ABSTRACT
The major scale developed from the modal system of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Along with the minor scale, these scales are the foundation for Western harmony and our study of intervals and chords. The medieval Ionian mode has the same construction as the present-day major scale, and the Aeolian mode has the same construction as the minor scale. Other scales were created in countries around the world, varying the number of notes in the scale and the distance between adjacent notes of the scale. The word "tetrachord" comes from the Greek words tetra and chord. There are several kinds of tetrachords, but this chapter explains the tetrachord pattern that is used in the major scale, that of a whole step, whole step, followed by a half step. Transposition in music occurs when a melody or piece is played or sung higher or lower than original. The chapter includes additional vocabulary features and review exercises.
