Note: This and the other
images further down the page are "draggable" images. Click and hold
on the upper ruler and drag it across to the position you want, placing the
"1" over the root note of the scale, mode or chord.
Slide the upper ruler
in each image to find your scale or mode. This device covers the Major
scale (also known as the Ionian mode), the Aeolian (also known as the
Natural Minor), Dorian, and Mixolydian modes, the Major and Minor Pentatonics
(the Minor Pentatonic is sometimes used as a simplified Blues Scale) and
the Harmonic Minor scale.
These are by far the most commonly used scales in Western music. Once
the student understands how these modes and scales work the other modes
(Phrygian, Lydian and Locrian) become easier to understand. Also click
here to see how the slide rule can be used to create the twelve most-used chords.
You
can buy a hard copy version of the slide rule in plastic on-line now.
Just click on the Paypal button on the right. You will need a credit
or debit card to use this service. Will
post anywhere in the world by standard mail.
One
Musical Slide Rule by regular post for $12 plus $3 postage.
Prices in
US dollars.
Technical Notes:
This page contains 7 Flash "images" which may not show up properly
in some circumstances. Please email me if you have
problems.
The concept of a 'Musical Slide Rule' is not new, and there are various ideas of how to make one. This version is designed to be inexpensive and accessible to students and others who are not yet wealthy :)
Diminshed Chord (o) : use every third note on the Chromatic
Ruler
Augmented Chord (+) : use every fourth note on the Chromatic
Ruler
Note; the ninth is the same note as the "2"
but it would usually be placed in the next octave up, i.e. more than
one octave above the root note of the chord.
