Applications of Major Scales

G MAJOR SCALE IN THIRDS (ASCENDING) Also try this descending. Listen: G MAJOR SCALE IN FOURTHS (ASCENDING) Also try this descending. Listen: G MAJOR SCALE IN FIFTHS (ASCENDING) Also try this descending. Listen: ‘YANKEE DOODLE’ USING THE G MAJOR SCALE Listen:

The Minor Scales – Natural Minor Scale

There are three different types of minor scales: a) Natural Minor Scaleb) Melodic Minor Scalec) Harmonic Minor Scale All three minor scales differ from the major scale by having a flattened third note. This is referred to as a minor third. This gives it its sad, minor sound. Let’s look at the natural minor scale first. A) NATURAL MINOR SCALE The Step Pattern is as follows: 1st to … Read More

The Minor Scales – Melodic Minor Scale

B) MELODIC MINOR SCALE The melodic minor scale differs from the natural minor scale in that it has a raised 6th and a raised 7th note. So the step pattern is therefore: So, in the key of A, we get: tone semitone tone tone tone (#6th) semitone (#7th) tone A ^ B ^ C ^ D ^ E ^ F# ^ G# ^ A Frets: 2 … Read More

The Minor Scales – Harmonic Minor Scale

C) HARMONIC MINOR SCALE The harmonic minor scale differs from the natural minor scale in that it has a raised 7th note. This gives it a kind of Eastern or Arabic sound. The step pattern is therefore: So, in the key of A, we get: tone semitone tone tone semitone 1+1/2tone (#7th) semitone A ^ B ^ C ^ D ^ E ^ F … Read More

Applications of Minor Scales

G (NATURAL) MINOR SCALE IN THIRDS (ASCENDING) Also try this descending. Listen: G (NATURAL) MINOR SCALE IN FOURTHS (ASCENDING) Also try this descending. Listen: G (NATURAL) MINOR SCALE IN FIFTHS (ASCENDING) Also try this descending. Listen: ‘GREENSLEEVES’ USING THE G MELODIC MINOR SCALE Listen:

Other Scales – The Pentatonic Scale

There is a wide range of other scales around, all of which have different sounds and different applications. Here are a few of the more popular ones: THE PENTATONIC SCALE As the name suggests, this scale contains only five notes, and is used extensively in blues and rock music. It is a strong, powerful sounding scale and is great for … Read More

Applications of Pentatonic Scales

G MAJOR PENTATONIC ALTERNATE NOTES Also try this descending. Listen: G MINOR PENTATONIC ALTERNATE NOTES Also try this descending. Listen: G MAJOR PENTATONIC RUN Also try this descending. Listen: G MINOR PENTATONIC RUN Listen:

Other Scales – The Whole Tone Scale

As the name implies, this scale is a scale based entirely on whole-tone intervals. So all notes in this scale will have an interval of 1 tone between them. So, in the key of A, we will get the following notes: tone tone tone tone tone tone A ^ B ^ C# ^ D# ^ F ^ G ^ A Frets: 2 2 2 … Read More

Other Scales – The Diminished Scale

The diminished scale contains a flat 3rd note (minor 3rd), a flat 5th note, and a double flat 7th note (compared to the major scale), so the step pattern is: tone semitone (b3rd) tone semitone (b5th) tone semitone (bb7th) 1+1/2tone A ^ B ^ C ^ D ^ Eb ^ F ^ Gb ^ A Frets: 2 1 2 1 2 1 3 Step Pattern … Read More

Modes

Modes are early forms of scales which were invented by the ancient Greeks before the major scale had been established. They are still used today to add slightly different tonal qualities to a piece of music, in preference to the constant use of the major scale. However, modes contain all the same notes of the major scale. Let’s explain: If … Read More