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major scale

The major scale is the foundation of most music theory. It is referred to quite frequently, so it’s a good idea to have an understanding of it.

Most pieces of music are in a key. This means a particular selection of notes has been chosen from the twelve available. The selected notes are usually those of a MAJOR SCALE. (There are other scales and we shall look at these later.) All elements of a piece of music from the bass line and chords to the melody and guitar solo will use only the notes of this scale.
Sometimes it’s good to break the rules. Notes not naturally found in the major scale can add interest to your music, but at the moment we shall just deal with the notes that naturally occur in this scale. These are called DIATONIC notes.


A major scale can be built by starting on any note and then following this series of intervals to find the other seven notes that make up the scale:

Tone, Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone, Tone, Semitone.


To build a ‘G’ major scale’.

Start with the key or tonic note ‘G’.
Go up a tone from ‘G’. This gives you the second note in the scale ‘A’.
Next go up a tone from ‘A’. You’ll get to ‘B’.
Now go up a semitone from ‘B to ‘C’.
Go up a tone from ‘C’. This gives you the fifth note in the scale ‘D’.
Next go up a tone from ‘D’. This results in ‘E’.
Go up a tone from ‘E’ to ‘F#’.
Finally go up a semitone from ‘F#’. This takes you to ‘G’. This ‘G’ is one octave higher than the tonic note.
You may have noticed that when we went up a tone from ‘E’ the note we arrived at had two names, either ‘F#’ or ‘Gb’. When this happens use the one that follows on alphabetically from the previous note. ‘F’ follows alphabetically after ‘E’, so the seventh note in the key of ‘G’ major is ‘F#’ not ‘Gb’.
So, the notes of the ‘G’ major scale are: G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G


This is a major scale pattern going up two octaves.Major Scale

G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G.

 

 

 

 

gmajscale

 

 

 

 

The large ‘3’ next to the diagram indicates where on the fretboard to play the scale.

The numbers on each string indicate the order of notes going up the scale.


This scale pattern can be moved to different positions on the fretboard. Wherever it is played the quality of the scale, in this case ‘major’, remains the same.

The first note of the major scale is its TONIC or KEY NOTE.

This determines which major scale you are playing.

So, if this pattern is played with the tonic note at the third fret (‘G’) it is the ‘G’ Major scale.

When the pattern is played with the tonic note at the eight fret

it is the ‘C’ Major scale.

cmajorsctwo

 

 

 

See more fingerboard pattern HERE.


Below is a list of all major scales.
T = Tone
S = Semitone

 

major scales table

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


KEY SIGNATURES

The table below shows which notes are sharpened or flattened in each major scale. Those notes that are sharp or flat are the key signature for that major scale.

For example, the key of ‘D’ major has two sharps, these are; ‘F#’ and ‘C#’.

All other notes in this scale are natural. A natural note is one that is neither sharp nor flat.

So, the key signature for ‘D’ major has two sharps ‘F#’ and ‘C#’.

key signatures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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© Carlos Thrale 2014

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Guitar & Bass Lessons by Carlos Thrale
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Sean Montgomery
Sean Montgomery
21:56 05 Sep 20
I decided to use the lockdown period to learn to play the electric guitar - something that I have always wanted to do and certainly a skill that I felt would benefit me in my role as leader of the Product Management team at Roland Europe. Having had a traditional music education, I was unsure how effective online lessons would be. I needn't have worried. Carlos has a great set up which enables him to clearly see and hear everything that I am doing 150 miles away! Carlos is a truly great player with the ability to inspire - I always look forward to putting into practice what I have learnt in our lessons together.
Adam Larke
Adam Larke
11:21 13 Jun 20
Carlos is an amazing guitar teacher and player - I’ve learnt more over the past 6 months with Carlos than I have for years & years of learning songs and teaching things to myself. Also switched to skype lessons during corona virus lockdown and they are brilliant!Thanks Carlos ✌️🎸
David Weston
David Weston
17:09 11 Jun 20
Carlos is very good at sharing his vast wealth of knowledge and skills on the guitar. After years of self study I finally decided to get some one to one lessons. I feel I have learnt more in the last 2 months than I did in the previous 10 years trying to teach myself guitar. Always patient and encouraging during the lessons. I would recommend Carlos equally to a beginner as to someone who has been playing for years if you really want to start or greatly improve your guitar playing.
Henri Allen
Henri Allen
08:26 13 Feb 20
I have been with Carlos for many years and he has taken me through many grades, whilst always providing interesting and fun lessons. He is patient and will help you through, no matter how hard you find it! A great tutor for anyone!
Floribus Luxury Flowers
Floribus Luxury Flowers
12:38 04 Feb 20
Our Son has been having electric guitar lessons with Carlos for a couple of years now. He started off playing and learning for fun but has more recently being going through his grades achieving distinctions in his exams with Carlos’s expert tuition. My Son absolutely loves his lessons and his face often lights up in awe of Carlos’s musical talents during their ‘playing for fun’ sessions. Carlos is extraordinarily patient and will go over the same thing as many times as necessary when my son hits a stumbling block. My son finds his lessons both fun and informative and always leaves full of excitement and a bit more confident each time. As a parent I have found Carlos an absolute pleasure to deal with, his musical talent and knowledge is second to none and I would not hesitate in recommending him to anyone. In fact I have recommended to a couple of friends already whose children are now also enjoying their lessons.
Simon Brenchley
Simon Brenchley
22:34 26 Jan 20
excellent tuition with endless patience and charmlook forward to each lesson every weekthe guidance and support is fabulous with noticeable progress from a complete novice
shaun monk
shaun monk
11:27 26 Jan 20
Patient and encouraging. Each lesson is well structured and supports student development week-by-week. Enables Grades to be achieved alongside fun sessions. Lucky to have him in the locality.
Andrew Denison
Andrew Denison
17:48 13 Jan 20
Carlos kept me on my toes but in a kind and helpful way. He also made superb cheese and tomato sandwiches...
Rose Smith
Rose Smith
11:40 31 Dec 19
Carlos has taught me to play electric and acoustic guitar. He is very is very patient and his passion for guitar has inspired me to keep improving. I always really enjoy my lessons.
Kate Frith
Kate Frith
12:08 28 Nov 19
Amazing Electric guitar teacher.My daughter has always loved her lessons with Carlos. His relaxed approach has resulted in fantastic exam grades together with imparting an all round musical education and understanding that has extended beyond the guitar in to her GCSE music and improv Jazz piano playing.
Nicola Meller
Nicola Meller
20:56 20 Nov 19
Structured lessons, great tuition and guidance. A very knowledgable teacher to learn from. Thank you Carlos

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