He who loves practice without theory is like the sailor who boards ship without a rudder and compass and never knows where he may cast.
-Leonardo da Vinci
Today I would like to discuss the major scale. This is a beginner’s lesson in theory, but it is the information upon which all other theory is built, compared, and understood. If you never learn any other theory (which would be a pity) you must learn this inside and out.
Despite its importance, I am amazed at how many excellent musicians still have only a partial understanding of its importance, and utility. To many of you this information will be old hat, and to you I apologize for stating the obvious, but for the rest of you, eat, drink, breath and sleep this information. It will be your best friend.
Before going on to the major scale I need to define two terms of distance between notes:
- Whole Step =The distance between any note and another note 2 frets removed (e.g. distance between the 5th and 7th fret = whole step up, distance between the 3rd and 1st fret = whole step down)
- Half Step =The distance between any note and another note 1 fret removed (e.g. distance between the 5th and 6th fret = half step up, distance between the 3rd and 2nd fret = half step down)
Now on to the good stuff.
All types of scales have defined distances between notes in the scale. It is these distances that determine what type of scale you are playing, and it is the first note in the scale (root note) that determines what key the scale is in. A major scale is a series of 8 notes with a defined spacing between those notes (what I call the definition of a major scale).
They are as follows:
- Play any note (this will be the root note).
- Move up 1 whole step and you are now playing the 2nd degree of the scale.
- Move up another whole step above the 2nd degree, and you are playing the third degree.
- Now move up a half step above the 3rd and you are playing the 4th degree of the scale.
- Up another whole talkes you to the 5th,
- Another whole to the 6th
- Another whole to the 7th
- And finally another half takes you back to the root note 1 octave higher than where you started.
This completes the major scale. Which major scale you have played is determined by your root note you started and ended on. If you started on G then it is G major. If you began on F then it is F major and so forth.I cannot overemphasize the importance of the above information. It must be understood absolutely.
Because it is so important I will stop here leaving more information for the next lesson. Please learn this backward and forward as everything else you learn about theory will be based upon it. Without it, you will quickly get lost.
Summary:
- whole step= 2 frets
- half step = 1 fret
- Definition of a major scale: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half
Keep Jammin’ and stay tuned for more!
Paul
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3 responses so far ↓
1 anekretia // Apr 16, 2008 at 11:30 pm
cozaar, that is a bad link to begin with, and you seem to be just spamming it everywhere you go.
2 leafblower // Dec 8, 2009 at 6:45 pm
The major scale is a series of 7 notes.
hence it is DIATONIC
the 8th note is just the first an octave higher.
This lesson is a little hazy and the terminology is not correct.
Nomenclature and basic understanding of musical terminology is pretty vital.
Even if its just to talk to other musicians.
This lesson only demonstrates the authors lack of
Root
Minor 2nd
Major 2nd
Minor 3rd
Major 3rd
Perfect 4th
Tri Tone
Perfect 5th
Minor 6th
Major 6th
Minor 7th
Major 7th
Also distance between notes is called an Interval
I could go on and on, but i wont.
3 leafblower // Dec 8, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Can i point out that if you play the root and the major intervals you get the major scale or Ionian mode.
if you play the root and all the minor intervals you get the Aeolian mode or natural minor scale.
Its always the way ive taught my students.
that way they get their head round this concept in 5 minutes.
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