Scales

TwinNote makes it easy to see the interval patterns of major and minor scales. Each type of scale has a consistent visible pattern. For example, the C major scale begins with three triangles pointing down, followed by four pointing up. Each major scale has this same “3-down, 4-up” pattern (or vice-versa: 3-up, 4-down). It reflects the pattern of whole step and half step intervals that make up the major scale (W-W-H-W-W-W-H).

Minor scales also have their own particular visual pattern. As shown above, each natural^[1] minor scale has a “2-down, 3-up, 2-down” pattern (or vice-versa). This reflects its particular combination of whole steps and half steps (W-H-W-W-H-W-W).

This works because whole steps are always two triangles pointing in the same direction, and half steps are always two triangles pointing in the opposite direction. In traditional notation there is no visual distinction between whole steps and half steps, which makes it very difficult to see and understand the interval patterns of scales. The clear and consistent visual appearance of intervals in TwinNote makes this much easier.

See if you can see these visual patterns in the scales shown below.

Major Scales

Minor Scales

In sum, scales provide a good illustration of how TwinNote represents intervals clearly and accurately. A musician can easily see and grasp the basic interval patterns of major and minor scales — scales and patterns that are fundamental to a broad range of music.

Next, take a look at illustrations of how all the basic intervals appear in TwinNote.

Next: Intervals