When the Tonal Relativity project began in 2015, we chose squares to indicate whole steps and half-squares (rectangles and triangles) to indicate half-steps (in both color and pitch). The 2020 version has taken on a circular shape that reveals additional information.

All of the pieces in color began as paintings in gouache on paper at a scale of ½ inch = ½ step in both color and pitch (one octave therefore equals 6”) and later digitally altered. Please see Instagram for views of original sketches in the studio. Various incarnations of the Tonal Relativity project are linked at left.

While the color wheel at the top of this page can be used as a key to the color relationships, the images below can be used as keys to the patterns depicted in the sets of seven Modes of the Major Scale, Modes of the Ascending Melodic Minor Scale, and Modes of the Harmonic Minor. We have also charted two sets of Pentatonic Scales.

Dot sizes are relative, with smallest dot representing half a step, dot with twice the diameter representing a whole step, dot with 1.5 times the diameter representing a step and a half, etc.

High-resolution PDFs of the following graphics in worksheet form are freely available for download here. For examples of worksheets in use, please see Instagram.

ALYCE SANTORO

ALYCE SANTORO