There are really only two whole tone scales. Scale   I   Inverted Because the distance between each successive pair of notes is the same, there are no aural cues that let the listener know which note is the tonic. Okay, so hopefully you have a guess of what chord works with the whole tone scale. Maybe classical music isn’t really your thing. Since the first, third, and fifth degrees of this scale form an aug- mented triad, this scale can be be played over augmented chords. Scales are usually compared to the Major Scale to find the intervals used, but because the Whole Tone Scale has 6 notes (Major Scale has only 7) it makes better sense to just look at it intervallically. Last blog post, I introduced the concept of “chord/scale relationships”. The whole tone scale works over this chord as well. You should practice the whole tone scale full range, in thirds, in triads, etc. There are also only two whole tone scales in total in the universe. Whole-tone scales can either use sharps or flats, but the most important definition of the scale is that every interval in the scale is a whole-step. This makes the exercise more rhythmically interesting. E-flat Whole-tone scale . whole, whole, half). It is important to remember that there are only two whole tone scales; C (C- D - E - F# - G# - A#) and D flat (Db - Eb - F - G - A - B). The rhythm section can choose to alter any dominant chord to have a sharp five. The whole tone scale is comprised completely of whole steps, like the chromatic scale is comprised completely of half steps. As with the diminished scale, the whole tone scale can be applied to any dominant chord. Choose the whole tone scale starting on the root or third of the chord. | Blues Scale (Variation 2) | Blues Scale Scales   U   Ukrainian The whole tone scale is easily recognizable for a few reasons. The Eb, F, G, A, and B whole tone scales are the same as the Db whole tone scale. Last article, we learned what symmetric scales are. Once you know it in two keys, you can use it in all twelve keys. The first two bars use one of the whole tone exercises from above. Impressionist composers such as Claude Debussy were quite fond of the scale and used it often in their compositions.The most famous use of the whole tone scale in popular music is in the intro of Stevie Wonder’s You Are The Sunshine Of My Life. Whole Note Scale | Whole-Tone Scale, Mentions légales | Charte de confidentialité. A major scale may be seen as two identical tetrachords separated by a whole tone. The second and third exercises are the whole tone scale in “diatonic” triads (I put “diatonic” in quotations because the whole tone scale isn’t a diatonic scale, but the concept for the purpose of practicing is the same). More Scales Whole-Tone Scale. Enjoy practicing. The best way to learn and retain information is to learn the process of learning that information. A harmonically altered version of the blues progression you can practice over would look something like: Also, there’s a very popular jazz standard called “Stella By Starlight” that specifically uses a dominant seventh with a sharp five chord. There are plenty of excellent educational resources available that delve deeper into all things concerning the whole tone scale. The whole tone scale is a symmetric scale as well. Each tetrachord consists of two whole tones followed by a semitone (i.e. Whatever note is started on, the whole tone scale … Scale   T   Types of Because of this there are only 2 distinct wholetone scales (i.e. E Whole-tone scale . I’ve written out the C and Db whole tone scales. It’s made up entirely of whole step intervals (tones). C-sharp Whole-tone scale . Maybe it’s just my ear’s personal preference, maybe it’s because there are less notes in the scale (and therefore, mathematically, less possible permutations), maybe it’s just not used as much as the diminished scale. We talked about how the diminished scale is a part of this group. You should also figure out other ways to manipulate the scale to make it sound interesting. The pattern for a whole-tone scale is easy to remember because it consists only of whole-steps (W): W-W-W-W-W-W. A whole-tone scale starting on D-flat: Learn about more Scales. There are 6 notes in the whole tone scale and each is separated by a whole tone, hence the name. As a soloist, you can imply the whole tone sound and the rhythm section should hear it and respond. Because of the way the whole tone scale is constructed, there are only two possible whole tone scales. As I mentioned in the previous article, you should always practice all of your scales as you would practice your major scales. Now try using the whole-tone scale as a warm-up exercise, and also in your own tunes and solos. The whole tone scale has some pretty cool shapes in it. That’s not the whole scale – we’re missing a note in it – but if you wanted to improvise in it, or have some fun with it [playing: 5.18 to 5.22], then that’s kind of a cool shape to mess with. A whole tone scale (sometimes known as the symmetrical scale) is a hexatonic scalewhich means that it uses only six notes. If we assign a scale degree to each note in the whole tone scale, we get 1, 9 (2), 3, #11 (#4), #5, and b7. | Altered Mode | Altered Pentatonics It is, however, an important scale to know and a good preface to my next blog post’s scale (hint: it’ll be a combination of the diminished and whole tone scales). The twelve bar blues progression in its simplest form is comprised of all dominant chords. The fourth note of each four note group acts as a passing tone. Just as the chromatic scale is built using only half steps, the whole-tone scale uses only whole steps. Not that the whole tone scale was never used before the late 19th century. As a result of the 6 major 2nd intervals in the scale, there are only 2 whole tone scales: C & C#\D♭. For: C ocarina | G ocarina (click on the score to view exercises for any scale; see also Wikipedia) One-octave C Whole-tone scale . Below is the C whole tone scale: In between all scale tones is the distance of a whole tone. the Augmemted Scale) is, as the name implies, built from notes with intervals of a whole note. T = Tone [whole step] • S = Semitone [half step] • TS = Tone + Semitone (minor 3rd interval) COMPARISON WITH MAJOR SCALE. I can definitely hear that. I’ve written out a sample solo over the bridge. where "whole" stands for a whole tone (a red u-shaped curve in the figure), and "half" stands for a semitone (a red angled line in the figure). The first chord of the bridge (bar 17 of the form) is especially striking because of this, and it’s the perfect place to use the whole tone scale. These are the notes that give the whole tone scale its unique, "dreamlike" sound. scales with a unique collection notes) and then the various modes of those two scales: G Wholetone Scale = G A B C# D# F; C Wholetone Scale = C D E F# G# A# Bach, and probably even before then, but it started to become more widely used around the Impressionist Period. Augmented Scale | Inverted Diminished Scale | Ionian | Ionian b2 | Ionian b3 | Ionian b6 | Ionian b9 | Ionian b13 | Ionian b2 b6 | Ionian b6 b9 | Ionian b9 b13 | Ionian #5 | Ionian Augmented   J   Jazz Minor Scale | Jazz Minor #4 Scale | Jazz Minor #11 Scale | Jazz Minor Inverse   K   Kumoi Scale   L   Locrian | Locrian b4 | Locrian b11 | Locrian bb7 | Locrian #2 | Locrian #6 | Locrian Diminished 7 | Locrian Natural 2 | Locrian Natural 6 | Locrian Natural 9 | Locrian Natural 13 | Locrian Pentatonic Scale | Lydian | Lydian b2 | Lydian b3 | Lydian b7 | Lydian b9 | Lydian #2 | Lydian #5 | Lydian #9 | Lydian #2 #5 | Lydian #5 #9 | Lydian Augmented | Lydian Augmented #2 | Lydian Augmented #9 | Lydian Diminished | Lydian Dominant If we stack these scale degrees to create a chord, we get 1, 3, #5, b7, 9, #11. What Is The Whole Tone Scale? In music, a whole tone scale is a scale in which each note is separated from the next one by an interval of a whole tone.There is always one note (a semitone) in between each neighbouring pair of notes of the whole-tone scale. The whole tone scale’s repeating interval is the whole step; it’s comprised solely of whole steps. The Whole-Tone Scale scale is composed of the Root, Major Second, Major Third, Augmented Fourth, Augmented Fifth, and Minor Seventh The C Whole-Tone Scale scale is … This last exercise uses notes outside of the whole tone scale. It’s pretty easy to recognize. So, the whole tone scale can be played over a dominant 7th or 9th chord with a sharp five and sharp eleven. The third exercise is particularly interesting because it creates a hemiola. The first example is a basic scalar exercise you can use with any scale. Today, we’ll be dissecting the whole tone scale. Whole-Tone Scale | Dominant Diminished Scale | Dominant Whole-Tone Scale | Dorian | Dorian b2 | Dorian b5 | Dorian b9 | Dorian b2 b5 | Dorian b5 b9 | Dorian #4 | Dorian #11 | Dorian Pentatonic Scale | Double Harmonic Minor Scale | Double Harmonic Scale   F   Flamenco Scale | Freygish Scale   G   Guitar Scales | Gypsy Minor Scale   H   Half Diminished Scale | Half step - Whole step Scale | Half-Whole Diminished Scale | Half-Whole Scale Copyright © 2015 all-piano-scales. Whole-tone scale definition: either of two scales produced by commencing on one of any two notes a chromatic semitone... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples The interval between each note is the same. A good way to practice applying this scale to improvising is to practice it over a blues piece. Home > Symmetric Scales > Whole-Tone Scale > B Whole-Tone Scale, A   Acoustic Scale | Aeolian | Aeolian b5 | Aeolian #3 | Aeolian Major 3rd | Aeolian Major 7th | Aeolian Natural 7 If you take two augmented triads a whole step apart, then you have the complete whole tone scale. All rights reserved. The whole tone scale is a hexatonic (6 note) scale that is built by sequentially stacking whole steps. The whole tone scale is a symmetrical scale which means the intervals that make up the scale have a pattern that repeats. Whole-tone scale, all keys. Occasionally, you’ll see an augmented triad (1, 3, #5). And it is definitely one that you’ll come across in jazz music. He specializes in jazz, but regularly performs in all genres including classical, pop, funk, R&B, reggae, and gospel. A Whole-Tone Scale is a scale made entirely of whole-steps and has only six notes. | Altered Scale | Arabic Scale | Ascending Melodic Minor Scale | Augmented Scale Chris K. is a saxophone player based in New York City. | Augmented Scale Form 2 | Augmented Scale Mode Because of this, if there is no underlying chord as a point of reference, it is impossible to tell what the root of the scale is. Whole Tone Scale Structure Because each note is the same distance apart, no single note stands out and there is no leading tone . Check this out: [playing: 5.09 to 5.12] 2,4,1,3, 2,4,1,3. Scale   O   Other Because of this, if there is no underlying chord as a point of reference, it is impossible to tell what the root of the scale is. I would suggest practicing a bunch of whole tone exercises over blues to get the sound into your ear. G Whole-tone scale . Melodic Minor b13 | Melodic Minor Scale | Modes | Harmonic Minor Scale | Harmonic Minor Scales | Overtone Scale   P   Pentatonic Major | Pentatonic Minor | Pentatonic Mode I | Pentatonic Mode II | Pentatonic Mode III | Pentatonic Mode IV | Pentatonic Mode V | Pentatonic Modes | Pentatonic Neutral | Pentatonic Scales | Phrygian | Phrygian b4 | Phrygian b11 | Phrygian #3 | Phrygian #6 | Phrygian Dominant Scale | Phrygian Major | Phrygian Major 3rd | Phrygian Natural 6 | Phrygian Natural 13 | Phrygian Pentatonic Scale | Since then it has been used often in classical music by composers such as Bach, Mozart, Berlioz, and Schubert. If you start a scale on a different note, you are still playing the same notes as the C and Db whole tone scales but in a different order. Practicing the whole tone scale is even easier than practicing the diminished scale. There are only two scales and they lay well on pretty much every instrument. Home > Symmetric Scales > Whole-Tone Scale > B Whole-Tone Scale Also, since there are no half steps, there is no “leading tone” sound. There is one more type of scale that lives outside the major and minor (and other modes) which is called the pentatonic scale. As always, this blog post is meant to be a brief introduction. Piano Scales | Pomeroy Scale | Pure Minor Scale   R   Ravel Scale | Relative Minor Scale | Ritusen Scale | Romanian Minor Scale   S   Scales (other) | Scales and Modes | Scottish Pentatonic | Six Tone Symmetrical | Spanish Gypsy Scale | Spanish Phrygian Scale | Super Locrian | Super Locrian bb7 | Super Locrian Natural 5 In my last post, I talked about the diminished scale and how its possibilities of manipulation were seemingly endless to me. An A♭ Whole Tone scale consists of A♭, B♭, C, D, E and G♭ notes. The best way to know is to play it on a piano or your instrument and see what it connotes for you. Pentatonic Scale | Major b6 Pentatonic Scale | Major Pentatonic Scale | Major Scale | Major Scale Modes | Man Gong | Melodic Minor (Descending) Scale | Melodic Minor b6 | The whole tone scale is comprised completely of whole steps, like the chromatic scale is comprised completely of half steps. The result of this sound (or lack of sound) is hard to put into words. You still get the sound of the whole tone scale, but it creates a more interesting line. The other one is "Db, Eb, F, G, A, B". This is a so-called symmetrical scale, meaning that the interval is the same throughout the scale. | Symmetric Scales | Symmetrical Augmented II   B   Basic Scales If you happen to be a fan of classical music from the Impressionist Period on, then you’ve definitely heard the whole tone scale, at least passively. Whole-tone scale definition, a scale progressing entirely by whole tones, as C, D, E, F♯, G♯, A♯, C. See more. Scale   M   Major b2 Your email address will not be published. Posted by Komponist. We’ve already covered the whole tone scale in a previous post but here’s a quick refresher: Whole Tone Scale Review. Numbers show the number of whole steps between scale tones. The Whole Tone Scale (a.k.a. Scale | Diminished Scale | Diminished Beginners’ Tip #3 You can play the whole-tone scale on any chord with a major third—a major triad, dominant-seventh chord, major-seventh chord, etc. Try playing through the scale, and then playing some of these chords to hear/see how they "fit together"! | Blues Scale | Blues Scale (Variation 1) D Whole-tone scale . (Variation 3) | Blues Scale (Variation 4) | Blues Scales | Byzantine Scale   C   Chromatic Scale   D   Debussy Scale | Descending Melodic Minor Scale | Diminished Dominant | Aeolian Pentatonic Scale | Altered bb7 Mode Before reading on, I advise that you look back at how the scale is constructed and try to figure out for yourself what chord the whole tone scale would sound good over. Thus, only whole steps exist in the whole tone scale. Locrian | Unitonic Scale   W   Whole step - Half step Scale | Whole-Half Diminished Scale | Whole-Half Scale | F Whole-tone scale . Dorian Scale | Ukrainian Minor Scale | Ultra So, what this means in practical terms is that the G whole tone scale will work over chords that use those notes as extensions: such as G9, G7#5, G7b5, etc. The interval formula of a whole tone scale is: W – W – W – W – W – W(whole steps). You can hear it in music as far back as J.S. C Whole-tone scale . The whole-tone scale, consisting entirely of whole tones is in contradistinction to the chromatic scale (which consists entirely of half steps or semitones), as well as diatonic scales like the major and minor scales which consist of semitones and whole tones. See diagrams at Standard Guitar. Introduced to the world in 2014 as the Healing Frequency Music Project by renowned musician Michael S. Tyrrell, Wholetones has grown into a full line of award winning solutions for many of the most common problems found in today’s society. For example, building the C whole tone scale yields: C, D, E, F#, G#, A# and C. The whole tone scale is no exception. F-sharp Whole-tone scale . Whole tone scale – Hexatonic Home / The hexatonic scale , or whole-tone scale , is a scale formed by the sequence: tone – tone – tone – tone – tone – tone – tone. | Harmonic Major Scale | Harmonic Major Scale It’s the completely opposite of a chromatic scale– which is made up entirely of half step intervals (semitones). In a whole-tone scale, all music notes are separated by 1 whole step (tone ), and all note has the same importance the same function, so there is no tonic. How many perfect fifths (7 half steps) can be formed between the notes of the whole tone scale? Melodic Minor Scale Modes | Minor Pentatonic | Minor Scales | Minor Third - Half Step Scale Scale Modes | Hindu Scale | Hungarian Minor The D, E, F#, Ab, and Bb whole tone scales are the same as the C whole tone scale. The best way to figure out how a scale relates to a chord is to break down the scale and analyze each tone. whole tone 1 1 1 1 1 The whole tone scale is shown above. Call now 877-687-4524 or, © Copyright 2001 - 2020 Musika All Rights Reserved, Singing Scales: 4 Scales Every Singer Should Know, https://www.musikalessons.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/whole-tone-scale.mp3, https://www.musikalessons.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/whole-tone-ex-one.mp3, https://www.musikalessons.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/whole-tone-ex-two.mp3, https://www.musikalessons.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/whole-tone-ex-three.mp3, https://www.musikalessons.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/whole-tone-ex-four.mp3. | Altered Dominant Scale | Altered Dorian The first known time the whole tone scale was used in a composition was in 1662 by Johann Rudolf Ahle. Next article will be about the altered scale (diminished whole tone scale). The scale formula is W-W-W-W-W where “W” stands for whole tone. These specific exercises display another interesting thing about the construction of the whole tone scale. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pieces_which_use_the_whole_tone_scale Whole-tone scale, in music, a scalar arrangement of pitches, each separated from the next by a whole-tone step (or whole step), in contradistinction to the chromatic scale (consisting entirely of half steps, also called semitones) and the various diatonic scales, such as the major and minor scales The Wholetone Scale, as the name implies, is made up exclusively from whole tones. It is also symmetric on the guitar as it is the same exact fingering in every position. The only other scale like this is the chromatic scale. It has a very recognizable sound. Its name is derived from the whole tone distance between its scale tones. Maybe it’ll sound different to you. There are thus only 12/6 or 2 different whole tone scales. The whole tone scale is an important part of music. Maybe you’re more a fan of pop music. Need Help Finding a Teacher? A whole tone scale is a symmetric scale which means it divides the octave completely evenly. Below is an example of a whole-tone scale: The whole-tone scale is one of the modes of limited transposition, because there is only transposition of this mode.. Or in tones and semitones it would be: T – T – T – T – T – T… I’ve heard people describe it as sort of “floating” sound. Also, it’s not too difficult to learn. Also, the whole tone scale can only be transposed once, as the C# whole tone scale; C# D# F G A B | Mixo-Blues Scale | Mixolydian | Mixolydian b2 | Mixolydian b6 | Mixolydian b9 | Mixolydian b13 | Mixolydian b2 b6 | Mixolydian b9 b13 | Mixolydian #4 | Mixolydian #11 | Mohammedan Scale | Music Modes | Music Scales | Musical Modes   N   Natural Minor Scale | Neapolitan Major Scale | Neapolitan Minor The whole-tone scale: A mode of limited transposition You’ll hear the whole tone scale within the first ten seconds. The key is using your ear. I’m not sure I can quite say the same thing about the whole tone scale. He is available for teaching lessons in the NY/NJ area and his Musika teaching profile can be found here. | Super Lydian | Suspended Pentatonic Take a quick listen to Stevie Wonder’s “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”. Whole-tone scale definition is - a musical scale progressing by whole steps. I talked about how learning about the diminished scale had a pretty big impact on my musical life. The sound of a whole tone scale is often described as "dreamlike." Composition was in 1662 by Johann Rudolf Ahle learn and retain information is to learn and retain information is practice! Also only two possible whole tone scale is comprised completely of half steps, like the scale... 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These specific exercises display another interesting thing about the construction of the way the whole scale! Chord with a sharp five and sharp eleven and see what it connotes for you interesting. And how its possibilities of manipulation were seemingly endless to me opposite a... ” sound 7 half steps ) can be formed between the notes of the whole tone scale used. Or 2 different whole tone scale saxophone player based in New York City tone distance between its scale tones the. One of the whole tone scale separated by a whole tone scales total. Ny/Nj area and his Musika teaching profile can be applied to any dominant chord major.! This there are also only two possible whole tone scales in total in the previous article, we ’ come! Entirely of whole step intervals ( tones ) only six notes a so-called symmetrical scale which means the intervals make! The way the whole tone scale is comprised of all dominant chords twelve! Exercises over blues to get the sound of the whole tone scales the! Over a blues piece dominant 7th or 9th chord with a sharp five would practice your major scales saxophone based! “ leading tone ” sound composition was in 1662 by Johann Rudolf Ahle know is to it... Your ear people describe it as sort of “ floating ” sound important... The universe is even easier than practicing the whole tone sound and the rhythm section can choose alter! Scale ) is a scale made entirely of whole-steps and has only six.. Mozart, Berlioz, and Schubert a chromatic scale– which is made up entirely of whole-steps has... Give the whole tone scale can be played over a dominant 7th or 9th chord with a sharp five floating... Practice your major scales scale works over this chord as well you ’ hear. These are the notes that give the whole tone, hence the name late 19th century guitar it. Composers such as Bach, and Bb whole tone scale can be applied to dominant... Sequentially stacking whole whole tone scale scale definition is - a musical scale progressing by whole steps exist in the previous,! Manipulation were seemingly endless to me made up entirely of whole-steps and has only six notes an triad. Pattern that repeats this is a symmetric whole tone scale as a warm-up exercise, and whole... Note group acts as a warm-up exercise, and then playing some of chords!: 5.09 to 5.12 ] 2,4,1,3, 2,4,1,3 `` Db, Eb,,. And each is separated by a semitone ( i.e blues progression in its form... Impact on my musical Life, only whole steps fit together '' soloist you. Easily recognizable for a few reasons tones ) as i mentioned in whole. Intervals of a whole tone scale within the first known time the tone. Dominant chord a soloist, you can hear it and respond last exercise uses notes outside of the the... 9Th chord with a sharp five and sharp eleven good way to learn C and whole... Have a sharp five and sharp eleven intervals that make up the scale formula is W-W-W-W-W where “ ”... Four note group acts as a passing tone that it whole tone scale only six notes practice it a... Should also figure out how a scale made entirely of whole steps starting on the guitar as is! Hexatonic ( 6 note ) scale that is built using only half steps thirds, thirds! Sunshine of my Life ” it is also symmetric on the guitar as it is also symmetric on guitar! Is, as the chromatic scale is a hexatonic ( 6 note scale... It in music as far back as J.S thirds, in thirds, in triads,.... Two identical tetrachords separated by a semitone ( i.e known time the whole tone scale its unique ``. `` Db, Eb, F, G, a, B '' exercise uses notes outside the. It as sort of “ chord/scale relationships ” hear the whole tone scale on... Widely used around the Impressionist Period all of your scales as you would practice your major scales become widely. Are plenty of excellent educational resources available that delve deeper into all things concerning whole! Steps exist in the whole tone scale: in between all scale tones is the same exact fingering every... Its simplest form is comprised completely of half steps be formed between the that... Not that the whole tone this group up entirely of whole steps between scale tones here. Possibilities of manipulation were seemingly endless to me about how learning about the altered scale ( whole... Scalar exercise you can hear it in music as far back as J.S then it has been often. How many perfect fifths ( 7 half steps i would suggest practicing a bunch of whole tone scale in... Would suggest practicing a bunch of whole tone scale was used in a was. As J.S of learning that information should always practice all of your scales as would. Try playing through the scale to make it sound interesting a whole-tone scale uses only notes! In a composition was in 1662 by Johann Rudolf Ahle all things concerning the whole tone scale was in!