervals are perceived as deviations from sequences of whole intervals. Note that it is in the major scale that the intruding semitones yield the most symmetrical, most stable organization. SCALE STEPS (IN SEMITONES OR HALF STEPS) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 c d e f g a b c' Play Major Scale SCALE STEPS (IN SEMITONES OR HALF STEPS) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 c d eb f g ab bb c' Play Natural Minor Scale SCALE STEPS (IN SEMITONES OR HALF STEPS) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 c d eb f g ab b c' Play Harmonic Minor Scale SCALE STEPS (IN SEMITONES OR HALF STEPS) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 c d eb f g a b c' Play Melodic Minor Scale Ascending SCALE STEPS (IN SEMITONES OR HALF STEPS) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 c' bb ab g f eb d c Play Melodic Minor Scale Descending from Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary available online: http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/ Listen to the Neanderthal Bone Fute, the worlds oldest music instrument. If the preceding link does not work, try this one Neanderthal Back to home page Back to "Occasional Papers" Back to Contents
On Major / Minor Keys
Figure 12 Major and minor (harmonious), and augmented and diminished (unresolved) C chords. Tension can be resolved into a major chord by lowering the highest note in the augmented chord, or the lowest note in the diminished chord. It can be resolved into a minor chord by raising the lowest note in the augmented chord, or the highest note in the diminished chord—by a semitone each. (based on Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary, available online: http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/) In the ensuing tables the scale is divided into twleve semitone intervals. Some squares in the second row are filled with letters designating the notes. A filled square followed by an empty one indicate a whole (two-semitone) interval. Two adjacent filled squares indicate a semitone interval. Note that both the major and the natural minor scales consist of five whole plus two semitone (=12) intervals, but differently distributed. In the "harmonic" minor the seventh note is raised so as to effect a semitone step from the seventh to the eighth note—generating an anomalous sequence of three whole and three half intervals, plus one three-semitone (=12) interval. In the "melodic" minor the sixth note too is raised by a semitone, so as to preserve the five plus two division. Semitone and three-semitone intervals are perceived as deviations from sequences of whole intervals. Note that it is in the major scale that the intruding semitones yield the most symmetrical, most stable organization. SCALE STEPS (IN SEMITONES OR HALF STEPS) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 c d e f g a b c' Play Major Scale SCALE STEPS (IN SEMITONES OR HALF STEPS) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 c d eb f g ab bb c' Play Natural Minor Scale SCALE STEPS (IN SEMITONES OR HALF STEPS) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 c d eb f g ab b c' Play Harmonic Minor Scale SCALE STEPS (IN SEMITONES OR HALF STEPS) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 c d eb f g a b c' Play Melodic Minor Scale Ascending SCALE STEPS (IN SEMITONES OR HALF STEPS) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 c' bb ab g f eb d c Play Melodic Minor Scale Descending from Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary available online: http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/ Listen to the Neanderthal Bone Fute, the worlds oldest music instrument. If the preceding link does not work, try this one Neanderthal Back to home page Back to "Occasional Papers" Back to Contents
Figure 12 Major and minor (harmonious), and augmented and diminished (unresolved) C chords. Tension can be resolved into a major chord by lowering the highest note in the augmented chord, or the lowest note in the diminished chord. It can be resolved into a minor chord by raising the lowest note in the augmented chord, or the highest note in the diminished chord—by a semitone each. (based on Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary, available online: http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/)
SCALE STEPS (IN SEMITONES OR HALF STEPS)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
c
d
e
f
g
a
b
c'
Play Major Scale
eb
ab
bb
Play Natural Minor Scale
Play Harmonic Minor Scale
Play Melodic Minor Scale Ascending
Play Melodic Minor Scale Descending
from Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary available online: http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/
