Building Diatonic Scales on Chromatic Pitches

What are the two different diatonic scales that can be built on each chromatic pitch within an octave?

Explanation:

Diatonic scales are musical scales that are made up of seven distinct pitches. Within an octave, each chromatic pitch can have two different diatonic scales built on it. The two diatonic scales that can be built are the minor scale and the major scale. For example, if we start on the note C, we can build a diatonic minor scale (also known as the natural minor scale) or a diatonic major scale (often referred to as the Ionian mode).

It is important to note that the minor scale is also known as the Aeolian mode, and the major scale is also known as the Ionian mode. These two scales play a significant role in Western music and are fundamental to understanding music theory and composition.

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