Microfreak/UG/15 Using Scales/02 The Scale Root

• 15.2 The Scale Root

  • Starting a scale on a different note changes its mood because the intervals are heard in a different order. Starting C major on C follows tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone. Keeping that interval pattern and making D the root gives D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯, D.
  • Changing the Root is an intelligent transpose: it preserves the scale's interval structure. A simple transpose shifts every step by a semitone or whole tone.
  • Utility offers Root selection in two places:
    • Utility > Misc > Root changes the root globally for keyboard playing, sequences, and arpeggios.
    • Utility > Preset > Root changes the root for the current preset.

  • Note/Info Search for “music theory” to learn more about scales.