How do I use scales?!
- Thread starter shamao
- Start date
The key of the song usually does not follow the root note of the chord played. The key of that chord progression is G.
If you look at the G major scale: G, A, B, C, D, E, F sharp, G
The chords in this key would be
G major
A minor
B minor
C major
D major
E minor
F sharp diminished
G major
There's a pattern here maj, min, min, maj, maj, min, dim, maj. For the major scale the pattern is root note, +whole step(w), +w, +half step(h), +w, +w, +w, +h. Ideally if you have a piano you could start from C and press all the white keys (natural notes). That is how you get this pattern for the major scale. If you start from any root note and use the same thing, you have the major scale of that root note.
Try and google as well, there are good sites out there that can give you a good info on music theory. Hopefully I'm right (can someone verify? quite new to theory as well haha.....
)
If you look at the G major scale: G, A, B, C, D, E, F sharp, G
The chords in this key would be
G major
A minor
B minor
C major
D major
E minor
F sharp diminished
G major
There's a pattern here maj, min, min, maj, maj, min, dim, maj. For the major scale the pattern is root note, +whole step(w), +w, +half step(h), +w, +w, +w, +h. Ideally if you have a piano you could start from C and press all the white keys (natural notes). That is how you get this pattern for the major scale. If you start from any root note and use the same thing, you have the major scale of that root note.
Try and google as well, there are good sites out there that can give you a good info on music theory. Hopefully I'm right (can someone verify? quite new to theory as well haha.....
)
Likui
Active member
yes can solo like that also can,do whatever u like just make sure it sounds nice, play in the groove then ok already
You got the same question as i am when i started a few years back. Each song has only 1 Key (except for those song which up keys along the way) for example G, D, Em, C, the song is in the key of G and scales are patterns that you can play on the fret board. So you will have to play the scale patterns in the key of G and the patterns will fit very well for the other chords. But if you play the scale patterns in the key of D for the chord progression of G, D, Em, C, it will somehow be "wrong" or it just don't sound right.
Just a little advice here, hope it helps
Just a little advice here, hope it helps
Yes stick to the key and you need to learn plus memorising all the scale patterns before you can apply them!!
alright.. putting the 5 positions in memory!
btw other than major scales, what other scales have notes that aren't in the major scale? is major really MAJOR (big) and all the other scales derives certain notes from the major scale?
heh, sorry i might ask too much sometimes.
Likui
Active member
depends how u look at it I can look at it as I know my minor scales and all the other scales are derived from there, for eg, A natural minor, A B C D E F G
so from there I can derive the C major scale, just start on C, C D E F G A B
and can derive the A major scale, just sharp the 3rd note, the 6th note and 7th note. A B C# D E F# G#
can derive A harmonic minor just sharp the 7th note. A B C D E F G#
and the A melodic minor just sharp the 6th and 7th note and when u decend just play the A natural minor, A B C D E F# G# A G F E D C B A
A minor pentatonic just omit the 2nd and 6th note, A C D E G
C major pentatonic just start on C for the A minor pentatonic, C D E G A
so u learn all the minor scales u can derive all the major and other kinds of minor scales.
Similarly if you learn all the major scales u can derive all the minor and other major scales.
so depending on how u look at it. lol
so from there I can derive the C major scale, just start on C, C D E F G A B
and can derive the A major scale, just sharp the 3rd note, the 6th note and 7th note. A B C# D E F# G#
can derive A harmonic minor just sharp the 7th note. A B C D E F G#
and the A melodic minor just sharp the 6th and 7th note and when u decend just play the A natural minor, A B C D E F# G# A G F E D C B A
A minor pentatonic just omit the 2nd and 6th note, A C D E G
C major pentatonic just start on C for the A minor pentatonic, C D E G A
so u learn all the minor scales u can derive all the major and other kinds of minor scales.
Similarly if you learn all the major scales u can derive all the minor and other major scales.
so depending on how u look at it. lol
Stringcast
New member
Many of us knows how to play the major scales but some are confused over the minor scales. There are 3 types of minor scales: Harmonic, melodic & natural. Over here, I'll briefly discuss the relationship of the major & minor scales. (Do not get confused with the term harmonic & melodic as in harmonic & melodic intervals) Here, we will use A major and different forms of A minor as example.
Major Scale in the key of A (accending/going up)
A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A (T, T, S, T, T, T, S)
Major scales are the same when played accending and decending(going down)
Harmonic Minor Scale in the key of A
To play a harmonic minor scale, simply flat(b) the 3rd and 6th degree of a major scale. This case, A is the 1st, B is the 2nd and C# is the 3rd and etc.
A, B, C, D, E, F, G#, A
Harmonic minor scales are the same accending and decending.
Melodic Minor Scale in the key of A
Accending A, B, C, D, E, F#, G#, A (Flat the 3rd of a major; C# becomes C)
Decending A, G, F, E, D, C, B, A (Flat the 3rd, 6th & 7th of a major scale)
Natural Minor Scale in the key of A
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A (Flat the 3rd, 6th & 7th of a major scale)
Natural Minor Scale is the same accending and decending. Notice that it is the same form as a melodic minor decending. (Not tested in major exam boards, can ignore this form.)
Conclusion:
On a minor scale, the 3rd degree is always flatten(b). To play a simplfied version of a minor scale, flat the 3rd or mediant of a major scale.
Legend
# Sharp
b Flat
Hope this helps.
Major Scale in the key of A (accending/going up)
A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A (T, T, S, T, T, T, S)
Major scales are the same when played accending and decending(going down)
Harmonic Minor Scale in the key of A
To play a harmonic minor scale, simply flat(b) the 3rd and 6th degree of a major scale. This case, A is the 1st, B is the 2nd and C# is the 3rd and etc.
A, B, C, D, E, F, G#, A
Harmonic minor scales are the same accending and decending.
Melodic Minor Scale in the key of A
Accending A, B, C, D, E, F#, G#, A (Flat the 3rd of a major; C# becomes C)
Decending A, G, F, E, D, C, B, A (Flat the 3rd, 6th & 7th of a major scale)
Natural Minor Scale in the key of A
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A (Flat the 3rd, 6th & 7th of a major scale)
Natural Minor Scale is the same accending and decending. Notice that it is the same form as a melodic minor decending. (Not tested in major exam boards, can ignore this form.)
Conclusion:
On a minor scale, the 3rd degree is always flatten(b). To play a simplfied version of a minor scale, flat the 3rd or mediant of a major scale.
Legend
# Sharp
b Flat
Hope this helps.
sarge
New member
how to use scales
generally a piece of music will be written in a particular key and the progressions in it i.e the chords fall in that key.i suggest you learn the diatonic chords for all keys so that u are aware of what scales to use for improvising.For more advanced players,to spice things up we use modes.a lot of the other scales are derived from the major scale.Familiarise yourself with the major scales first before moving on to modes etc.keep in mind that to improvise musically we need more elements of playing guitar like phrasing,using arpeggios,techniques etc.your goal would be to make your improvisation flow smoothly as the chords fly by-keep it simple for a start and even the simplest few notes will sound good with the right dynamics.
generally a piece of music will be written in a particular key and the progressions in it i.e the chords fall in that key.i suggest you learn the diatonic chords for all keys so that u are aware of what scales to use for improvising.For more advanced players,to spice things up we use modes.a lot of the other scales are derived from the major scale.Familiarise yourself with the major scales first before moving on to modes etc.keep in mind that to improvise musically we need more elements of playing guitar like phrasing,using arpeggios,techniques etc.your goal would be to make your improvisation flow smoothly as the chords fly by-keep it simple for a start and even the simplest few notes will sound good with the right dynamics.
MadWerewolfBoy
New member
if u're playing pop songs, stick to the key.. if u're playing jazz.. key? what key? ^_^
for every major there is a minor...
learn the modes....and you basically play you whole major scale in your fret board.....
so take ur time...then from the shapes found out which notes are which....
http://www.theguitarsuite.com/Theory/Guitar-Modes.html
learn the shapes....dont worry bout the keys yet...but ionian is the 1st....
just look into the website...
so from there u can change ur keys like playing a b in a key of a
take a look into the shapes and structure of the scale
good luck
learn the modes....and you basically play you whole major scale in your fret board.....
so take ur time...then from the shapes found out which notes are which....
http://www.theguitarsuite.com/Theory/Guitar-Modes.html
learn the shapes....dont worry bout the keys yet...but ionian is the 1st....
just look into the website...
so from there u can change ur keys like playing a b in a key of a
take a look into the shapes and structure of the scale
good luck
Last edited:
MadWerewolfBoy
New member
arpeggios are just notes belonging to the same chord but played individually. you could play a G major arpeggio during the G chord duration, but do realise that it will limit your notes to 3. to make a better melodic line, you could try playing these notes on your 'on' or 'accent' beats (eg, 1 and 3) but for the rest of time, you could fill it in with other notes of the scale belonging to the root chord.
for eg your G,D,Em,C (key of G mjaor) a G major is made of G, B and D, so when it comes to the G bar, start out with 1 of these notes, then fill in the rest of the space with other notes in the G major scale and when it comes to the next bar, D major, start out with either D, F# or A and fill the rest of the bar with notes in the G major scale.
you will notice that the chord progression used, G,D,Em,C. all the notes that make this chords belongs to the G major scale.
G, B, D
D, F#, A
E, G, B
C, E, G
most pop chord progression tend to be like that, with very few having "outside" notes.
for eg your G,D,Em,C (key of G mjaor) a G major is made of G, B and D, so when it comes to the G bar, start out with 1 of these notes, then fill in the rest of the space with other notes in the G major scale and when it comes to the next bar, D major, start out with either D, F# or A and fill the rest of the bar with notes in the G major scale.
you will notice that the chord progression used, G,D,Em,C. all the notes that make this chords belongs to the G major scale.
G, B, D
D, F#, A
E, G, B
C, E, G
most pop chord progression tend to be like that, with very few having "outside" notes.
