Scale Degree: Explanation

Connecting Your Ears to Your Fingers

Keys By Degrees
Copyright 2013 Brad Carman
All Rights Reserved

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Major and minor scales contain 7 different pitches.
Each one is assigned a number. The first note of the scale is "1", the next is "2", and so on.
These numbers are called scale degrees.
Key of C Major
1
,
Remember that although major and minor scales sound different,
the same rules apply: the first note is '1', the next is '2' etc.
2
,
3
,
Scale Degrees
4
,
5
,
6
,
7
,
8 (1)
,

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Instructions for Keys by Degrees Exercises

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On the following pages you will see exercises that look like this:
1
,
2
,
3
,
2
,
1
,
7
,
1
,
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Key of G Major
To play these exercises, choose a key. . .
At first, pick a familiar 'home' key to play the exercise or tune. As soon as you can look
away, do so. Then try the pattern in another key. Do as much by ear as possible. Avoid
writing anything out unless you've tried for several minutes to get it by listening/thinking.
4
,
5
,
6
,
7
,
1
,
2
,
3
,
4
,
5
,
6
. . . and (in your mind) combine it with the pattern.
,
7
,
1
,
_

1
,
2
,
3
,
2
,
1
,
7
,
1
,

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1
Keys By Degrees
Play these patterns in all keys you know
and use them to learn new keys.
2
_
1
,
(scalar: no skips or leaps)
*use the 7 that sits just below the tonic.
2
,
3
,
2
,
1
,
7*
,
1
,
_
1
,
7
,
,
2
,
,
3
,
,

_
3
_
_
4
_
1
,
(scalar)
,
,
4
,
,
,
1
,
7
,
1
,

_
1
,
2
,
Exercises with skips and leaps are more
challenging, but go after them!
,
3
,
,
4
,
,
7
,

_
_
5

_
6

_
1
,
2
,
,
3
,
,
4
,
,
5
,
,
6
,
,
7
,
,
1
,
,
_
1
,
7
,
6
,
7
,
(Tonic Triad)
1
,
3
,
5
,

_
_
7

_
8
_
1
,
(scalar)
,
,
,
5
,
6
,
5
,
,
,
,
1
,

_
1
,
3
,
5
,
3
,
4
,
2
,
1
,

_
9
_
1
,
(scalar)
Re-invent rhythms once the original pattern is under control.
,
,
5
,
,
,
1
,
,
,
4
,
,
,
1
,

_
_
10

_
11
_
1
,
(Tonic Triad)
3
,
5
,
1
,
5
,
3
,
(Dominant 7)
4
,
2
,
7
,
5
,
(Tonic)
1
,
1
,
_
1
,
5
,
2
,
5
,
3
,
5
,
2
,
5
,
1
,
_
_
12
Copyright 2013 Brad Carman
All Rights Reserved

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13
_
1
(scalar)
5
,
,
,
,
1
,
,
,
,
4
,
,
,
,
1
,
,
,
,
, .
_
1
2
(Sequence starting on 1, 2, 3)
3
,
,
1
2
,
,
,
,
3
,
,
,
,
1
,
,
,
_
_
14

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Make a habit of playing 50/50 major and minor. When playing in minor keys, get used to
raising the 7th scale degree a half step most of the time, but also play without alteration.
1
,
Partial scale in 3rds
3
,
2
,
4
,
3
,
5
,
4
,
6
,
5
,
3
,
4
,
2
,
3
,
1
,
2
,
7
,
1
, .

15
_
1
(scalar)
,
,
,
6
5
,
,
,
,
,
,
7
1
,
,
,
,
,
,
2
,
,
,
,
,
,
1
,
,
,
,

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16
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Our aural memory and muscle memory are very slow to imprint. Try to play each pattern
5-10 times in a row with no mistakes before moving to a new key or new pattern. Patience!
1
,

2
3
,

,
4
,
3
,
2
,
3
,
1
5
,

,
5
,
3
,
1
,
1
,

2
3
,

,
4
,
5
,
6
,
5
,
6
,
7
,
1
,

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17
Copyright 2013 Brad Carman
All Rights Reserved
Singing and Ear Training
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Being able to sing what you see helps you to play what you hear.
Many intermediate instrumentalists do not like to sing, but it really helps train the ear.
At some point, all musicians are asked to play something by ear, (or just want to), so
the more you "sight sing" the better you will be at figuring out (or even writing-out)
tunes by ear without having to fish around on your instrument. Your ear will just know!
To Get Started with Sight Singing:
Day One: play one of these exercises, then sing it back, (or hum or whistle).
Day Two: sing the same exercise first, then play it. (Give yourself the starting pitch
from your instrument.) The scalar exercises will be the easiest ones at first.
As You Advance: try to imagine the sound of all written music before playing it.
1
2
(Sequence)
3
,
,
1
7
,
,
,
1
2
,

3
4
,
,
2
1
,
,
,

2
3
,

4
5
,
,
3
2
,
,
,
1
7
,

1
2
,
,
7
1
,
,
,