major scale melodies

So, what tunes did Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and other American music legends learn as kids? Did these early melodies somehow manifest themselves in the compositions of these jazz masters? If we knew all of the melodies they learned and the sequence that they learned them, could we organically understand how compositions such as "Confirmation" and "Giant Steps" evolved? Wouldn't that be cool.

What this page is about is to simply the idea that so many of our cool American melodies are created from the pitches of the major scale. That the theoretical terms major scale or Ionian mode represent the pitches used to create countless melodies, thus, I simply hope to impress upon the learner the vastness of the number of songs in all of the popular American styles created from this group of pitches. With this in mind, then the melody of "America The Beautiful" is created from the pitches of the major scale? Exactly. And in this case it is the C major scale. Here is the line. Example 1.

Sound familiar? Could we create this melody from any of the 12 major scales created within equal temper? Yep. Legend has it that modern bassist Jaco Pastorius brought the house down more than once with his improvisations on this important American theme. Melodies this well known will bond folks together in joyfulness when played from the heart, so very cool.

Other "popular" themes created from the pitches of the major scale? The following musical are chosen to be included here for two reasons. One, that most learners will recognize them. Two, that they go back historically far enough to be free of copyright. Here is one of the first tunes I learned and sang as a kid. It's called "Sidewalks Of New York." Example 2.

Has kind of a carnival feel huh? Being in 3 / 4 time helps create that feel. Know this tune? It goes way, way back to Tin Pan Alley.

This next idea is perhaps the most "major scalish" of them all. Bring joy to those in your world through the music you create. Example 3.

So, what scale is the song "Joy To The World" created from? Right, the major scale.

This next idea goes way back. Melodies such as "This Old Man" are often quoted within the improvisation of players. When done tastefully, known cliche licks usually bring smiles to the players and listeners alike, often adding in a bit of humor to our musical musings. These type of known melodies are also good transpositional exercises, whereby we run the line through the 12 major key centers. Try it. Here's the line. Example 4.

Another important place for lines such as this is in helping emerging learners to develop the ability to sing a line, then play the line. So essential to the improvising musician, to sing the line and play it potentially strengthens one's ability to phrase the line in their own unique way. And if one can vocally get the line to swing, it's just a matter of shedding to get their lines to swing on their chosen instrument. Using simple, well known melodies can facilitate this process. The tough part as a teacher is oftentimes getting a learner to "open up" and sing. Imagine that. So, try running this line or other one's you dig through the 12 major keys.

So essential both melodically and harmonically in the major tonality is the major triad. Here is a classic old-time jazz melody structured on the major triad. Example 3.

Know the tune? Cool. Hearing "When The Saints Go Marching In" always brings a smile yes? Get toes a tappin? Got this melody under your fingers? Can you run this last idea through the 12 major key centers? So, what about this major triad? The major triad is perhaps the most in demand of all the melodic cells. We find it in countless tunes, either featured as three pitches or within a larger structure. Actually, the triad and it's close relative the arpeggio provide a vast amount of melodic material for the curious, creative artist.

So, what about the modern music of today? Ya mean, 2004? Yep. Well, hard to say. Some of the modern popular styles such as rap / hip hop seem to be more about rhythm than melody. And as these styles are for dancing, no wonder eh? For the listeners, many of the pop stars today continue to write and record nice songs written in the major tonality with the major scale at it's core. From the top ten chart of Rolling Stone magazine, such hits by "U 2", Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Enya all include songs based in this tonality. Are there other tonalities in the American sounds? But of course, we have it all here n'est pas? There is the blues yes? And the minor tonality. Can we mix all three of these tonalities together in our songs? Absolutely, but you knew that right?

So why is learning tunes crucial to the emerging artist? Well, perhaps first in that it gives us something to play to express ourselves and have fun making music. Can we analyze other melodies and tunes for form, intervals, chords, rhythm etc. and "borrow" cool ideas for our own improvisations? Exactly, it's what all artists in any genre do or have done at some point in their development. So for musicians, learning and playing melodies is not only fun and exciting, but also challenging and a source for tons of cool ideas. Here is a beginning list of jazz standards, all of which use the major scale grouping of pitches to create the melody or parts thereof. Need suggestions of songs for other American styles of music?

Cool?

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