Creating Through Limitations – Scales of Creation

I’m supposed to be confined to my long-term project. But here it is again: a brief interruption.

Confined

Since I was off the rails of my folk song album, I decided to give myself a challenge. “Hey! If you’re going to mess around, at least do it with purpose.” This time, I chose limited instruments, but also limited “notes”.

Because composers sometimes use scales as their basic limitation of the core notes (or pitches) to be used, I thought to using a scale. In this case, I chose the one named “pentatonic”.

Don’t be afraid. It sounds like a big word, but the concept is simple. This scale is confined to five notes. “Penta” = 5. Now, you’re probably asking, “But which five notes?” Good question.

Limitations

Here’s what’s cool: the black (or raised) keys on a piano (or organ or accordion) outline a pentatonic scale. If you were to play up or down the piano using only the black keys, you’d be playing a pentatonic scale. See? Limits are not so limiting.

Now, to be fair, not all pentatonic scales use these black keys on the piano. There are eleven others, but they follow the same pattern.

The other helpful thing about the raised keys on the piano is that they show the pattern in its confines. One of the things I’ve always appreciated about the piano keyboard is that it is a visual representation of the relationships between musical things like notes, keys, pitches, and so on.

Go Home

In the pentatonic scale there is a group of two pitches closer together and then three pitches closer together. This is the same as the black notes on the piano. There’s a group of 3 and a group of 2. In the scale, these keep alternating. And that makes for some fun options in creating a song.

If you look at those raised keys on a piano, you’ll see what I mean. Start playing. In spite of the limitations, you may be surprised how soon you have a song!

I will have a few songs to share with you. Very soon.