E is in every major scale?

Youngspanion · #1 04-20-2007, 03:38 AM

I've noticed that E is in every natural key of the major scale. No matter what key you play the major scale in, E is the only note that is in each scale. Is there any significance to this?

Aaron · #2 04-20-2007, 03:44 AM

It is just arbitrary. If you follow the cycle of fifths through major keys starting with F, E will be the last note to be raised a half step.

Bruce Lindfield · #3 04-20-2007, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Youngspanion

No matter what key you play the major scale in, E is the only note that is in each scale.

Well that sentence is not strictly true - Bb,Eb,Ab,Db etc. - all major scales with Eb and no E !

Bruce Lindfield · #4 04-20-2007, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron

It is just arbitrary. If you follow the cycle of fifths through major keys starting with F, E will be the last note to be raised a half step.

E raised a half step is F!!

dlloyd · #5 04-20-2007, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron

It is just arbitrary. If you follow the cycle of fifths through major keys starting with F, E will be the last note to be raised a half step.

Not B?

**Rune Bivrin** · #6 04-20-2007, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Youngspanion

I've noticed that E is in every natural key of the major scale. No matter what key you play the major scale in, E is the only note that is in each scale. Is there any significance to this?

Yes, it proves there was a conspiracy by CIA, NSA and FBI to assasinate J.F.K.

Bobby King · #7 04-20-2007, 05:49 AM

That's not true at all if you're talking about the pitch "E-natural". It's not in the major keys of Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, F#, C#...what exactly are you talking about?

**Mark Wilson** · #8 04-20-2007, 06:42 AM

Yea. I don't understand.

What about F# Major?

F# G# A# B C# D# E# F#

Or even C# for that matter.

C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C#

I don't understand what you're saying. If you're saying there's an E in every scale, there isn't.
Once you get into Pentatonic and stuff, there might not be an E.

**Mark Wilson** · #9 04-20-2007, 06:43 AM

Er...I think I get it.

What about B? That's natural in every natural key.

Bobby King · #10 04-20-2007, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

Er...I think I get it.

What about B? That's natural in every natural key.

No, for instance in C# major you will have B#, (the enharmonic equivalent of C natural, but it's called B# in this key).

Here's some basic theory:

The key of C has no sharps or flats. If you proceed in a cycle of fifths, one sharp is added in each new key. i.e. key of C= no sharps, key of G= one sharp (F#), key of D= two sharps (F# and C#), key of A= three sharps (F# C# and G#)...etc.

If you you proceed in a cycle of fourths, one flat is added in each new key. i.e. key of C= (no flats), key of F= one flat (Bb), key of Bb= two flats (Bb and Eb), key of Eb= three flats (Bb Eb and Ab) ...etc.

A major scale always has the same intervals between the notes(w=whole step, h=half step):
I - w - II - w- III - h - IV - w - V - w - VI - w -VII - h - Octave

In a major scale, you only use a letter name once, so you won't for instance have A and Ab in the same scale. The key of A would use G#.

In the key of C# major the tones would be:

C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C#

Db major, the enharmonic equivalent of C#major, has two less accidentals so it's easier to deal with.

Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db

Likewise, G# major would be:

G# A# B# C# D# E# F## (double sharp)G#

But Ab is:

Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab -- much simpler

stedtale · #11 04-20-2007, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Youngspanion

I've noticed that E is in every natural key of the major scale. No matter what key you play the major scale in, E is the only note that is in each scale. Is there any significance to this?

By all the "natural keys", you mean A B C D E F & G majors, right? Not any flat or sharp majors.

In that case yes E would be in all of those keys.

E is the last note to be sharped going in the circle of fifths (C-G-D-A-E-B) once you sharp the E (F# major) you're no longer in a "natural" key.

BillMason · #12 04-20-2007, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

E raised a half step is F!!

No, it's not. It's E#. Just like F lowered a half step is Fb. B raised a half step is B# and C lowered a half step is Cb.

stedtale · #13 04-20-2007, 08:21 AM

Semantics and floccinaucinihilipilification.

**Marcus Willett** · #14 04-20-2007, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Youngspanion

Is there any significance to this?

No, you just happened to pick E. Any natural note will be in 7 keys. Let's pick another one; let's say A.

In: C, G, D, A, E, F, Bb =7

or F

In: C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb =7

Now E

C, F, G, D, A, E, B =7

dlloyd · #15 04-20-2007, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

Er...I think I get it.

What about B? That's natural in every natural key.

F major dude.

MonetBass · #16 04-20-2007, 08:55 AM

Last I checked, F major has a Bb in it, and the OP said 'natural keys' (ie no sharps or flats).

Bruce Lindfield · #17 04-20-2007, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillMason

No, it's not. It's E#. Just like F lowered a half step is Fb. B raised a half step is B# and C lowered a half step is Cb.

You call it what you like - I'll play an F and nobody will know!!

stedtale · #18 04-20-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stedtale

Semantics and floccinaucinihilipilification.

.

DocBop · #19 04-20-2007, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

Well that sentence is not strictly true - Bb,Eb,Ab,Db etc. - all major scales with Eb and no E !

Don't forget key of C# and we get a E#.

DocBop · #20 04-20-2007, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Youngspanion

I've noticed that E is in every natural key of the major scale. No matter what key you play the major scale in, E is the only note that is in each scale. Is there any significance to this?

Actually look a little closer there is a A, B, C, D, E, F, G letter name in every scale. Just in the 12 keys sometimes the letter name have a sharp or flat so they fit the scale formula.