Which of the following best describes a whole tone scale?

A whole tone scale is characterized by a distinct pattern of intervals that consists of only whole tones (whole steps) between each note. This means that every note in the scale is a whole tone apart from the next, creating a series of six notes before returning to the starting point at the octave.

The correct choice indicates that the scale lacks traditional tonal functions such as a tonic, dominant, or leading note, which typically serve as focal points in tonal music. This characteristic contributes to the ethereal and ambiguous quality of the whole tone scale, as it doesn’t establish a sense of resolution that is common in scales with a defined tonic.

The other choices do not accurately describe the nature of a whole tone scale. A whole tone scale does not comprise entirely of half tones, nor does it follow a pattern that includes both whole and half tones. It also does not involve construction from perfect fifths, which pertains more to other types of scales, such as modal or pentatonic scales. Understanding these distinctions is key to grasping the unique properties of the whole tone scale and how it fits into broader musical contexts.