Exactly. Each key on the piano represents a different note. Now, differentiating between the types of scales is determined by how far it is one from one note to the next as you go up and down the scale. This distance is measured in what we call half-tones and whole-tones.
For example, if take a pair of white keys that have a black key in between them--for example, A and B here--and play them: [he moves to indicate on the piano, playing the two notes back and forth a couple of times]--that is a whole tone. However, if I take a pair of white keys that don't have any black keys in between them, for example B and C--[he plays those next, going back and forth]--that is a half tone. Similarly, going from a white key to the black key next to it--[he demonstrates, going from C to the black key just above it]--is also a half tone.
So--[and he pulls over a piece of blank paper and a pencil]--for a major scale--if you would play the keys for me as we go, C-major is, starting with C to D...[and as she plays the scale, he'll say and write: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half, along with the letter names on either side.]
no subject
For example, if take a pair of white keys that have a black key in between them--for example, A and B here--and play them: [he moves to indicate on the piano, playing the two notes back and forth a couple of times]--that is a whole tone. However, if I take a pair of white keys that don't have any black keys in between them, for example B and C--[he plays those next, going back and forth]--that is a half tone. Similarly, going from a white key to the black key next to it--[he demonstrates, going from C to the black key just above it]--is also a half tone.
So--[and he pulls over a piece of blank paper and a pencil]--for a major scale--if you would play the keys for me as we go, C-major is, starting with C to D...[and as she plays the scale, he'll say and write: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half, along with the letter names on either side.]