Intro
Having found some time I’ve typed up a few notes on Chapter 2, it’s a much shorter chapter than the first covering exceptions to movement along the scale line
The Scale-Line, Exceptional
As we’ve seen previously a melody makes use of inactive and active steps, and we tend to resolve a active steps to a neighbouring inactive step by moving up or down the scale. As a quick refresher (Assuming C Maj):
- Inactive Steps = 1st, 3rd, 5th (C,E,G)
- Active Steps = 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th (D,F,A,B)
- Resolution directions
- D -> C / D -> E (Up or Down)
- F -> E (Down)
- A -> G (Down)
- B -> C (Up)
For example, in the C Major Scale we’d class the 4th step (F) as an active step and it resolves by moving downards to the 3rd step (E) which is inactive. However it is possible to avoid this tendency towards resolution for active steps by approaching them along the line of the scale, i.e. in the opposite direction.
For example we could move from C down to B and then continue down to A which is moving against B’s tendency to resolve upwards back to C C -> B -> A (Moving down, against B) / 1 -> 7 -> 6
Similarly we could begin on G, move up to A and then continue moving up to B G -> A -> B (Moving up, against A) / 5 -> 6 -> 7
When we approach in the direction of resolution the natural tendency to resolve is reinforce and must be fulfilled.
- If pursuing the line of the scale upwards we may turn back at any point except the 7th scale step
- If pursuing the line of the scale downwards we may turn back at any point except the 6th or 4th step
E.g. We would avoid the following:
Starting from B moving down to C and turning back up to B B -> C -> B / 7 -> 6 -> 7
Starting from G moving down to F and turning back up to G G -> F -> G / 5 -> 4 -> 5
Starting at B and moving up to C and turning back down to B B -> C -> B / 6 -> 7 -> 6
Third Skip
We may still skip a third in either direction, even from Active steps but must take care when leaping contrary to the natural tendency of the Active tone in which case the melody must turn back either by another leap to the preceding tone or stepwise progression
For example:
- B -> G -> B / 7 -> 5 -> 7
- B -> G -> A / 7 -> 5 -> 6
- A -> C -> A / 6 -> 1 -> 6
- A -> C -> B / 6 -> 1 -> 7