musical scale
1
3.2
- noun
- /ˈmjuːzɪkəl skeɪl/
- Specialized
:
escala musical
- The teacher explained how to play a song using the musical scale on the piano.
Examples
-
Their melodies are mournful tunes that dance at each end of the musical scale with prolonged squeaks, squeals, and deep rumbling lows.
Fiction book (2002) -
There appears to be the case that all cultures chunk musical scales into octaves.
-
Obviously, not even the relationship between a musical scale and the alphabet is taught.
Academic text (1999) -
You can't own a number, any more than a musician can "own" middle C on the musical scale.
Blog text (15) -
Springboard topics can range from current events, weather conditions, class trips, poems, or stories to a new instrument (timbre), a new rhythmic pattern, a series of pitches, or a new musical scale.
Academic text (2011) -
In Western music, the musical scale consists of twelve distinct pitches in an octave.
-
Learning the musical scale is essential for anyone who wants to play an instrument.
Synonyms
49
4.3
A series of musical notes ordered by pitch
How Many
- Specialized
1
7.4
- Specialized
1
6.0
- Specialized
1
3.2
- Specialized
1
7.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning of 'musical scale' is directly and compositionally derived from 'musical' (relating to music) modifying 'scale' (a series of notes ordered by pitch); knowing both constituents gives the full meaning. This adjectival + noun combination is cross-linguistically common and follows a transparent compounding pattern that a B1 learner who knows the words will readily understand.
Etymology
Musical scale may come from the idea of a ladder of sounds: the word scale once meant a 'ladder' or 'staircase', so musicians thought of notes as steps you go up or down. That's why a musical scale is a set of notes in order that rise and fall in pitch.