Fretboard
Theory
Lesson 2 - Scales Lyle: Scales. Guitar students don't want to
practice them, yet teachers like me keep bringing up the subject. Scales are
used by the greatest of players, in all styles of music, and use them to great
advantage. Scales-as-obstacles are what most guitarists seem them as; yet
scales-as-tools is how you should treat them, to aid you in your musical
vocabulary.
Lyle: Remember that it is important to execute
the scale. Learn the first three notes of the first scale perfectly. If you can
do that, you can perform anything to perfection. After the first three notes of
the scale the rest is just a variation on the theme. Learn a scale, or part of a
scale at a time. Put the scales to use as soon as you learn them. Use them in
the music you are playing or improvise with them either solo or with a jam
track.
Lyle: What are scales? Scales are visually and
audibly recognizable. Then notes of a scale form a smooth line and gradual
sound.
3 octave E
Phrygian scale
Lyle:
Scales are one member of a family of musical elements, which also include
arpeggios and chords. A chord is a group of notes, which occur, or sound
harmonically, at the same time. An arpeggio is a group of notes, which do not
occur at the same time, but rather in succession, melodically. A scale is also a
group of notes sounded in succession, but with a smooth and gradual sound. If
played together they do not make a
chord.
chord -
arpeggio - scale
Lyle:
Scales appear in every kind of music in the world. Here are a few
examples:
scale
examples 1
Lyle:
These scales are not restricted to these specific styles. They can be used as
tools in many different styles.
Lyle: If you can sing or envision
“do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do” then you already have in your possession everything
you need to learn scales. By simply moving “mi” down a half step you have the
ascending melodic minor scale. If you start on the “la” you have the natural
minor scale.
scale
examples 2
Lyle:
Scales are used in virtually every style of music. You can use scales in single
lines:
scale
example 3
Lyle:
They can be broken into segments:
scale example 4
Lyle:
Scales can be played simultaneously, as found in classical
music:
scale
example 5
Lyle:
Scales can also be played in fragments:
scale example 6
Lyle:
These are only a few ways scales are used for musical use. One thing is clear,
you need to master scales!
Lyle: The first and main scale you should master
is the Major scale. It has 7 tones plus the octave. The Major scale formula
is:
whole step - whole step
- half step -
whole step - whole step - whole step - half
step
Lyle: Playback this TAB to see this formula laid
out on the neck. All degrees are a whole step apart except between the 3 and 4,
and the 7 and R (root).
C Major scale - 5th string
Lyle:
Here are a few of my favorite Major scale patterns. Since none of these patterns
have open strings, each pattern can be moved to any other key, simply by moving
the pattern to start on a different root note.
C Major
scale - example 1
C Major scale -
example 2
Lyle:
You can practice playing these C Major scales against this jam
track:
Jam Track
in C Major
Lyle: Now you have a
few good major scale patterns to work with. If you really want to get serious
about learning how to play in one key all over the neck, then these 5 patterns
are for you.
Lyle: Here are the full 5 fingering patterns of
the C Major scale. These can be moved to any other key.
Fingering
I
Fingering
II
Fingering
III
Fingering
IV
Fingering
V
Fingering I -
octave higher
Lyle:
Most of the time these patterns are thought of as numbered, not as modes, when
you're crusing through a key, such as this in C major.
Lyle: Be aware of all the C notes within each of
the 5 patterns.
Lyle: All other scales use a formula that relates
to the steps in a Major scale.
Lyle: To learn a new type of scale, you first
learn the new formula for that scale. For example, the natural minor scale
formula is 1 - 2 - b3 - 4 - 5 - b6 - b7. The 3rd, 6th, and 7th degrees are
lowered by one fret compared to the major scale. It doesn't matter what key
you're in, this is the formula. Here's an example showing the C Major and C
natural minor:
C
major and C minor
Lyle:
Always remember the Major scale formula as W-W-H-W-W-W-H.
Lyle: If you were to play a 1 - 2 - b3 - 4 - 5 -
6 - b7 scale formula, you would be playing a Dorian Minor scale. It only has the
3rd and 7th degrees lowered by one fret, compared to a Major
scale.
C Major and
C Dorian
Joel: Can one also use
h-w-w-h-w-w-w just to be different?
Lyle: Yes. Each scale has it's own
unique formula. No two scales are the same. Each scale has it's own inherit
melodic sound to it. Each scale relates to a chord or a key somehow. Each scale
has it's own application. Don't be afraid to learn
scales.
Lyle: There just isn't enough time in one session
to explore and learn each scale and it's fingerings. If you understand the main
scale, the Major scale and it's intervals, then other scale formulas, chord
formulas, and arpeggio formulas will be much easier to learn and
understand.
Lyle: You have to start somewhere! I feel the
Major scale is the best place to start.
Lyle: Here's a list of other scale formulas. Try
playing these on a single string:
Major - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Dominant/Mixolydian - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, b7
Lydian - 1, 2, 3, #4, 5, 6, 7
Relative Minor - 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7
Dorian Minor - 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, b7
Phrygian Minor - 1, b2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7
Locrian Minor - 1, b2, b3, 4, b5, b6, b7
Harmonic Minor - 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, 7
Jazz Melodic Minor - 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Minor pentatonic - 1, b3, 4, 5, b7
Minor Blues - 1, b3, 4, b5, 5, b7
Major Pentatonic - 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Major Blues - 1, 2, b3, 3, 5, 6
Whole Tone - 1 - 2 - 3 - #4 - #5 - b7
Diminished - 1, 2, b3, 4, b5, b6, bb7, 7
Lyle: Here's the chords used in the jam
track:
chords for
jam track
Lyle:
There are only 12 tones in western music as we know it. There are many
combinations of different ways these 12 tones can be played
melodically.
Lyle: Time to take a break!
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