octatonic scale

The octatonic scale is an eight-note collection that first appeared in the 1800s in the music of composers such as Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. It is generated using alternating whole steps and half steps. That means there are two possible patterns that will generate an octatonic, and so there are two octatonic scales.

And as a result of the property, there are only three unique octatonic collections. We name these arbitrarily as OCT(0,1) , OCT(1,2) , and OCT(2,3). The numbers to the right of “OCT” are pitch classes within that scale. (E.g., the {0,1,3,4,6,7,9,10} collection I discussed above is OCT(1,2).)

An octatonic scale will have a pattern of steps that is whole step, half step, whole step, half step; whole step, half step, whole step, half step or half step, whole step, half step, whole step; half step, whole step, half step, whole step.

You might remember the whole tone scale only two versions the octatonic scale is somewhat similar but it has quite a different sound octatonic 8 tone just think of octo like octopus 8 and tonic tone.

To construct the octatonic scale, begin on the root and alternate half-steps and whole-steps until reaching the octave: C octatonic: C D♭ E♭ E F♯ G A B♭ Alternating half and whole-steps (beginning with a half-step.)

If we take a look a the key signature of the C Octatonic (Half-tone, Whole-tone) Scale we can find it has three flats and one sharps. Therefore, on sheet music you will find four accidentals on the score. The notes of this scale are: C, Db, Eb, E, F#, G, A, and Bb.

octatonic scale – fits 8 notes (oct) into the octave. The pattern of the scale is to alternate whole and half steps. You can start the scale with either a whole or a half step and continue the pattern from there. pentatonic scale – 5 notes per octave.

whole-tone collection : a six-note collection that is made up entirely of notes separated by whole steps. octatonic collection : an eight-note collection that is formed by alternating whole- and half steps.

whole-tone collection : a six-note collection that is made up entirely of notes separated by whole steps. octatonic collection : an eight-note collection that is formed by alternating whole- and half steps.

One construction takes five consecutive pitches from the circle of fifths; starting on C, these are C, G, D, A, and E. Rearranging the pitches to fit into one octave creates the major pentatonic scale: C, D, E, G, A.

The two most common scales in Western classical music are the major and minor scales. Major scales can be in any key, but a simple major scale is what you get if you start C on a piano and go up, playing only white notes (listen to the audio above to hear examples of the all the scales discussed here).

Called octatonic because it has eight pitch classes, the octatonic collection is full of compositional potential and has been used by many composers to a variety of ends. An octatonic collection is easily generated by alternating half steps and whole steps. Using pitch class numbers, one example is {0,1,3,4,6,7,9,10}.