Symmetric musical elements
are intervals, chords and scales which have their component notes
spaced at equal intervals over a full octave range.In the
major scale some notes are spaced a whole tone apart (C-D,
D-E, etc.) , while other notes are spaced at semitone intervals
(E-F, B-C). The major scale is therefore not a symmetric scale.
In the
chromatic scale on the other hand all 12 notes are spaced
at equally semitone intervals. The chromatic scale is therefore a
symmetric scale . (More about this scale in Session 11.)
Symmetric scales and chords
have an ambiguous floating quality, as any of the
component notes can be the tonic of the scale (or root of the
chord). Changing the tonic of the scale changes the pitch levels
of the component notes, but not the tonality (type of sound) of
the scale.