The C whole tone scale is a musical scale consisting of six notes, with each note separated by a whole tone interval. It is closely related to the augmented triad, the diminished seventh chord, the octatonic scale, and the whole tone clusters. The C whole tone scale has a distinctive sound that is often used in jazz, classical, and contemporary music.
The Whole Tone Scale: A Complete Breakdown
The whole tone scale is a unique and fascinating scale that is composed entirely of whole steps. This gives it a distinctive sound that is both ethereal and harmonically rich.
Structure
The whole tone scale can be constructed using the following formula:
- Root
- Whole step
- Whole step
- Whole step
- Whole step
- Whole step
- Whole step
Pattern
The pattern of the whole tone scale can be represented as follows:
W W W W W W W
where “W” represents a whole step.
Half Steps
Unlike other scales, the whole tone scale does not contain any half steps. This gives it a unique harmonic quality that allows for a great deal of harmonic freedom.
Intervals
The intervals between the notes of the whole tone scale are all wholetone intervals, which are equivalent to two half steps.
Notes
The notes of a C whole tone scale are as follows:
- C
- D
- E
- F#
- G#
- A#
- C
Table of Whole Tone Scales
The following table shows the whole tone scale for all starting notes:
| Starting Note | Whole Tone Scale |
|---|---|
| C | C D E F# G# A# C |
| C# | C# D# F G A B C# |
| D | D E F# G# A# C D |
| Eb | Eb F G A Bb C Eb |
| E | E F# G# A# C# D# E |
| F | F G A Bb C D E |
| F# | F# G# A# C D E F# |
| G | G A Bb C D E F# |
| Ab | Ab Bb C Db Eb F Ab |
| A | A Bb C D E F# A |
| Bb | Bb C D Eb F G Bb |
| B | B C# D# E F# G# B |
Uses
The whole tone scale is commonly used in jazz, classical, and contemporary music. Its unique sound makes it a popular choice for improvisation and adding a sense of mystery to compositions.
- Question: What is the definition of “c whole tone scale”?
Answer: The C whole tone scale is a musical scale composed of six notes, each separated by a whole tone interval.
- Question: What is the intervallic structure of the C whole tone scale?
Answer: The C whole tone scale consists of six whole tone intervals, with no half steps or semitones.
- Question: How is the C whole tone scale related to other musical scales?
Answer: The C whole tone scale is unique among musical scales due to its symmetrical construction and lack of traditional tonic-dominant relationships.
Well, there you have it! The whole tone scale: a wonderfully exotic and expressive tool for musicians of all stripes. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting to explore the world of music, I hope this article has given you a better understanding of this fascinating scale. Thanks for reading, and I hope you’ll stop by again soon for more musical musings and explorations.