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by enniself on April 29th, 2009

enniself

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How could it be that the worlds music is based upon the major scale?

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Answers. 3 helpful answers below.

  • by InTune on May 22nd, 2009

    InTune

    I liked the other two answers and agree. I think that certain laws come into play that helped to create western scale. What I'm saying here is more my own thought processes rather that real history. Pythagoras gets the credit for discovering the ratios of frequencies that make up the musical scale. It seems the major and minor scales were developed as they relate to the natural harmonic structure that exists in most string and wind instruments. When multiple instruments or self accompanying instruments were employed for harmonization, the tempered scale became necessary in order to play in other keys.

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  • by Bachbugger on May 21st, 2009

    Bachbugger

    Are you kidding? Most of the world's music is NOT based on the Major Scale.

    A brief study of the music of Asia, India, South America, and any other country that isn't "Anglo-Saxon-Centric" will prove this to be true.

    The "Major-minor" tonality of late Baroque - Classical - Romantic music was the result of the evolution of hundreds of years of Western practice. Accepted conventions throughout the history of music led to a point where one can see the almost exclusive usage of Major or Minor scales in the works of any Western composer from Bach all the way to Brahms.

    Beyond that short time frame of about 200 years, most of the music ever written, played, or heard is(was) strikingly NOT based on the Major scale.

    Good question....check out the books of W.A. Mathieu or a nice volume on North Indian Classical music if you would like to learn about what I think is some pretty great stuff. I borrow a lot of ideas from this area to teach my own students.

    Thanks for the question.

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  • by supermegarockstar on May 3rd, 2009

    supermegarockstar

    Its not. Western music is based on the major scale. Other parts of the world...Japan, Asia, Turkey, and the 'sand pit' have other components such as the quarter tone, and some time signatures that western music does not have a definition of. Western music theory originated from the circle of 5ths if I remember correctly. My history sucks... I would google the crap out of the circle of 5ths and you might get some answers.
    good luck...

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