'Music Theory'

Music theory is a widespread topic which cannot possibly be fully explained within one short blog post, therefore the research which follows within this post  is focused primarily on the scales etc which are used to create music with a particular focus on the ways in which this varies between Eastern and Western culture. This information will then be examined and its value and place within music therapy instruments concluded.


Western Music:
Western music makes use of a standard range constructed of 12; notes:

Seven whole notes:;

C D E F G A B

Alongside five half notes. (Sharps and flats, Flats shown below)

D♭; E♭; G♭; A♭; B♭

These notes are then used to create a range of scales (which then inform the construction of chords) which are then used to produce a majority of western music.;

There are many different scales which allow for there to be a wide range of music created from the same notes/chords. Also whilst many of these scales maybe referred to as a 'blues scale' there is no reason why that scale can't be adapted to alternative forms of music such as rock (This theory is primarily related to guitarists, for example Zakk Wylde was known for using the blues scale to construct many of his solos).;

Alongside the scales which are used to create western music there are also a series of 'Modes', a mode is essentially a pattern which informs which notes will work together in a harmony. For example;

T.S.T.T.T.S.T

Could be an example of a simple mode, with the T's referring to 'tones' and the S's referring to 'semi-tones'. Which can also be referred to as 'Whole step' and 'Half step'.;

There are many different modes, with each one offering its own very specific and individual sound allowing them to be useful to specific types of music. 

Traditional Eastern Music:

It should first be noted that the following information does not necessarily refer to modern Eastern music which has been recorded as having taken western influence within its construction, therefore this section looks at Traditional Eastern music such as traditional Eastern folk music. 

The primary difference between Western and Eastern music is the fact that within Eastern music there is the addition of quarter notes within the range. Whilst these are generally not played pitch perfect on recordings etc the instruments used are able to create these notes, whereas a large proportion of instruments used within western culture are not able to create them. This obviously is not true for instruments such as fretless bass guitars etc. which do not have the restrictions laid down by the fret boundaries within a guitar neck. 

Alongside this, there is the addition of 'Maqam' which is a modal system used primarily within Arabic music.

"In Arabic music, a maqam (plural maqamat) is a set of notes with traditions that define relationships between them, habitual patterns, and their melodic development. Maqamat are best defined and understood in the context of the rich Arabic music repertoire. The nearest equivalent in Western classical music would be a mode (e.g. Major, Minor, etc.)

The Arabic scales which maqamat are built from are not even-tempered, unlike the chromatic scale used in Western classical music. Instead, 5th notes are tuned based on the 3rd harmonic. The tuning of the remaining notes entirely depends on the maqam. The reasons for this tuning are probably historically based on string instruments like the oud. A side effect of not having even-tempered tuning is that the same note (by name) may have a slightly different pitch depending on which maqam it is played in." - Maqam World

As well as this the maqam also defines tonal progressions within the piece that is being produced as well as rules on the notes which should be played with emphasis, how often this should occur and in what order within the piece. 


Value to Music Therapy:

Whilst traditional chromatic scales can be used effectively as part of music therapy, it has been found that from a music therapists point of view that it would be best to avoid these in place of modal tunings. This is seen to allow the user to get better interaction with the instrument with less chance of playing a 'wrong' note. An example of this would be tuning an instrument to an 'Eastern mode' allowing interesting eastern style sounds to be produced easily from the instrument. 
The tuning on one instrument must be considered alongside the tuning or pitch of another instrument designed to be played in accompaniment to ensure that they will play harmoniously and not just create a jumble of noise of which nothing productive can be formed.

Sources:
Scale Creation
Guitar/Scale Wiki
'Shira' Eastern/Western musical comparisons.
Brittanica Eastern Music 
'Music theory 101'
Modal Music
Maqam World
Traditions of Western Music