Learning notes and scales to create melodies

Notes

Notes are specific sound wave frequencies but think of them as the building blocks of music, similar to letters in language. In fact, musical notes share their labels with the alphabet: A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.

On a piano or keyboard, these correspond to the white keys. A helpful way to find these notes is by using the black keys as landmarks. Locate the group of three black keys, and the white key to the right of the middle black key is the A note. Continue up the alphabet from there. After G, it cycles back to A. The C note is the white key just before the group of two black keys, typically the first key on the left side of the keyboard.

To name the black keys, start with the neighboring white key on the left or right, and either raise it (sharp) or lower it (flat).

For instance, the black key to the right of C can be called C sharp (notated as C♯), as it's a raised C. Alternatively, it can be seen as a lowered D (D flat, written as D♭). In most cases, it doesn't matter whether you call it sharp or flat, but the context may dictate which term is more suitable. This naming logic applies to all other black notes: C♯/D♭, D♯/E♭, F♯/G♭, G♯/A♭, and A♯/B♭. You'll notice that there's no black key between E and F or B and C.

The repeated notes are the same but at different octaves, meaning they're higher or lower in pitch. You can think of octaves as variations of the same note. To specify a note in a particular octave, add an octave number at the end, with lower numbers representing lower octaves and higher numbers indicating higher octaves.

Scales

A scale is a sequence of notes played in a specific order, each with a unique musical character. Scales serve as the foundation for creating melodies and harmonies in music.

Scales are constructed from intervals, which are the spaces between two notes. We measure intervals in terms of semitones, also known as half-steps or half-tones.

A semitone is the smallest distance between two piano keys, black or white. A whole tone consists of two semitones.

One of the most recognizable scales is the major scale, known for its happy, bright sound, defined by the pattern: whole tone, whole tone, semitone, whole tone, whole tone, whole tone, semitone.

This pattern applies to all major scales, each starting on a different note. To create a C major scale, use all the white keys on the piano.

A handy trick is to create a C major scale, select all the notes, and use the arrow keys to transpose them to your desired starting note.

Another common scale is the natural minor scale, known for its melancholic sound, with the interval pattern: whole tone, semitone, whole tone, whole tone, semitone, whole tone, whole tone.

You can build a natural minor scale in the piano roll, similar to the major scale. To find any minor scale, draw in an A minor scale using only the white keys and then transpose it to your desired starting note.

The key difference between C major and A minor is their starting note. Scales that use the same notes but in a different order are called relative scales. Every major scale has a relative minor scale, and vice versa.

Melodies

Here's where the magic happens - using scales creatively to craft your melodies. Think of a scale as a palette of allowed notes, each evoking a specific mood.

Use a major scale for a happy, bright mood. Try sequences of ascending notes to infuse your melody with an uplifting feeling.

If you're aiming for a more somber or melancholic mood, opt for a minor scale. Try descending note patterns to create more of a somber feeling.