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What are Guitar Scales and how do I Use
Them?
Now that you have a guitar, you are
probably waiting to get you hands on to it. But you will have
to wait before you can start to play like Jeff beck or Mark
Knopfler. You need to understand the different types of scales
that are used in guitar playing and how they can influence the
sound output. Let’s start with the major and minor scales
first.
Major & Minor Scales
The major and minor scales in any guitar
are always separated by 4 frets, which are known as the
relative scales. They are called relative scales because all
of them have one thing in common: the tone. The scale DO - RE
- MI - FA - SO - LA - TI converts to LA - TI - DO - RE - MI -
FA - SO, and vice versa.
The major & minor scales are like the
backbone of Western music. It is like the stepping stone
without which you will probably drown. Hence, you need to go
over the scales thoroughly and master it even before trying to
move on to the other scales. These scales are used universally
and hence mastering them will stand you in good stead. Once
you master the major and minor scales, you will be able to
widen your repertoire to increase the level of your stage
performance.
Major Scale
DO - RE - MI - FA - SO
- LA - TI – DO is a major scale. This is probably one of the
most familiar scales in the world and most of us have heard it
more than once since birth. One of the good things is that it
creates a happy effect.
ATTRIBUTES
|
Attributes |
Values |
|
Scale Formula |
1-2-3-4-5-6-7 |
|
Step Construction |
W-W-H-W-W-W-H |
|
Distinguishing Degree |
M7 |
|
Good over Chords |
M , M7 , M6 |
|
Good with Progressions |
I-IV-V , II-V-I , I-VI-IV-V ,
I-III-IV-I , I-IV-I , I-V-I |
Minor Scale
LA - TI - DO - RE - MI
- FA - SO – LA is a minor scale. It is basically the exact
opposite of the major scale or rather when you read a major
scale backwards, you get a minor scale. It is known as the
minor because of the minor 3rd, while the distinguishing
factor is the minor 6 th.
Both these scales have distinct effect on our emotions.
Other Scales
There are several other scales apart from
the major scale and the minor scale and one of the most
preferred or common scale is the pentatonic scale. The
pentatonic scales are at the very core of most of the rock
bands. It is used generously in blues and rock guitars and
this is because they are easier to play. They are known as the
forgiving scales because of the fact that the fingering of
strings is quite straight forward. All Pentatonic scales are
based on both the major and minor scales except for 2 specific
notes, which are dropped. These notes get converted from
pentatonic (five-note) to diatonic (seven-note).
In pentatonic scales,
when you shift the tonality up in each step then you will get
this:
1. DO - RE - MI -
FA - SO - LA - TI - DO: Ionian
2. RE - MI - FA -
SO - LA - TI - DO - RE: Dorian
3. MI - FA - SO -
LA - TI - DO - RE - MI: Phrygian
4. FA - SO - LA -
TI - DO - RE - MI - FA: Lydian
5. SO - LA - TI -
DO - RE - MI - FA - SO: Mixolydian
6. LA - TI - DO -
RE - MI - FA - SO - LA: Aeolian
7. TI - DO - RE -
MI - FA - SO - LA - TI: Locrian
Now that you have understood the basic
scales, it is time for a warm-up session on your guitar! |
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