MUSICOL 139 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Pentatonic Scale, Just Intonation, Equal Temperament

49 views2 pages
MELODY
Melody
A connected series of notes of various pitch, duration, and rhythm
Differs from a scale
Series of notes differing in pitch according to a specific scheme
Types of Scales
Defined by number of tones
Diatonic, tritonic, tetratonic, pentatonic
The diatonic scale is hepatonic
Defined by intervals
Diatonic, chromatic, major scale, minor scale
Defined by number of tones and intervals
Anhemitonic pentatonic
Tuning Impacts Scale Notes
Western tuning examples
Just intonation (whole number ratios) vs. equal tempered
Scales are not universal nor even consistent within one area
Gamelan sets are unique (maker/tuner and owner: court tunings not allowed)
Pentatonic scales in Javanese gamelan
Sléndro - pentatonic scale with close ot equidistant tones
Intervals are not just a matter of how much space is between notes
Pélog - 7 note scale from which pentatonic modes are derived
Constructing Melody
Melody may be understood in terms of scalar structure
Scalar vs. non scalar
Scalar melodies better remembered
Untrained can construct scale notes from short music sequences
Note distribution
Scales (pitch sets) relate to keys which relate to: probability distribution of notes
Chromatic notes out of diatonic scale used least frequently
Notes of triad used most frequently
Note Stability
Most stable is perceptual tonic
Other music systems also have tonal centers
Stable notes perceived to have a kind of gravity
Active notes are instable
Tonal Hierarchy
Similar to note distribution, except people rate or judge tones in hierarchy as more or less
“right”
Unlock document

This preview shows half of the first page of the document.
Unlock all 2 pages and 3 million more documents.

Already have an account? Log in

Document Summary

A connected series of notes of various pitch, duration, and rhythm. Series of notes differing in pitch according to a specific scheme. Defined by number of tones and intervals. Just intonation (whole number ratios) vs. equal tempered. Scales are not universal nor even consistent within one area. Gamelan sets are unique (maker/tuner and owner: court tunings not allowed) Sl ndro - pentatonic scale with close ot equidistant tones. Intervals are not just a matter of how much space is between notes. P log - 7 note scale from which pentatonic modes are derived. Melody may be understood in terms of scalar structure. Untrained can construct scale notes from short music sequences. Scales (pitch sets) relate to keys which relate to: probability distribution of notes. Chromatic notes out of diatonic scale used least frequently. Other music systems also have tonal centers. Stable notes perceived to have a kind of gravity.

Get access

Grade+20% off
$8 USD/m$10 USD/m
Billed $96 USD annually
Grade+
Homework Help
Study Guides
Textbook Solutions
Class Notes
Textbook Notes
Booster Class
40 Verified Answers
Class+
$8 USD/m
Billed $96 USD annually
Class+
Homework Help
Study Guides
Textbook Solutions
Class Notes
Textbook Notes
Booster Class
30 Verified Answers

Related Documents