casualty01
04-09-2004, 11:16 PM
Well, Here we are again. another long awaited Theory Lesson. If you are not absolutely certain you know every aspect of all 3 of my previous lessons, please, go refresh before you try and read, learn, absorb and apply this one.
Ok, with that said, please take your seats.
In this lesson, the main focus will be on playing and moving our Major Scale Patterns/Shapes, to all possible keys.
In my last theory lesson, I covered all 7 Patterns for the Major Scale as it applies to the fretboard. All the patterns were given to you in the key of A Major, as the Key of A Major just so happens to line up most perfectly starting from the first possible 6th string pattern, all the way to the last 5th string pattern in the series. Now we're going to take those patterns, and shift them so we're able to play in any other keys.
Now to those of you who are further along, or are more adept at understanding this stuff and perhaps already realized and figured out what I'm talking about while you were doing my last lesson, I say, be patient ;) we'll get to the cooler stuff in a few short weeks. and as easy as this idea I'm going to be presenting today might seem, a lot of people have trouble with it at first. usually just an uncertainty at most.. a "wait.. am I doing this right??" kind of thing. but I hope to put that to rest.
ok, let's get to it...
Total Recall
If you've successfully absorbed and REALLY learned and memorized everything from my last lesson, you'd know that we have 7 forms of Major Scales (and by forms I mean "patterns" that can be physically played on the fretboard)
as I also mention in the previous lesson, all the forms remain the same when you move them to another key. in other words. the shapes don't change, only their locations.
The 7 Forms I gave in the last lesson also only have 3 actual Root Note starting points. 1 on the 6th string, 1 on the 4th string and 1 on the 5th string. "well that's only 3" you say? ....... *cas smacks whoever was thinking that*
if that thought DID cross your mind, please notice the brightly lit exits on either side of this thread and leave now, because it's blatantly clear you didn't give the last lesson a thorough reading.
where as we only have the 3 starting points, the 5th and 6th strings both have 3 separate forms all starting from that 1 starting point on that given string.
so where we movin paw?
In this lesson, we're going to do C Major (no, I'm not going to do 1 scale per lesson :p: ) I'm only going to focus on moving the scales to this one key in order to show you exactly what to do, and after that, it's on you to take it upon yourself to move the scales to ALL keys... yes, that's right, ALL 12.
After this point, we will be using the C Major scale as our reference point. the reason for this (and this will probably be obvious to some if not alot of you) is because in the key of C Major there are no #'s or b's. and it is the starting point in the Circle of 5th's (either the next lesson, or the lesson after that will be on the Circle of 5th's and how it applies to scales, progressions and practicing).
first what we're going to do, is we're going to locate the lowest possible C on the neck. why? because we're going to approach this key the same way we did in A Major....... which is to start at the lowest point on the neck that we can possibly play that key (except for open positions, we'll get to them later) and work our way up the neck.
now when I say lowest I mean Pitch AND Direction...... for example if I said play E on the 12 fret, and then I said "ok, now directionally (up or down) where could you play it lower on the neck?" your answer of course should be "7th fret A string or 2nd fret D string"...... in which then I would reward you by not smacking you.
so, where is the lowest possible C on the neck? (you should know this with barely any thought on your part) and please, actually get the answer before just going ahead to the next part...
got it?
you sure?
ok.. for those of you that said 3rd fret A string, give yourself a cookie.
this is the lowest point on the neck that we can play a C... so, this is where we're going to begin.
now, knowing that this root note is on the 5th string, you need to know which of the forms start on the 5th string, because you have to use one of those 3 forms. if you use one of the 6th string forms, or the 4th string forms, it won't be a C major scale. this may sound obvious to some, but many times I've seen my students go right for that first form i presented to you in the A Major scales lol.
so, which one of the 3 forms can we use to start with?
btw I recommend you actually have the last theory lesson open so you can look at the forms and see which one we could start with and use it to actually think about which ones come next as we go along.
the answer would be the 2nd 5th string form (the one I named 5th string (2,4) )
if you answered the 1st form on the 5th string, well, you're correct, but we're not doing open scales yet, and that scale would have to be played using open strings. we're only doing fretted positions right now)
this position shown here in Fig. 1a...as shown in the Key of A from the last lesson
Fig. 1a
A Maj. 5th Str. (2,4)
17th 15th 12th 9th 7th 5th 3rd
|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|--4--|--3--|-----|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
is the one we need to start with......now to actually move it to C so we will have the C Major Scale.
the concept? simpley start that shape, on the C (3rd fret A string)
the result, will be ...
Fig. 1b
C Maj. 5th Str. (2,4)
17th 15th 12th 9th 7th 5th 3rd
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|--1--|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|--3--|-----|--1--|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|--1--|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
as you can see, it's the exact same shape... just starting from a different root note (btw, I've made all the root notes red since i can't enclose them in circles :p: )
ok... now, considering all the scales lay out in the same exact manner as they did in the last lesson, which form would come next?
hopefully you said the 5th string (1,2,4) form. just like in the the A Major Scale's that I gave to you, the (1,2,4) on the 5th string comes directly after the (2,4) on the 5th string.
so. In A Maj, you have
Fig. 1c
A Major Scale. 5th string (1,2,4)
17th 15th 12th 9th 7th 5th 3rd
|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|--3--|--2--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
for C Major, you have
Fig. 1d
C Major Scale. 5th string (1,2,4)
17th 15th 12th 9th 7th 5th 3rd
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|--1--|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--3--|--2--|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|--1--|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|--1--|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|--1--|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
Ok, with that said, please take your seats.
In this lesson, the main focus will be on playing and moving our Major Scale Patterns/Shapes, to all possible keys.
In my last theory lesson, I covered all 7 Patterns for the Major Scale as it applies to the fretboard. All the patterns were given to you in the key of A Major, as the Key of A Major just so happens to line up most perfectly starting from the first possible 6th string pattern, all the way to the last 5th string pattern in the series. Now we're going to take those patterns, and shift them so we're able to play in any other keys.
Now to those of you who are further along, or are more adept at understanding this stuff and perhaps already realized and figured out what I'm talking about while you were doing my last lesson, I say, be patient ;) we'll get to the cooler stuff in a few short weeks. and as easy as this idea I'm going to be presenting today might seem, a lot of people have trouble with it at first. usually just an uncertainty at most.. a "wait.. am I doing this right??" kind of thing. but I hope to put that to rest.
ok, let's get to it...
Total Recall
If you've successfully absorbed and REALLY learned and memorized everything from my last lesson, you'd know that we have 7 forms of Major Scales (and by forms I mean "patterns" that can be physically played on the fretboard)
as I also mention in the previous lesson, all the forms remain the same when you move them to another key. in other words. the shapes don't change, only their locations.
The 7 Forms I gave in the last lesson also only have 3 actual Root Note starting points. 1 on the 6th string, 1 on the 4th string and 1 on the 5th string. "well that's only 3" you say? ....... *cas smacks whoever was thinking that*
if that thought DID cross your mind, please notice the brightly lit exits on either side of this thread and leave now, because it's blatantly clear you didn't give the last lesson a thorough reading.
where as we only have the 3 starting points, the 5th and 6th strings both have 3 separate forms all starting from that 1 starting point on that given string.
so where we movin paw?
In this lesson, we're going to do C Major (no, I'm not going to do 1 scale per lesson :p: ) I'm only going to focus on moving the scales to this one key in order to show you exactly what to do, and after that, it's on you to take it upon yourself to move the scales to ALL keys... yes, that's right, ALL 12.
After this point, we will be using the C Major scale as our reference point. the reason for this (and this will probably be obvious to some if not alot of you) is because in the key of C Major there are no #'s or b's. and it is the starting point in the Circle of 5th's (either the next lesson, or the lesson after that will be on the Circle of 5th's and how it applies to scales, progressions and practicing).
first what we're going to do, is we're going to locate the lowest possible C on the neck. why? because we're going to approach this key the same way we did in A Major....... which is to start at the lowest point on the neck that we can possibly play that key (except for open positions, we'll get to them later) and work our way up the neck.
now when I say lowest I mean Pitch AND Direction...... for example if I said play E on the 12 fret, and then I said "ok, now directionally (up or down) where could you play it lower on the neck?" your answer of course should be "7th fret A string or 2nd fret D string"...... in which then I would reward you by not smacking you.
so, where is the lowest possible C on the neck? (you should know this with barely any thought on your part) and please, actually get the answer before just going ahead to the next part...
got it?
you sure?
ok.. for those of you that said 3rd fret A string, give yourself a cookie.
this is the lowest point on the neck that we can play a C... so, this is where we're going to begin.
now, knowing that this root note is on the 5th string, you need to know which of the forms start on the 5th string, because you have to use one of those 3 forms. if you use one of the 6th string forms, or the 4th string forms, it won't be a C major scale. this may sound obvious to some, but many times I've seen my students go right for that first form i presented to you in the A Major scales lol.
so, which one of the 3 forms can we use to start with?
btw I recommend you actually have the last theory lesson open so you can look at the forms and see which one we could start with and use it to actually think about which ones come next as we go along.
the answer would be the 2nd 5th string form (the one I named 5th string (2,4) )
if you answered the 1st form on the 5th string, well, you're correct, but we're not doing open scales yet, and that scale would have to be played using open strings. we're only doing fretted positions right now)
this position shown here in Fig. 1a...as shown in the Key of A from the last lesson
Fig. 1a
A Maj. 5th Str. (2,4)
17th 15th 12th 9th 7th 5th 3rd
|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|--4--|--3--|-----|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
is the one we need to start with......now to actually move it to C so we will have the C Major Scale.
the concept? simpley start that shape, on the C (3rd fret A string)
the result, will be ...
Fig. 1b
C Maj. 5th Str. (2,4)
17th 15th 12th 9th 7th 5th 3rd
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|--1--|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|--3--|-----|--1--|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|--1--|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
as you can see, it's the exact same shape... just starting from a different root note (btw, I've made all the root notes red since i can't enclose them in circles :p: )
ok... now, considering all the scales lay out in the same exact manner as they did in the last lesson, which form would come next?
hopefully you said the 5th string (1,2,4) form. just like in the the A Major Scale's that I gave to you, the (1,2,4) on the 5th string comes directly after the (2,4) on the 5th string.
so. In A Maj, you have
Fig. 1c
A Major Scale. 5th string (1,2,4)
17th 15th 12th 9th 7th 5th 3rd
|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|--3--|--2--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
for C Major, you have
Fig. 1d
C Major Scale. 5th string (1,2,4)
17th 15th 12th 9th 7th 5th 3rd
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|--1--|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--3--|--2--|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|--1--|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|--1--|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|--2--|-----|--1--|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|