Different Music Scales: Chromatic Scale, Modal Scales, Blues Scale, Harmonic Minor Scale, and Melodic Minor Scale.
Music Scales: Chromatic Scale
The chromatic scale is made up of twelve notes, built by the twelve semitones that exist between a note and its octave. For this reason, this scale is also known as the twelve-tone scale.
C – C# – D – D# – E – F – F# – G – G# – A – A# – B
The rest of the musical scales are made up of a selection of notes, extracted from the twelve notes that make up the Chromatic scale.
Modal Scales: Modes
The Modal Scales or Greek Modes are based on the C major scale. The major scale is also called the Ionian Mode or Diatonic Major Scale, the scale from which the rest of the modes would flow.
This modal scales thing would be similar to always dressing in the same suit, but changing the order when we put on the different clothes.
For example, if instead of setting up the C Major scale as C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C, we set it up as A – B – C – D – E – F – G – A, we would go from key of C in Ionian mode or major scale, to the key of A in Aeolian mode or Natural minor scale.
We obtain the rest of the different modes by setting up the C Major scale from another different point such as the Dorian Mode or D Mode, or the Mixolydian Mode or G Mode. Modal Scales.
Blue Scale
The Blues Scale is based on the minor pentatonic scale, with the addition of what is known as Blue Note.
This note was introduced by African slaves brought to North America, for the creation of one of the most influential genres in the development of American popular music: The Blues. Blue Scale
Harmonic minor Scale
To obtain greater tonal response from the minor scale, the 7th note was raised a semitone. This results in a more decisive tonic, and the tonal response is increased by bringing the 7th note closer to its tonic.
Since there is a separation of only one semitone between both notes, as would occur in the major scale. Consequently, the harmonic minor scale was born.
Melodic minor Scale
The harmonic minor scale was very useful from the point of view of harmony, but when a tone and a half space opened between the 6th and 7th notes, its melodic qualities were diminished.
To solve this, the 6th note of the harmonic minor scale was raised a semitone to create the melodic minor scale.