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The Major Scale
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The Major Scale
A scale is a series or group of musical notes collected in ascending or descending order. A scale is used for creating melody and harmony.
The distance between two successive notes in a scale is called a scale step.
Here are some characteristics of scales.
- Typically listed low to high.
- Described according to the intervals they contain: diatonic, chromatic, whole tone
- Described by the number of pitches they contain: pentatonic (5), hexatonic (6), heptatonic (7), etc.
Scales in traditional Western music generally consist of seven notes and repeat at the octave.
The term scale and mode are used interchangeably and in a strict theory sense there is a big difference between a scale and a mode or scale mode. They are NOT the same, even if they contain the same notes.
A mode is just a collection of the notes. If all notes are equal it's just a scale and you can name it whatever you like. If one note is emphasized over the others then it's one of the modes.
Major Scales
A major scale can be seen as two identical tetrachords separated by a whole tone, or whole step. A tetrachord is a series of three intervals filling in the interval of a perfect fourth separated by a whole tone, or whole step. Or a set of steps Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half. Each tetrachord consists of two whole steps followed by a half step. Western scales do not skip any line or space on the staff, and they do not repeat any note with a different accidental. This has the effect of forcing the key signature to feature just sharps or just flats.
Any major scale can be figured out using this step sequence.
C Major is: C W D W E H F W G W A W B H C'
The C Major Scale
C D E F G A B C' - The white keys of a piano.
Each note of a major scale can be numbered relative to its distance or number of steps from the tonic or One, the first note of the scale.
These numbers are also referred to as scale steps. D is the second, E the third, F the fourth, G the fifth, A the sixth, B the seventh and finally, C again at the octave.
They also have the familiar solfège names"
- Do
- Re
- Mi
- Fa
- So
- La
- Si or Ti
C Major Scale Uses
Ear Training - Using familiar songs you can train your ear to recognize common intervals.
Using a fixed Do and ascending intervals here are some common songs you can use.
- Do to Do - C to C, Perfect Unison [ Happy Birthday to You ]
This one should be easy as the note does not change. If you really have a hard time hearing this one you might consider a different hobby or career.
- Do, Re - C to D, Major Second [ Frère Jacques)
- Do, Mi - C to E, Major Third [ Michael Row Your Boat Ashore, Kumbaya, Do-Re-Mi (first and third notes) ]
- Do, Fa - C to F, Perfect Fourth [ Here Comes the Bride, Amazing Grace, Smells Like Teen Spirit, The Look of Love ]
- Do, Sol - C to G, Perfect Fifth [ Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, My Favorite Things, Georgie Girl, Scarborough Fair, Theme from Star Wars ]
- Do, La - C to A, Major Sixth [ My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean, NBC Theme Song, Take the 'A' Train ]
- Do, Si - C to B, Major Seventh [ Theme from Fantasy Island ]
- Do to Do - C to C, Perfect Octave [ Over the Rainbow, Hi Ho Hi Ho, The Christmas Song, Let It Snow ]
Here is a related lesson and with more more information on Ear Training.
C Major Scale Chords
The chords for a C major scale are:
Triads: C Dm Em F G Am Bdim. 4-part “jazz” Chords: Cmaj7 Dm7 Em7 Fmaj7 G7 Am7 Bm7b5
The sequence of major, minor, minor, major, major, minor, diminished. Is the same sequence for ALL the major keys. And, by starting the sequence at a different spot is is also the same chords for the scale mode: Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian and Ionian.
You can get a lot out of this sequence.
C Major Scale as Your Reference Scale
From the C major scale you can get the other major scales and their modes, major, relative minor and modes key signatures and the chords of the same.
Just memorize the key signature of the major keys and substitute place the sharp or flats in the circle of notes. Use a chart or the major scale step pattern: W W H W W W H, to figure out the scale.
From the Major scales you can get the Traditional Scales: Natural Minor, Minor, Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor, Tonic Minor, Diminished and Whole Tone.
Scale Modes: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian
Contemporary Scales: Blues, Minor Pentatonic and Major Pentatonic
Altered Scales: Mixolydian +4, Mixolydian -2-6
Some scales are know by different names. Mixolydian is the Dominant scale. The Mixolydian +4 is the Lydian Dominant. Lots of names for the same scales.
The Major Scale
Printable Lesson PDF: FREE
Open position C Major scale on Ukulele
Open position C Major scale on Guitar
Open Position C Major Scale - C Tuning, Ukulele
Related Lessons for: Scales
Here a few lessons that might be of interest to the topic and principles covered in this lesson.
7 Lesson(s)
Lesson content icons: | |||
 | Diminished Scale for Ukulele - C TuningThe Diminished scale is a symmetrical scale with a repeating pattern of whole steps and half steps. You only need to learn the Diminished scale in three keys to cover all 15 keys. UL25b: Published: January 2, 2005, 12:00 pm | Updated: March 8, 2012, 12:52 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | ||
| Harmonic Analysis - Scale SelectionHarmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale ..... MLRMA18: Published: April 6, 2012, 9:31 pm | Updated: April 7, 2012, 2:16 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | ||
| Learning The Blues Scale on UkuleleLearn the Blues and Pentatonic scales on ukulele. A practical approach to learning theses two essential scales using the Blues scale. Scales like chords, are typically ..... UL13: Published: January 2, 2005, 12:00 pm | Updated: March 9, 2012, 9:05 am | Author: Curt Sheller | ||
| Six Essential Scales for UkuleleThe six essential scale are: Blues, Major Pentatonic, Mixolydian, Dorian, Aeolian, and Ionian. There are two scales that can be the memorized and all other essential scales referenced from these two. These two ..... UL04: Published: January 2, 2005, 12:00 pm | Updated: March 14, 2012, 8:48 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | ||
| Ukulele Doodling - An Introduction to Scales and Soloing on UkuleleAn Introduction to Scales and Soloing on Ukulele using the C Pentatonic Scale Licks, riffs, leads, spontaneous melodies, solos... In the guitar world, this is called Lead Guitar. In the ukulele ..... UL107: Published: January 2, 2005, 12:00 pm | Updated: March 14, 2012, 10:10 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | ||
 | What is the different between a Scale and a Mode?A scale and mode can contain exactly the same notes. So when it is a scale and when is it a mode? This lesson explores the content that determine when a scale is a mode. UL110: Published: January 2, 2005, 12:00 pm | Updated: March 12, 2012, 7:48 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | ||
| Whole Tone Scale for Ukulele - C TuningThe Whole Tone scale is a symmetrical scale with an equal distance been each note or scale degree. Each scale degree is a whole step from the previous. You only need two whole tone scales to cover all ..... UL25: Published: January 2, 2005, 12:00 pm | Updated: March 8, 2012, 12:52 pm | Author: Curt Sheller | ||
Audio
Lesson Info
I constantly read online and hear. "Is, where, what site, what software is there for this or that chord or all the chord voicings." Well camper! It's not here. Chord dictionaries, software, web sites are not the answer. Even chord theory does not offer any insight into unraveling the complexity of chord voicings.
Learning basic open position chords and the basic movable form chords presented in the Chord of the Week Lessons I presented in 2007 will set you up for the more advanced chords, typically called “jazz” chords.
These Movable Form Chords lessons have been updated, enhanced and now reside in the Members Subscription area for all basic and Members.
Related Books
All book sizes are 8.5" x 11" unless noted and music stand friendly, "lay flat" coil binding.
HARD COPY
QS1UKES
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QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, Volume I, C Tuning
Six essential scales for C tuned ukuleles. Blues, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Ionian scales are covered in all keys with one octave scale fingerings starting on any finger.
The QuickStart series of scale fingering books are available in a variety of tunings for ukulele, guitar and bass guitar.
Tunings: C with low or high G - (GCEA or gCEA).
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Six essential scales for G tuned ukuleles. Blues, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Ionian scales are covered in all keys with fingerings.
The QuickStart series of scale fingering books are available in a variety of tunings.
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Major, minor, diminished and augmented arpeggios fingerings in all keys for C tuned ukuleles.
Available in C and G tunings.
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ISBN-13: 978-1-60321-016-4 Published: November 2005 Pages 96
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Major, minor, diminished and augmented arpeggios fingerings in all keys for G tuned ukuleles.
Available in C and G tunings.
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ISBN-13: 978-1-60321-017-1 Published: November 2005 Pages 96
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Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering
Learn the principles to navigating the ukulele* fingerboard.
Fingering is one of the most universal topics. Whether your style is Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz or Classical, these principles will improve your technique, your solos, even your sight reading.
Think of fingering as a series of pathways. When you learn to connect these pathways, there are benefits not only to technique but also to creativity. All fingering on the ukulele can be reduced to 6 principles of motion. Each principle has physical and musical characteristics that you can use to improve your playing.
* The fingering principles in the books are suitable for ANY ukulele tuning.
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Learn to read single note melodies in the first/open position. It is a lot easier than you might think with this step-by-step easy to use approach.
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Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution
Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.
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MPRS-FW1 - UL124_THE_MAJOR_SCALE.PHP | Updated: Friday, 30th March, 2012 @ 04:35pm