Lesson #5- Scales (in general)... OK... (i say that a lot)... anyways.. this lesson will discuss scales and will probably pull a lot together from the previous 4 lessons...(hopefully)... if i mention something in this lesson and you don't recognize it, look over the past lessons... i've tried my best to use terms from past lessons... Scales- a "scale" is a series of notes that is used to build chords and to also use for writing "solos" and such... this is the best way i can think of to explain it in plain terms.. you'll see what i mean.. chords are built from scales.. (not the other way around)... you can figure out a major/minor and whatever other chord from the given scale... here is an example: this is the C major scale: C , D , E , F , G , A , B , C a way of thinkin of it is that the "C" is the root of the scale... this scale begins and ends on the note C, and since the root names the chord, it also names the scale... (this is a basic way of thinking about it... later i will discuss the proper terms).. ok... let's put in the appropriate numbers and such below each note.. C , D , E , F , G , A , B , C 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th notice there are 8 notes in the C major scale...(the first and 8th notes are both a C)... now, look back at the 2nd lesson and look at the C major chord... notice what the root(1st), 3rd, and 5th notes are...(don't worry if you don't have that lesson.. the C major chord is below..) they are C, E, and G respectively... now look at the C major scale... the root(1st) 3rd and 5th notes are the same... that is how major chords are "built" or "constructed".. take any major scale, find the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes in the scale, fret the appropriate strings, and play... ok, now let's look at how to find out the major scale of any given note... here are all the notes in general (12 of them ( 13 if you count the high C), and each one is a half-step (one fret) away from the adjacent one)... C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C let's look back at the C major scale again (C,D,E,F,G,A,B,C)... remember that each of the notes in the 12 note scale above is a half a step away from the next note... (example: C# is a half-step away from D AND C...) so, to make up the C major scale, we start on the "root" (C), then go up to D, which is 2 half-steps away (which is in fact one whole-step away.. 2 halves make a whole..)... then from D, we go to E (another whole step), the we go to F (a half step), then we go to G (whole), then to A (whole), then to B (whole), then to C (half)... now, this is the "formula" we used for the C major scale (simplified): start on root note, then go up a whole step, another whole step, then a half step, then a whole step, a whole step, another whole step, finally a half step to wind up where we started.. on the root note, but an "octave" higher ("octave" means 8 ... since the C is the root of this scale, the 8th note, or "and octave higher", would be a higher C...)... so, this is the formula for major chords: 1) start on root note 2) move up these "steps" from the root note.. whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half if done correctly, you will end on the same note you began on... let's try an example: here are all the notes again (i've extended it a little): C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, ... and so on... let's figure out the G major scale... we'll use the formula: 1) start on the root note ok.. put your finger on the screen on the low G 2) move up these "steps" from the root note: whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F#) (G) and since we ended up on a G, then we know we did it right... so the G major scale is: G,A,B,C,D,E,F#,G... now let's compare this to the G major chord: in the G major chord, the 1st, 3rd, and 5th are G, B, D respectively.. compare this to the scale: G , A , B , C , D , ... (1ST),(2ND),(3RD),(4TH),(5TH) ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ they match up!!.... now, on to minor scales (don't worry.. everything is wrapped up in the end of this lesson..) minor scales are figured out the same way, except the "formula" is a little different... (step #1 stays the same.. you always start on the root note of the scale) for step 2, you use different "steps"... for a minor scale, i will tell you the formula... 1) start on the root note of the scale 2) move up these "steps" from the root note:: whole-half-whole-whole-half-whole-whole if you end on the same note you began, your did it right... example: let's try an E minor scale... here are all the notes again... (extended): C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E 1) start on the root note of the scale put your finger on the screen on the low E 2) move up these "steps" from the root note: whole-half-whole-whole-half-whole-whole (F#) (G) (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) since we ended on E, we did it right... now, compare this to the E minor chord... in the E minor, the root, 3rd, and 5th are E,G, and B respectively.. in the E minor scale, they are the same... To wrap things up, now you: 1) can figure out major or minor scales.. just use the formulas... write them down somewhere on paper.. also write down all the notes (BTW- the technical term for all the notes is the "chromatic scale"... each of the notes is a half step away from the next one..)... here is the "chromatic scale" again for you: C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C (this is the C chromatic... because it starts and ends on the note C.. this is used primarily for finding C scales... to find, let's say, an F scale, use the F chromatic below.. and apply the formulas..) example: F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F by using the chromatic of the scale you are trying to find, it makes it easier to figure it out because you start on low F and end up on high F! and 2) are gettin' ready to start learning the basics of soloing... please write down the chromatic scale and the formulas for finding the major/minor scales on a piece of paper... and practice figuring out the scales... then compare what you have to the appropriate major/minor chord and try to see the relation of the 1st, 3rd, and 5th of each scale to the chord... above all else, have fun.. sure this is getting more technical, but you don't need to drill yourself .. take it at a steady pace... move on when you are ready to, and kick back when you need to... :) til' next time...