This Lesson By: Joel Wanasek
Major Scales 101
Alright, so you want to learn how to connect scales? Sure you do! If you already know how, then skip this part. I am going to try my best to explain this to all of the beginners out there. There are 12 chromatic notes in modern day western music. Each note is separated by a half step interval, just like the frets of a guitar. Each major scale is composed to 7 notes. A major scale is composed with this formula:
whole step
whole step
half step
whole step
whole step
whole step
half step
Keep in mind that a whole step = 2 half steps. So in C major (no sharps of flats in this key), the notes would be:
C (whole step to)
D (whole step to)
E (half step to)
F (whole step to)
G (whole step to)
A (whole step to)
B (and a half step back up to)
C
Whoa!~ Now, isn't that easy?! You can now make a scale in every key now, provided that you understand how sharps and flats work. Well, now what you ask. Well, my friends, let me show you how to play a Major scale on the guitar. We are going to stay in the key of C today. It's the easiest to start with because there are no sharps or flats. Now here is what you have to do as a player. You must memorize all of these scale forms. DO NOT, and I repeat DO NOT try and memorize all of these at once. A famous violinist once told me that the trick to memorizing something and getting into your long term memory is to work on it for 10-30 minutes each day for 4 days straight. So, if you spend 4 days in a row memorizing one scale form and then move to the next one in sequence, you CAN NOT go wrong. BUT! If you do not listen to me, which most of you won't, then it's your loss. Don't say that I didn't warn you. Ok, now that you understand what you have to do, here comes the next step. Each scale form has a root note. The root is simply the key the scale is in. So, if we are in C major, then the root is C. Simple. Below are all of the scale forms. The roots are RED on the charts.
Here is what a C major scale, in root position (pattern 1), would look like in tab from C to C:
Ok, so now what do I do with all of these patterns you are asking? It's easy stack them on top of each other using the roots. All of the patterns are in order. So, take pattern 2 and place it on top of pattern one. Line up the root note on the D string. And that is how easy it is! Do you see how the scale over laps? Same notes, just a little higher in pitch. Now, pattern 3 attaches onto pattern 2 at the root. Just keep going like that. It's that easy. What you have to do now is connect all of these scales. Just stack the roots and watch how nicely the scales over lap. This is why it is important to learn all of the patterns individually. It makes them easy to stack. Once you learn how the patterns connect, you can solo in any key, in any position. If we are in the key of D major, then just pick a D on the neck and slap down the pattern that fits around it. Then start soloing. All in all, connecting scales is really easy, just take your time and practice. Good Luck!
Questions or comments? Email Joel Wanasek