Whole Tone Scales

Alberto Betancourt (albetan)

When we build a scale skipping tone by tone we have a whole tone scale. All keys in piano are in-groups of 2 black (C - E) and 3 black keys (F - B). Play the white keys of 2 black group and the black ones of 3 black group. Play the black keys of the 2 black group and the white ones of the 3 black group. So you have played the two whole tone scales. Improvise freely with right hand in one of those scales, and play any notes of same scale with left hand as a free counterpoint. You are creating cool suspense music...
5 # # # & .. # # # 1 2 1 2 1 4 # # 1 2 # 4 # 1 2 # 1 ? .. # 1 2 1 2

b b b b b b

1 4 2 b b b 1 2 1 b b b 2 1

.. ..

2 1

1 b 1 b b . & . b b 1 2 2 3 b 3 3 b b 3 2 1 3 ? .. b b 1

b 3 3 b b b b 3 3 2 b 1 1 b b 1 1 b b 3

.. ..

There are only two whole tone scales.

If we skip by major third intervals we find the augmented chord:

Whole Tone Scales

C aug E aug A b aug D b aug F aug A aug

b b & # Same notes ? #

Same chord with different bass

b # b b
E b aug

D aug

G b aug

Same notes

Same chord with different bass

& # # b b ? ## bb

B b aug

b # b

b #

G aug

Same notes Same chord with different bass

b b

# # #

B aug

Same notes Same chord with different bass

As you have discovered, there are four Augmented chords. EXERCISE: Play an augmented chord with left hand and improvise freely with right hand over its respective whole tone scale. Cool music with great suspense feeling!.

Seventh chords with altered fifth:

We may alter the fifth in a seventh chord by lowering or rising it in a half tone. Then play its respective whole tone scale. Always you find an Augmented chord or any Seventh chord with altered fifth play a whole tone scale.

& # # # w ? #bw w w
C 7#5

b b b

bbw w w w

C 7b5

EXERCISE: Improvise with whole tone scales aganist seventh chords with altered fifth.

Whole Tone Scales

EXERCISE: Play whole tone scales with parallel duet. Add augmented chords or seventh chords altering fifth, beginning in any note of the same scale. Improvise freely with parallel duet against free progressions of those chords altering fifth.

b # # # # & # # # ? #b
C 7#5

b bb #b b
B b7#5

##

D 7#5

E 7#5

# #

F #7#5

b b b b b
A b7#5

b b

.. #b ..

C 7#5

Good luck and enjoy whole tone scales.