Exploring Music Scales: From Western Major Scales to Eastern Raga-Based Thaats

Music scales are the building blocks of melody in all musical traditions. Whether you're exploring the ancient modes of Western music or the intricate Thaats of Eastern music, understanding the various types of scales can greatly enhance your musical journey.

Western Music Scales: A Journey Through Modes and Chords

In Western music, the journey begins with the 7 modes derived from the Major scale. These modes are based on the Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian scales. Each mode has its roots in ancient Greek and Roman history and provides a distinct flavor to music.

The Major scale (C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C) is the building block. Here are the other modes of this scale:

Ionian: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C (Major scale) Dorian: D-E-F-G-A-B-C-D (Minor scale) Phrygian: E-F-G-A-B-C-D-E Lydian: F-G-A-B-C-D-E-F Mixolydian: G-A-B-C-D-E-F-G Aeolian: A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A (Natural Minor scale) Locrian: B-C-D-E-F-G-A-B

Each mode has its unique structure of notes and is used to create specific moods and feelings in music. Complementing the modes are chords such as Major, Minor, Dominant 7, Major 7, Minor 7, 6/9, Diminished, and Augmented chords.

Modern Scale Forms: Major and Minor Scales

Today, we follow scale forms that start with the Major and Minor scales. Here are the key features:

Major Scale

Notes: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C

There are also three types of Minor scales:

Minor Scales

Natural Minor Scale: C-D-Eb-F-Ab-Bb-C Harmonic Minor Scale: C-D-Eb-F-Ab-B-C Melodic Minor Scale (Ascending): C-D-Eb-F-A-B-C Melodic Minor Scale (Descending): C-B-A-F-Eb-D-C

Additionally, a mix of Minor scale forms can be used for improvisation or composition:

Ascending Melodic Minor: C-D-Eb-F-A-B-C Descending Harmonic Minor: C-B-Ab-F-Eb-D-C

Understanding these scales is essential for musicians and composers in Western music.

Eastern Music Scales: Raga-Based Thaats

Meanwhile, in Eastern music, the concept of scale forms is embodied in Thaats, which are the parent scales based on Raga. These Thaats are not just 10 different ways of music scales but form the foundation for thousands of different Ragas. Here are the 10 parent scales of Thaats:

Bilawal: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C Kalyan: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C Khamaj: C-D-E-F-G-A-Bb-C Asavari: C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C Bhairav: C-Db-E-F-G-Ab-B-C Kafi: C-D-Eb-F-G-A-Bb-C Marwa: C-Db-E-F-G-A-B-C Purvi: C-Db-E-F-G-Ab-B-C Todi: C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-B-C Bhairav: C-Db-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C

These Thaats are incredibly versatile, allowing for a vast range of musical expressions and compositions.

Arpeggios and Other Scales

Arpeggios are sequences of notes played separately, creating a distinct harmonic texture. For example, the C Major arpeggio is C-E-G-C. Other important scales include:

Dominant 7th to Major: Emphasizes the tension and resolution in jazz and blues music. Diminished Scale: Provides a sound for dissonant and complex harmonies. Blues Pentatonic Scales (Major and Minor): Used extensively in blues, rock, and jazz for a soulful sound. Chromatic Scale: Plays all 12 notes in order, giving a continuous and systematic approach to music.

Each of these scales serves a specific purpose in different musical genres and styles.

Conclusion

Understanding music scales is a crucial part of learning music. Western scales like Major and Minor, and Eastern scales like Thaats, form the backbone of melody and harmony. Mastery of these scales will not only enhance your musical skills but also open new doors to creativity and expression.

Stay tuned for the next chapter, where we'll delve into the complexities of the Chromatic Scale. Till then, happy playing!