Course: Introduction to Scales
Scales are the foundation of Western music. Learn how to make them sound musical instead of like a robot running up and down the stairs.
Scales are the foundation of harmony and melody. Every key is derived from a scale. The notes in the key are the notes of the scale, and the chords in the key are harmonized from the scale.
The easiest way to understand a scale is to visualize it in a straight line (i.e. on a single guitar string), because the visual distance between the notes is the same as the size of their intervals. This makes the sound of each note and the relationships between them clear and intuitive.
This course introduces the most common scales, along with useful ways to practice them that help us sound musical when we play. Other lessons will take these ideas and apply them to specific shapes on the fretboard, beginning with the E-shape Scales course.
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Constructing Scales and Chords
Where do scales, chords, and arpeggios come from?
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Playing Scales Musically
How to practice scales so they sound musical instead of robotic.
Major Scales
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Major Scale
The foundation of Western music.
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Major Pentatonic Scale
The subset of the major scale that works over every major chord in a key.
Minor Scales
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Minor Scales
Natural minor, complicated by working around the leading tone in harmonies and melodies.
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Minor Pentatonic Scale
The subset of the minor scale that works over every minor chord in a key.