The history of the whole tone scale, and a random whole tone scale in the key of F

The whole tone scale is a six-note scale where each pitch is separated by a whole step (or tone). It has no semitones, which gives it a unique, ethereal sound often associated with impressionist music.

Historical Background:

  1. Origins: The scale can be traced back to ancient music traditions but gained prominence in Western music during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It has a symmetrical structure, which makes it stand out from traditional major and minor scales.
  2. Impressionism: Composers like Claude Debussy and Olivier Messiaen used the whole tone scale extensively to break free from the constraints of traditional tonality, creating dreamy and ambiguous atmospheres.
  3. Jazz Influence: The scale became a favorite among jazz musicians like John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk, who used it for its "floating" quality and tension-building properties in improvisation.
  4. Saxophone Relevance: For saxophonists, mastering the whole tone scale helps navigate chromatic passages and explore advanced harmonic ideas in jazz and modern compositions.

Characteristics:

  • It is considered "non-diatonic" because it doesn’t belong to the traditional system of major or minor keys.
  • The absence of leading tones makes the scale feel unresolved.
  • There are only two unique whole tone scales: one starting on C and one on C# (enharmonically equivalent to Db).

Random Scale: Whole Tone Scale Starting on F

Ascending:

F - G - A - B - C# - D# - F

Descending:

F - D# - C# - B - A - G - F

This scale is excellent for practicing even finger transitions, as it often involves alternate fingerings on the saxophone. It’s also useful for exploring improvisation over dominant seventh chords with an augmented or altered quality (e.g., F7#5).

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