Scale practice is an important element of most practice routines. You’ve probably practiced major scales, and perhaps even minor scales. But have you ever explored the world of… the whole-tone scale?
In this post, we’ll explore what makes this scale unique and how you can add it to your practice.
What Is The Whole-Tone Scale?
Major and minor scales follow a similar pattern: each scale contains seven notes, and the scale is made up of varying half-steps and whole-steps. The whole-tone scale, on the other hand, is made up entirely of whole-steps! This means that the scale contains only six notes before repeating, and it’s entirely symmetrical—no matter what note you start on, the scale will sound essentially the same.
Where Have I Heard This Scale Before?
Because of its symmetry, the whole-tone scale has a dreamy, mysterious quality. This has made it useful for musicians of many genres and eras:
- Classical composer Claude Debussy used the scale all the time in pieces like this piano prelude.
- Jazz pianist Thelonious Monk incorporated the scale throughout his unique style of improvisation.
- It’s even used in pop music such as the intro to this Stevie Wonder song.
- And it’s a common sound effect in movies and TV whenever someone wants to depict a dream sequence.
Why Should I Learn the Whole-Tone Scale?
The main reason to practice the whole-tone scale is the reason to practice any scale: when you encounter the scale in a piece of music, your fingers will already be familiar enough to play it easily. Jazz improvisers should definitely learn the scale to add to their arsenal of improvisational language. And overall, any scale practice that gets you out of your usual patterns is great training for your fingers.
How to Practice The Whole-Tone Scale
To start, work your way through the scale slowly—no need for a metronome. Try to get the pitches in your ear, and explore the symmetry of the scale by starting on various notes.
To take things further, try Wholetone Articulation with Stuart Mack.
We like exercises that challenge multiple aspects of your playing at once. In this case, Stuart’s exercise uses the whole-tone scale to work on crisp articulation as well as finger coordination. It is also a good way to work on range, since it works its way into the upper register.
Trust The Process
As always, the key to any exercise is to practice carefully and consistently. Playing along with Stuart every day is a great way to build skill while having an example to listen to and work toward. Over time, you’ll find you’ve added consistency to your technique AND incorporated an exciting new scale into your musical vocabulary!
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