Whole-Tone Piano Scales

What is a Whole Tone Scale?

A whole tone scale consists of six notes within an octave, with each consecutive note separated by a whole step (whole tone). It follows the interval pattern of all whole steps: W-W-W-W-W (whole step, whole step, whole step, whole step, whole step).

For example, starting from C: C, D, E, F#, G#, A#, (and back to C).

What makes the whole tone scale immediately distinctive is its perfect symmetry and lack of leading tones. With no half steps to create tonal gravity, the scale produces a weightless sound. Importantly, there are only two possible whole tone scales in Western music (one starting on C and one on C#/Db) due to its structure.

Why Practice Whole Tone Scales?

Practicing whole tone scales offers several unique benefits:

1. Tonal expansion - Provides access to non-diatonic, impressionistic sounds
2. Symmetrical awareness - Develops understanding of symmetrical patterns on the keyboard
3. Improvisational color - Offers distinctive sonorities for jazz and contemporary improvisation
4. Technical development - Cultivates whole-step awareness and fingering flexibility

Famous Compositions Using Whole Tone Scales

Many celebrated works showcase the whole tone scale's distinctive character:

• "Voiles (Preludes, Book 1)" by Claude Debussy (extensive whole tone usage)
• L'Isle Joyeuse by Claude Debussy (whole tone passages)
• "The Firebird" by Igor Stravinsky (whole tone sections)
• "Giant Steps" by John Coltrane (utilises whole tone patterns in parts)
• "Lujon" by Henry Mancini (whole tone melody)
• "The Simpsons" theme by Danny Elfman (whole tone elements)
• Alice in Wonderland film score scenes by various composers
• Wayne Shorter's jazz compositions and improvisations

The whole tone scale gained prominence during the Impressionist movement in music, particularly through Debussy's innovative works that broke away from traditional harmony. Jazz musicians later adopted the scale for its distinctive color, especially when improvising over augmented and altered dominant chords.

For piano students, the whole tone scale offers a fascinating alternative to conventional diatonic scales. Mastering the whole tone scale will significantly expand your expressive and creative palette, allowing you to evoke dreamlike states, magical atmospheres, and moments of suspension and wonder. Its distinctive sound has become associated with the supernatural, the mystical, and the surreal, making it an essential tool for pianists seeking to create these evocative moods.

Don’t forget that you can make scale practice more fun with TomScales ! Play alongside an orchestra or a band with TomScales. You can choose from several high-quality audio covers: Classical, Pop, Epic, Jazz and more! TomScales is designed with a progressive approach, starting at a beginner level and gradually increasing in difficulty. As you advance through the very easy, easy and intermediate levels, new scales are introduced, the tempo quickens, and scale variations become more complex.