Music Theory 201 - Introduction To Scales
So we have 12 notes from which to choose. We already know we can make chords from scales, but what are these scales? Scales are notes arranged in a certain order to make specific sounds. There are many kinds of scales but we will start with the major scale because it is the most common. We create the intervals of a scale by applying a formula of whole steps and half steps from any tonic. Whole steps are two frets and half steps are one fret. The formula for the major scale is:
Whole – Whole – Half – Whole – Whole - Whole - Half
Which creates these intervals:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
So if we apply our major scale formula from the tonic C, our C major scale would be:
C D E F G A B C
But what about accidentals? We already know that some scales have sharps and flats, so where do they come in? To answer this, let’s try to make a G major scale.
If we start on G, we see that the distance from G to A is a whole step, from A to B is a whole step, B to C is a half step (because there is no note in-between B and C), C to D is a whole step and D to E is a whole step. So far so good. But look at what happens next. We are on E, and need a whole step, but the distance between E and F is only a half step (because there is no note between E and F). Therefore, we have to change the F to an F# to get the whole step we need in the major scale formula. Lastly, we need a half step to complete the formula and we have that between F# and G (our tonic). Which gives us:
G A B C D E F# G
Apply this formula to any tonic and you will make a major scale. Try this on your fretboard. Start on any fret on any string. Go up the string following the formula and you will make the major scale in the key of your starting note. Below are the rest of the five most common keys I gave you before. Understand how the formula altered the notes to create each scale, and play them up and down each respective string. Notice the pattern and feel of the scale degrees.
D E F# G A B C# D
A B C# D E F# G# A
E F# G# A B C# D# E