Re: [Harp-L] Why or how does the major scale equation work?
- To: michael rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>, Seth Galitzer <sethgali@xxxxxxxxx>
- Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Why or how does the major scale equation work?
- From: BOB MAYER <bobmayer@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:29:36 -0800 (PST)
- Cc: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
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If anyone is interested in delving more into the math behind music, this is an excellent book:
http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=2&tid=10916
--- On Fri, 11/20/09, Seth Galitzer <sethgali@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
From: Seth Galitzer <sethgali@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Why or how does the major scale equation work?
To: "michael rubin" <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "harp-l" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Friday, November 20, 2009, 11:12 AM
If I remember correctly, western music is based on the ancient Greek ideals of balance and harmony. One web article I found attributed the divisions of the Major Scale to Pythagoras, which sounds credible. I imagine if you were to compare the waveforms of the individual pitches you will find some congruity, which would contribute to why we think it "sounds good". The Greek history also explains where the names of the modes comes from. The same source goes on to say that the use of the Major Scale was formalized by the Church in the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods which has kept it in the forefront of modern Western music.
So why do we use it in this hemisphere? Because our Greek ancestors decided the arrangement was the most harmonious to the human ear, and the Church agreed. So far, Western musicians still think so (modern atonal composers notwithstanding).
Seth
michael rubin wrote:
> Early on I teach my students about half steps and whole steps and
> that the do re mi fa so la ti do major scale can be played by
> beginning on any note on the keyboard and then moving up a whole step
> followed by a whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.
>
> My new student asked me why or how does it work. I did my best
> explanation but felt I came up short. What say the physics guys or
> anyone with a good explanation?
> Thanks,
> Michael Rubin
> Michaelrubinharmonica.com
-- Seth Galitzer
The beatings will continue until morale has improved.
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