C Eight-Note Spanish Scale on the Piano - How to play, How to improvise, How to compose music with this scale

Notes: C, Db, D#, E, F, Gb, Ab, and Bb - Key: C - Origin: Spain - Category: Nonatonic or Ennatonic Scales

The C Eight-Note Spanish uses nine notes per octave. Because of this same reason it is a member of the so called Nonatonic or Ennatonic -scales that have Nine-note (or Nine-tone). On the piano keyboard, it is made up of five black keys: Db, D#, Gb, Ab, and Bb and three white keys: C, E, and F. This combination makes this scale - as well as the C Prometheus, C Prometheus Liszt, and C Prometheus Neapolitan - as great choices for composing or improvising Spain music.

If we take a look a the key signature of the C Eight-Note Spanish Scale we can find it has four flats and one sharps. Therefore, on sheet music you will find five accidentals on the score. The notes of this scale are: C, Db, D#, E, F, Gb, Ab, and Bb.

How to play the C Eight-Note Spanish scale?

  1. 1
    To play the C Eight-Note Spanish on your piano, start on the Root note. Play C, the first note of the scale.
  2. 2
    Continue with rest of the notes that shape the scale, play Db, D#, E, F, Gb, Ab, and Bb.
  3. 3
    Return to the home of the C Eight-Note Spanish scale. Play again C -the tonic of the scale- to mark its ending.

How to play the scale in descending fashion?

  1. 1
    Begin on the last note. Play the C, the last (and first) note of the scale.
  2. 2
    Go down. Play Bb, Ab, Gb, F, E, D#, and Db.
  3. 3
    Reach the home again. Establish tonality by playing the tonic of the C Eight-Note Spanish scale: C.
  4. 4
    Tip. If you want to learn how to improvise or compose your own music using the C Eight-Note Spanish scale or any other scale, check out our step-by-step online piano lessons, piano courses, and interactive piano apps and enjoy thousands of interactive multimedia piano animations. Discover 'Logic Behind Music' and learn how to play your favorite songs, play by ear, improvise, and even create your own music!
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