How Many Musical Scales Are There?Are there really just 36 scales in music?In this video, Robert tells you how many scales can be found in music. You may think you have all the answers already, but think again! Released on October 7, 2015 DISCLAIMER: The views and the opinions expressed in this video are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Virtual Sheet Music and its employees. Video TranscriptionHi, and welcome to virtualsheetmusic.com and livingpianos.com. I'm Robert Estrin with a viewer question. How many scales are there? Well, if you've ever analyzed a keyboard on a piano you notice that there are 12 different notes. You might think the answer would be since there are 12 different notes there are 12 different scales. Well, this is true for major scales, but what about minor scales? Well, if you add minor you'd think maybe there'd be 24, but the minor actually has 2 different forms, the harmonic and the melodic. So, you're at 36. Are we done yet? Well, not necessarily, because there are also what are called modes. This gets to be a gray area. Why? Because modes are essentially scales that start on different notes. For example, if you have no sharps or flats you might think you're in C major, and indeed you can play a C major scale by playing all the white keys through C up to C and back down again. But, what if you have no sharps or flats and you started on D? Well, this is the Dorian mode. You could do the same thing starting on E. That would be the Phyrgian mode. You would have essentially seven modes just for no sharps or flats. I actually haven't calculated a number of how many scales there would be if you considered every mode to be a separate scale. It gets to be mind boggling at that point, because you're just essentially starting on any note for all of the notes of a major scale plus your three minors because they have altered tones. I will have the review for you in the write up about how many that is. I'll have to count it up in my head. Basically the answer to this is there are 36 major and minor scales if you include both the harmonic and the melodic minor along with the major scales. Good question. You got me thinking. Very good. We'll see you next time here on virtualsheetmusic.com and livingpianos.com. I'm Robert Estrin. Text Onscreen: 36 major and minor scales, 72 additional modes, 12 blues scales, 12 diminished scales, 12 pentatonic scales, 12 whole tone scales, 12 chromatic scales. 168 TOTAL. Automatic video-to-text transcription by DaDaScribe.com Comments, Questions, Requests: Mike Iltshishin on May 26, 2022 @11:07 am PST
What about Neapolitan (major & minor), Enigmatic and various other 'exotic' scales?
Meera Thadani on March 11, 2021 @11:16 am PST
I'm still working on the 36 major and minor scales. And add some of the others as the need arises. It is a life long occupation for me. And I am running out of time. What to do now?
Lynette Westendorf on March 10, 2021 @9:31 am PST
Hi, I have assigned your column to my students for years, with great success. My question is not about this week's column.
Can you address how to find a music publisher? I am an Emmy-award winning composer, D.M.A., very experienced and I have finished a piano project that really should be in print--a complete set of Preludes and Fugues for Solo Piano (all keys major and minor). The music is early advanced, ideal for furthering a student's knowledge of counterpoint in modern vernacular. Any advice? Perhaps can you address this is another article, or I would be happy to pay for a private lesson for your advice. Thanks, Lynette  Robert - host, on March 11, 2021 @4:59 pm PST
The music industry has changed. Even if you get published, it doesn't mean you will make much money. People who are successful find creative ways of self-promotion. Then maybe a publisher will be interested in you if you gain enough of a following. Partnering at that point could expand your each. But you are still likely to make most of your money from your personal sales even at that point.
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