Pathways to Harmony Chapter 4 Half and whole

Pathways to Harmony Chapter 4: Half and whole steps, major scales and the circle of fifths 4. 3 The Circle of Fifths G De. Benedetti www. gmajormusictheory. org

• Each note of a scale is identified by a number called a scale degree.

• Each note of a scale is identified by a number called a scale degree. • Scale degree 1 is also called the key note.

• If scales are written clockwise on a circular keyboard and if the key note of each scale is scale degree 5 of the previous scale, then the key notes follow an order called the circle of fifths.

• If scales are written clockwise on a circular keyboard and if the key note of each scale is scale degree 5 of the previous scale, then the key notes follow an order called the circle of fifths. • You will understand better by working along with this presentation

Let's work together… • DOWNDLOAD Chapter Four OR Expanded Chapter Four of Pathways to Harmony from this website http: //www. gmajormusictheory. org/Fundamentals/workbooks. html • PRINT worksheet 4. 5 from Chapter Four OR worksheet 4 Ex. 8 from Expanded Chapter Four • WRITE dots and letters as this presentation guides you around the circle of fifths.

• On this circular keyboard lines separate where each scale is written.

• On this circular keyboard lines separate where each scale is written. • After we rotate and zoom in on this keyboard, we can put dots on the notes of a C scale. Turn your page upside-down.

• On this circular keyboard lines separate where each scale is written. • After we rotate and zoom in on this keyboard, we can put dots on the notes of a C scale.

• On this circular keyboard lines separate where each scale is written. • After we rotate and zoom in on this keyboard, we can put dots on the notes of a C scale.

• On this circular keyboard lines separate where each scale is written. • After we rotate and zoom in on this keyboard, we can put dots on the notes of a C scale.

• On this circular keyboard lines separate where each scale is written. • After we rotate and zoom in on this keyboard, we can put dots on the notes of a C scale.

• On this circular keyboard lines separate where each scale is written. • After we rotate and zoom in on this keyboard, we can put dots on the notes of a C scale.

• On this circular keyboard lines separate where each scale is written. • After we rotate and zoom in on this keyboard, we can put dots on the notes of a C scale.

• On this circular keyboard lines separate where each scale is written. • After we rotate and zoom in on this keyboard, we can put dots on the notes of a C scale.

• On this circular keyboard lines separate where each scale is written. • After we rotate and zoom in on this keyboard, we can put dots on the notes of a C scale.

• Notice that if the key note is C, then the major scale pattern 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 W W H W W W H results in all white keys.

• Notice that if the key note is C, then the major scale pattern 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 W W H W W W H results in all white keys. • If we keep adding scales whose key notes are scale degree 5 of adjacent scales, then some surprising patterns appear…

The key note of the next scale to the left (clockwise)…

The key note of the next scale to the left (clockwise)… is scale degree 5 of the C major scale, or G.

The key note of the next scale to the left (clockwise)… is scale degree 5 of the C major scale, or G. So we put a "G", in the next box.

• Now we put dots on the keyboard for a G scale.

• Now we put dots on the keyboard for a G scale. • Notice that the pattern, W W H W W W H, requires that the next-to-the-last note be a black key.

Continuing in the same way, The key note of the next scale to the left…

Zoom out -----> Continuing in the same way, The key note of the next scale to the left… is scale degree 5 of the G major scale, or D.

Continuing in the same way, The key note of the next scale to the left… is scale degree 5 of the G major scale, or D. So we put a "D" in the next box…

Continuing in the same way, The key note of the next scale to the left… is scale degree 5 of the G major scale, or D. So we put a "D" in the next box… And write a D major scale.

• You can continue writing scales in this way all around the circle.

• You can continue writing scales in this way all around the circle. • Keynotes in this presentation include – B and its enharmonic, C-flat – F-sharp and its enharmonic, G-flat – And C-sharp and its enharmonic D-flat

• You can continue writing scales in this way all around the circle. • Keynotes in this presentation include – B and its enharmonic, C-flat – F-sharp and its enharmonic, G-flat – And C-sharp and its enharmonic D-flat • The scales of these key notes appear on the bottom of the circle and will be given two boxes, one for each letter.

• You can continue writing scales in this way all around the circle. • Keynotes in this presentation include – B and its enharmonic, C-flat – F-sharp and its enharmonic, G-flat – And C-sharp and its enharmonic D-flat • The scales of these key notes appear on the bottom of the circle and will be given two boxes, one for each letter. • Beyond these enharmonic key notes, all black-key key-notes should be named as flats.

• Here are the surprising results which occur once the circle of fifths is completed:

• Here are the surprising results which occur once the circle of fifths is completed: – Incredibly, all 12 different notes on the keyboard will have been used once and only once as key notes,

• Here are the surprising results which occur once the circle of fifths is completed: – Incredibly, all 12 different notes on the keyboard will have been used once and only once as key notes, – The number of black keys in subsequent scales seem to form a pattern

• Here are the surprising results which occur once the circle of fifths is completed: – Incredibly, all 12 different notes on the keyboard will have been used once and only once as key notes, – The number of black keys in subsequent scales seem to form a pattern – the original key note, C, will be the fifth note of the last scale to be entered, F

• Here are the surprising results which occur once the circle of fifths is completed: – Incredibly, all 12 different notes on the keyboard will have been used once and only once as key notes, – The number of black keys in subsequent scales seem to form a pattern – the original key note, C, will be the fifth note of the last scale to be entered, F • In this way you can complete a true circle—the circle of fifths.

Now it's your turn • COMPLETE worksheet 4. 5 from Chapter Four OR worksheet 4 Ex. 8 from Expanded Chapter Four