We have learned to identify the notes of a scale by ear and named them as numbers 1234567 and as do, re, mi etc.

We can describe the melody of a song as numbers eg. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is 11556654433221. Try playing those numbers where C is 1. CCGGAAGFFEEDDC.

Now try playing the same numbers with F as note 1. FFCCDDCBBAAGGF. Something sounds wrong. (sound file). This is because the scale of F contains a black note. The note B should be replaced by the black note just below it – B flat. (picture). Play the melody again with the B replaced by B flat and it will sound correct.

EXPLANATION. A scale is constructed from a set of chromatic steps. A major scale goes 2212221. See the pictures below. You don’t need to remember this, just remember the sharps or flats in each scale. If you are interested, you could figure out any scale by using this method. Try F sharp as a start note for example.

When we move a melody from one scale to another it is called transposition. Exercise 1 will just ask you to name a numbered note in the scale of C, F or G. In the G scale the F is replaced by F sharp (just above it). So if the question is what is the 7th note in the G scale, the answer is not ‘F’, but F sharp.