Piano Scales: Freygish Scale: Theory & Ear Training, All Keys

Lesson Goal: To quickly internalize the Freygish Scale in all keys… by ear, intellect, eye, and muscle…

Table of Contents

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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

• Scale Structure (Scale Degrees): 1-b2-3-4-5-b6-b7-1.
• Scale Structure (Solfege): Do-Ra-Mi-Fa-So-Le-Te-Do.

Freygish Scale Theory in the Key of C

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

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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 Freygish 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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Freygish Scale 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 Scale 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, All Keys

Showing the notation, key signature, letter names, scale degrees, solfege syllables, and keyboard layouts in 12 keys…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 goal here is learn how to read the notes and where they 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 Scale 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 Scale 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 Scale 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 Scale 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 Scale 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 Scale 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 Scale 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 Scale 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 Scale 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 Scale 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 Scale 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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Note: While it’s possible to continue by singing a bunch of other musical patterns, the 80:20 Rule teaches us that a more efficient approach 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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learn more… Blues Piano Lessons