Hey Friend,
The Major scale is the foundation for making all melodies and chords. So the pattern you use to play the major scale is like the scale’s daddy.
The pattern is created from combining a specific series of whole step and half step intervals until you reach the next highest instance of the starting pitch. Again, an interval is the space between two notes.
Learn the pattern and you will always know how to play the scale, regardless of what note you start with. You can move the starting note anywhere on the guitar neck. As long as you play the notes using the same pattern of intervals, you’ll end up playing a major scale.
Play the pattern, and you get the scale.
Simple as that.
So let’s get to it… The pattern for the major scale is:
Whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step
You can go all shorthand on it like I do with "whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half," or even further with this:
W W H W W W H
Or if you happen to have been born in a country where the preferred words are tone and semitone, it would be this:
T T S T T T S
You choose...
Whole step = Tone Half step = Semitone
To keep it simple, I’m gonna stick with whole and half steps to describe things.
Remember, a whole step is equal to a two fret interval on your guitar. A half step is equal to one fret.
Chromatic Scale
When you apply the pattern to actual notes, there are a couple rules in place that are pretty much set in stone. Before I get to them, let me just step back and talk briefly about the Chromatic scale.
If you recall, the chromatic scale has you play each half-step interval as you move up (or down) in pitch.
You can play one very easily by moving your finger up the guitar neck one fret at a time, plucking each note. Its pattern is this:
H H H H H H H H H H H H
That’s not boring at all...
You aren’t going to use this scale very often in a song, but it’s really handy to exercise your fingers and build speed It’s also great for training your ears to hear the differences in pitch.
We’ll come back to it again later.
Tomorrow (hopefully), I’ll set you up with the rules and we’ll do a real major scale. I say hopefully because both my daughters have events happening tomorrow, so we’ve got to be running all over town. Just saying it might be late or postponed...
Have yourself a great Friday!
Peace~
Dave
P.S. - If any of this doesn't make sense, just reply to this email with your questions.
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