Major Scale Theory
So here it is in text… the basics of the major scale. We’ll get the theory out of the way so we can get into some phrasing exercises and some reflections on how to use this thing we call the major scale.
Above you can see every major scale note on the fretboard. And unless you’ve spent a whole lot of time studying the lesson on Intervals (see the songwriting section), you probably haven’t mastered every note and every phrasing on it yet.
Over a month of daily practice exercises, PDFs and MP3s
Major Scale Pattern / Formula
- Every single major scale for every single key follows the same pattern:
- W – W – H – W – W – W – H
- Whole step – Whole step – Half step – Whole step – Whole step – Whole step – Half step
- Step
- the distance between 2 notes:
- half step = 1 fret
- whole step = 2 frets
Major scale on the guitar fretboard
On the guitar you can play a whole major scale up to the 12th fret and see the pattern on one string.
A very good idea would be to try to memorize or learn the major scale for each of the keys A through G. Below is a chart that shows every key’s major scale.
| Scale | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B | C# | D | E | F# | G# |
| B | C# | D# | E | F# | G# | A# |
| C | D | E | F | G | A | B |
| D | E | F# | G | A | B | C# |
| E | F# | G# | A | B | C# | D# |
| F | G | A | Bb | C | D | E |
| G | A | B | C | D | E | F# |
As you notice, C is the only major scale that has no sharps or flats: C D E F G A B
There are many ways to play the major scale, or many positions to play it in anyway. We’ll look at a couple here:
- static
- dynamic.
- Static positions: Major Scale Boxes
- When we play the scale in one place at a time without running up the fretboard. Look below and you can see all of these positions for the C major scale.
- Dynamic Positions: Major Scale Boxes
- Playing the major scale dynamically is basically just you practicing moving between nmajor scale boxes.
Okay now that you can see the charts and where the notes fall on the fretboard, lets start in on some exercises. These exercises are to help remember the structure and the placement of the notes and to practice with a metronome to build clarity and speed. They’re not supposed to create interesting phrasing yet.
Thank you very much.It is really useful for beginners like me.Thank you.
The best site I’ve found yet! Lessons are intuitive and well thought out. Great instruction and clarity. Left a message on the All is Good tab. Thanks again, Steve- Moscow, ID
I love you!
Thanks a lot, your site is soooo awesome, i’d learnt a lot here in your website
regards from Chile
por fin comprndi aleer las formulas de la escala mayor
Gracias por el comentario ariel. Un día de estos quisiera hacer algún librito digital para mis visitantes hispanohablantes. Que tengas una buena Navidad.
Adam,
Little confused as to what the beige dots represent in the above diagrams of the major scale. would assume they would be the root of the scale but counting number of steps in between doest make sense.
Especially middle diagram can u explain. Doest root start at beginning of scale? Am I missing something.
did purchase your suite.
Thanks.
Bob
Yeah Bob, they are the roots. If you look at the chart at the top you can see the shapes over the entire fretboard. If you were to superimpose the charts below on the chart at the top, you’d see they are identical. They are just 3 different places to play the same scale. Try and play the charts and you will hear it.
As far as the middle chart goes. Yes, the beige note is the root… but the two notes before it on the 6th string are still part of that major scale. If you were to start on the blue note, you’d still be playing the C major scale, just starting on A. It might sound awkward to your ears at first but as soon as you resolve to C, it’ll sound right.
The most important thing is this: the beige notes represent where home is… that’s where you will resolve. You can play any combination of the blue notes (regardless of which position or chart you use) and you will always resolve to the beige notes because you’re still playing in the key of C (in the case above)
If it’s easier to stick with the top chart, just practice making little runs and creating little licks you like until you finish on the beige note… I hope I didn’t confuse you more. Let me know if that doesn’t clear it up