Major And Minor Scale Revisited

The Major Scale is a seven note scale. The eight note is an octave of the first note (root). Octave means the same note played eight scale degrees higher or lower, depends on the playing. The Major Scale is the mother of all scales because all scales relate to the Major Scale. If you want to create a Major scale, just follow this formula (most players use this style because its much easier because, what else? The Formula) here goes: [whole note - whole note - half note - whole note - whole note - whole note - half note]. We'll use the C major scale as an example because its much easier because of the absence of sharps and flats.

Key:C

Ex 1:

  1st Degree       1st Octave Higher    2nd Octave Higher
|- - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - - |- - - - - - - - - - |
C- D- E-F- G- A-B- C- D-E- F- G- A- B- C- D- E- F- G- A- B- C  = notes
1  2  3 4  5  6 7  1  2 3  4  5  6  7  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  1  = degree notes

e|------------------------------------------10-12-13-15-17-19-20--|
B|---------------------------------10-12-13-----------------------|
G|-------------------------9-10-12--------------------------------|
D|-----------------9-10-12----------------------------------------|
A|---------8-10-12------------------------------------------------|
E|-8-10-12--------------------------------------------------------|

Try to practicing other keys using the formula, now let's go to the Minor Scale. Or commonly refered to as the Relative or Natural Minor Scale (dont be confuses about what Relative and Harmonic minor is. learn one at a time, dont overdo your learning or you wont gain a thing. ) You're probably wondering what the hell "Relative or Natural Minor" means. Well, every Major Scale has Relative Minor scale within it. The Relative Minor contains the same notes of the Major scale but it only starts in the 6th degree note of the Major scale.

Okay, the formula from the Minor Scale: [whole note - half note - whole note - whole note - half note - whole note - whole note]. So what is the Relative Minor of C Major Scale? start counting the degree note copy from above from 1 through 6, so 1=C 2=D 3=E 4=F 5=G 6=A, eureka! Fuck! (excuse moi, pardon moi french, I cant help it) I got it! now the Relative Minor for C Major Scale is Am Minor Scale.. now lets go to the examples:

Key=Am

Ex 1:

     1st Degree    1st octave
| - - - - - - | - - - - - - |
A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A = notes
6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 = degree notes

e|---------------------------5-7-------------------------------|
B|---------------------5-6-8-----------------------------------|
G|-----------------5-7-----------------------------------------|
D|-------------5-7---------------------------------------------|
A|-------5-7-8-------------------------------------------------|
E|-5-7-8-------------------------------------------------------|

Now that you have the basic introduction on Scales, nail the formula first then well move through, Modes and other scales, such as: Blues scales, Harmonic Minor Scales, and other exotic scales. Thank you. I highly suggests to practice this with all your heart and dedication. Till next, happy pickin'.

Comments

[strangled]

good stuff i been looking for the major pentatonic

[michaelzoz]

i finally GET IT!!!thanks for making is so simple.

[Aetius]

I don't get it.... please help me somebody

[forelementlife]

You're missing the b note in the minor scale
should be:
e 5 7 8
b 5 6 8
g 4 5 7
d 5 7
a 5 7 8
e 5 7 8

[PapaRoachKing]

...I hate scales

[PapaRoachKing]

hey 'michaelzoz' explain.. oh man...he left 2 weeks ago

[PapaRoachKing]

I understand that you have to go tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone.. I know what tones and semitones are but... how do you know when you have to go onto the next string?? If you start at the top???

[PapaRoachKing]

dude...in case you didnt notice there ignoring you..

[PapaRoachKing]

...oh yeah...so they are...

[bc2skaterpunk]

haha, paparoachking, ur funny, i hate scales too

[metallicafan180]

if you 2 guys above me hate scales so much, then how are you ever gonna create a solo?

[AcDcizzle]

im gonna have to go with metallica fan on that one.

[pineapple_500]

yeh if u hate them why the f uck dont you just give up now or become a pure rhythm player

[The^Unforgiven]

Dude scales "Rock" if you can say... Since they after all give you fast and agile fingers, so you can solo... they are the thing that make u "strong", not playing solos...

[raghuram334]

ALL U SCALE HATERS OUT THERE

THERE IS NO MUSIC WITHOUT SCALES

SO IF U DONT LIKE THEM I SUGGEST HANG URESELF

[jarvisl8]

a-men to that brother

[fatbassist]

aye...what the decent people said x

[malc]

I was looking for info on when major & relative minor scales could be used for soloing, any examples of this?
malc

[Red Shift]

Good article

[Andy T]

^this guy is cool.

Good lesson?Im just too experienced.A 5/4...is that possible?

[whitebluesboy]

you spelled guitarist wrong.....wow

[aron444]

I think when they said they hate scales they just meant that that wish they had an easier time with them.....I hope. I keep shaming scales down my students throats. There gonna be better than I am when their my age. LOL

[Rockfall]

Ok PapaRoachKing, the tone, tone, semitone... thing basically means the notes you play in that key. So in the C major scale for it to be correct just play every non sharp note then you cant go wrong, and you can then move this scale depending on what key you play it in. Oh n it doesnt matter when you move onto diff strngs as long as for know you keep it in the right key, with alot of improvising practice you will learn what sounds better or learn better runs. Hope that helps

[omgitscj]

THIS....IS.....AWESOME!!! I now know how to create major AND minor scales so now I can extend my mastery of the guitar. You get a 5 because the lesson was great and I really don't see how anyone could get confused you made it simple as hell.

[chanmarvinson]

lagay naman kyo ng chords ung may drawing like sa mga song hits

[chanmarvinson]

lagay naman kyo ng complete chords with drawing just like in the songhits. kokey thanks

[absoluteguitar]

an excelent lesson on scales,

This makes writing riffs and solos much easier, thanks alot.

[Madani]

I cant play any solo without scales

but theres somthing i didnt understand

as an example

one of my friend played a great rythem but itsnt in any scale

i didnt know how to play solo on it

the rythem is 2 fast and its in 4 or 5 scales

can ayone tell me hoe to create solo on it??

[Discouraged]

Its possible to create your own scales is it not? The whole idea of music is to be creative. Its an art form, and musicians shouldnt limit themselves to only the scales that are most common. Madani, experiment with what notes sound good with the rhythm that your friend is playing. Take the notes, and form a scale from them. Then if you think something doesnt sound right, keep tweaking it, and making odd changes to it. Be creative. *Thumbs up*

[Discouraged]

Oh, and solo's also contain the notes from the chords that are played in the rhythm too. Sorry for the double post, but thats pretty important. Madani, identify the chords that your friend is playing, and use the notes in the chords aswell. Hope I helped. =/

[metal_head@#$%]

cool lesson man now i can bust some randy rhoeds s#@$

[trueguitarhero]

im still KoNfUzEd... maybe i should look into getting real lessons...

[ovation_user05]

pls help me im a newbie hir, how can i use the scale on lead? while the other playing rhythm? thanks pls elabor8.

[Worhan]

I don't see any weird in a nu-metal fan and a punk fan not liking scales :]

Great art tho

[zippax]

it should be made clear you have posted the natural minor scale, there are 3 common minor scales, which are different.

[kingkrazy]

i want to learn it but its confusing me i get the tone things but how do you know the root note for each one cuz im still a begginner and its confusing me i want to get better but i cant if i dont understand it can some1 hlp me and what are the degrees?

[grungeparty123]

Ace I finally get it
Nice one thanx

[Lead guitarist]

Explained really well, thanks alot.

[gatiur]

you forgot in the a-minor scale a 9th fret on the d string or a 4th fret on the g string

[tanoloco]

hi,,im from argentina and i looking for spedd exercises ,,,where i can find it ...thnaks

[rynault_austria]

yeah i figured it out too the same way as you did!...
but i had doubts so i checked it here, yeah its right!. Am is the phrygian scale of C, right?

[Triviutallica]

Shit i thought D#minor was the relitive of Cmajor oh shit iv'e got a long way to go before i can play like synyster gates!

[Hendrixreborn]

no offence dude, but synyster sucks.

why is everone into metal? all they play is scales. i do love scales jus not ascending and descending all th damn time.

~Xx peace xX~

[Guitar God388]

Thanks for all your help!!! This helped me alot.

[Doowhop]

thanks for your effort man, this contrib. helped me a lot.

[Richie81]

RAAAAAH

[Chris-13]

How do i figure out the name of the "notes"? Like when I play 4th fret on the D string, how do I know what its called?