Scales > Show Scale brings up a window that allows the user to build, experiment with, and study scale structures.
Scale structures are determined by the choices users make within two menus -- Pitchset and Key. The resulting scale is displayed in two ways:
- On the graphics piano keyboard, where dots indicate the pitches of the constructed scale.
- In the three rows of numbers and letters below the keyboard.
First Row: The selected pitches in chromatic notation. Chromatic notation assigns 0 to middle C and goes consecutively up or down in half steps. Chromatic notation can also be used to show the arrangement of whole and half steps of a major scale.
Second Row: The scale degree names for pitches within the selected scale starting with "1" on the "tonic" -- i.e., the pitch currently showing in the Key window.
Third Row:The letter names of pitches in the selected scale -- i.e., shown on the keyboard and in the number notations.
The "key signature" for major and minor keys is shown in staff notation next to the Key menu.
NOTE: See "Some Basics: Conventional Music Notation for Pitch" in Developing Musical Intuitions for more information on scales, keys, key signatures, and multiple notations.
"Play It" plays the scale built. Clicking "Done" closes this window. |