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Such labeling requires the choice of a "first" note; hence scale-degree labels are not intrinsic to the scale itself, but rather to its modes. For example, if we choose A as tonic, then we can label the notes of the C major scale using A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, and so on. When we do so, we create a new scale called the A minor scale.
16-tet scale on C. Play ⓘ — — — 16 — — 17 equal temperament: 17-tet scale on C. Play ⓘ — — — 17 — — 19 equal temperament: 19-tet scale on C. Play ⓘ — — — 19 — — 21 equal temperament: 21-tet scale on C. Play ⓘ — — — 21 — — Acoustic scale or Lydian dominant scale: Acoustic scale on C. Play ⓘ 1 2 3 ...
The system is an example of the difference between the treatment of dissonance in jazz and classical harmony: "Classical treats all notes that don't belong to the chord ... as potential dissonances to be resolved. ... Non-classical harmony just tells you which note in the scale to [potentially] avoid... meaning that all the others are okay". [4]
After the reciting tone, every mode is distinguished by scale degrees called "mediant" and "participant". The mediant is named from its position between the final and reciting tone. In the authentic modes it is the third of the scale, unless that note should happen to be B, in which case C substitutes for it.
In Western music, intervals are most commonly differences between notes of a diatonic scale. Intervals between successive notes of a scale are also known as scale steps. The smallest of these intervals is a semitone. Intervals smaller than a semitone are called microtones. They can be formed using the notes of various kinds of non-diatonic scales.
As musicologist Roger Kamien explains, "the crucial difference is that in the minor scale there is only a half step between '2nd and 3rd note' and between '5th and 6th note' as compared to the major scales where the difference between '3rd and 4th note' and between '7th and 8th note' is [a half step]."
Today the main difference between Western and Eastern neumes is that Eastern notation symbols are "differential" rather than absolute, i.e., they indicate pitch steps (rising, falling or at the same step), and the musicians know to deduce correctly, from the score and the note they are singing presently, which correct interval is meant.
Moreover, the key signature of the piece of music (or section) will generally reflect the accidentals in the corresponding major scale. For instance, if a piece of music is in E ♭ major, then the seven pitches in the E ♭ major scale (E ♭, F, G, A ♭, B ♭, C and D) are considered diatonic pitches, and the other five pitches (E ♮, F ...