Scale
An ordered series of pitches ascending or descending by step.
Category
pitch
Pronunciation
SKALE
Origin
Latin (scala, ladder)
Length
131 words · 1 min read
About Scale
A scale is a set of pitches arranged in order of frequency, typically spanning one octave. Scales provide the raw material from which melodies and harmonies are constructed.
More pitch terms
Microtone
View all pitchterms →Any interval smaller than a semitone, used in various musical traditions and contemporary composition.
OvertoneA higher frequency that sounds simultaneously above a fundamental pitch, shaping the tone colour of a note.
IntonationThe accuracy with which a performer produces the correct pitch of each note.
FlatAn accidental that lowers the pitch of a note by one semitone.
TemperamentA tuning system that determines how the twelve pitches within an octave are spaced.
See Also
Compare with similar terms
v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →