Piano Scales: Freygish Scale: Theory & Ear Training

Learn-by-doing lessons for quickly internalizing the Freygish Scale… by ear, intellect, eye, and muscle…

Table of Contents

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Lesson Goal

To quickly internalize the letter names, scale degrees, solfege, notation, sounds, feelings, and visuospatial keyboard layouts for the Freygish Scale in all keys.

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Prerequisites

Basic music reading skills… the LOVE of music… and the discipline to study and practice.

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Freygish Scale Theory

Another evocative existence proof that scales are not made up of “half steps” and “whole steps”…

1. The Solfege Syllables for the Freygish Scale are Do-Ra-Mi-Fa-So-Le-Te-Do (no matter what key you are in).
2. The Scale Degrees for the Freygish Scale are 1-b2-3-4-5-b6-b7-1 (no matter what key you are in).
3. The notes for the Freygish Scale in the key of C are C-bD-E-F-G-Ab-Bb-C…

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Other Names for the Freygish Scale

You’ll hear this distinctive scale called by many other names: the Jewish Scale, Major Klezmer, Spanish Gypsy Minor, and Phrygian Dominant Scale. Whatever you choose to call it, the important thing is to internalize the scale structure and sound-feelings of the scale.

Special Note: Don’t confuse this with the fifth mode of the Harmonic Minor Scale which is part of classical minor tonality.

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Usage in Real Music

A great way to internalize the sound-feelings of any scale is to associate it with familiar music that uses that scale. Perhaps the most famous example of the Freygish in action is in the A and B sections of the joyous Jewish folk song “Hava Nagila“…

Here, for your ears enjoyment and education, is a shortened version played in the key of C…

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Freygish Scale Theory & Ear Training, All Keys

Showing the notation, key signature, letter names, scale degrees, solfege syllables, and keyboard layouts…arranged chromatically ascending (C, C#, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, Bb, B)…

C Freygish

Say this aloud as you read and play: “The C Freygish Scale is spelled C-Db-E-F-G-Ab-Bb-C.” (Also sing the solfege syllables out loud… ditto for all the keys below)

Sidebar: The goals here are to get the sounds in your mind’s ear, to learn how to read, and to know where the notes are on the keyboard. Don’t worry about fingerings right now. In fact, it’s perfectly fine and maybe even preferrable to play these with one finger for now so that you don’t instill poor technical habits.

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C Sharp Freygish

Say this aloud as you read and play: “The C# Freygish is spelled C#-D-E#-F#-G#-A-B-C#.”

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D Freygish

Say this aloud as you read and play: “The D Freygish is spelled D-Eb-F#-G-A-Bb-C-D.”

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D Sharp Freygish

Say this aloud as you read and play: “The D# Freygish is spelled D#-E-Fx-G#-A#-B-C#-D#.”

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E Freygish

Say this aloud as you read and play: “The E Freygish is spelled E-F-G#-A-B-C-D-E.”

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F Freygish

Say this aloud as you read and play: “The F Freygish is spelled F-Gb-A-Bb-C-Db-Eb-F.”

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F Sharp Freygish

Say this aloud as you read and play: “The F# Freygish is spelled F#-G-A#-B-C#-D-E-F#.”

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G Freygish

Say this aloud as you read and play: “The G Freygish is spelled G-Ab-B-C-D-Eb-F-G.”

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G Sharp Freygish

Say this aloud as you read and play: “The G# Freygish is spelled G#-A-B#-C#-D#-E-F#-G#.”

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A Freygish

Say this aloud as you read and play: “The A Freygish is spelled A-Bb-C#-D-E-F-G-A.”

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B Flat Freygish

Say this aloud as you read and play: “The Bb Freygish is spelled Bb-Cb-D-Eb-F-Gb-Ab-Bb.”

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B Freygish

Say this aloud as you read and play: “The B Freygish is spelled B-C-D#-E-F#-G-A-B.”

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Freygish Scale Solfege Ear Training

Reading, playing, and singing the Solfege Syllables out loud is an extremely effective way to tune up your ears and to internalize the unique sound-feeling of each note in the scale with respect to the key center Do.

Important Practice Tips: Use a tuning app as you play and sing slowly enough for the unique sound-feeling of each Solfege Syllable to make a meaningful impression on your mind’s ear.

C Freygish: Linear, Ascending…

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C Freygish: Linear, Descending…

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C Freygish: Do-X-Do, Ascending…

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C Freygish: Do-X-Do, Descending…

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Special Note about Ear Training in Context

We could sing a lot more musical patterns, but a more effective and efficient approach (80:20 Rule) is to get your ear training material directly from the music that YOU want to play!

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Freygish Scale Theory & Ear Training, All Keys

Please let Frank know if you’d like to see scores and play along MP3s in all keys.

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