dazzzer30

Just wondering If it’s a good idea to learn the major scale now? I know the pentatonic scale but just last week I have been doing interval lessons trying to recognize intervals on the fret board and also by ear , I know you don’t need to know the major scale to do intervals but they do run along with the major scale .

Shor

Errr....
If you know the intervals, you know the scale...
People seem to be confused about scales, thinking that they are a boxed pattern that goes from the first note in the scale to the last you can get to in that box.

__________________
Things with strings:
Ibanez J.Custom, Prestiges, RG8, SR5 bass etc
LP's, Strat, Tele
Noiseboxes:
5150 III 50W
Orange Dark Terror
Orange Terror Bass

dazzzer30

I know the theory to make intervals and I know the C major scale notes in my head also the pentatonic scale is quite close to the major scale, but I cant work out intervals with a pentatonic scale as some notes are missing , The major scale has all the notes needed so if you where practicing ear training and intervals for example would it be best to learn the major scale and build around this to get use to hearing and seeing all the notes , Well this is what I have concluded .. I know what you mean about the box scales I learnt the pentatonic scale form box patterns ,

Shor

Hrm... I don't see how you can't work out the intervals with the pentatonic scale?
Just know that the major pentatonic is missing the perfect 4th and the major 7 and you're good to go.

__________________
Things with strings:
Ibanez J.Custom, Prestiges, RG8, SR5 bass etc
LP's, Strat, Tele
Noiseboxes:
5150 III 50W
Orange Dark Terror
Orange Terror Bass

blazing riff

I personally think that it's always a good idea to learn and recognize your intervals by ear. It's a good way to get sounds in your head transferred to your instrument for songwriting purpose or if you just want to learn a piece of music without tab, it will get you a long way. That being said it's VERY useful to learn the boxshape too, all of them (Regular, 3note per string etc,...) If you'r improvising you will always now where to go on the fretboard and it will be a big help in the future. That coupled with ear-training and knowing what intervals to play, will make it a lot more easy!

And between the difference of the major or natural minor and pentatonic. I'd suggest learning it because of what the guy above me said: perfect 4th and major 7 are missing in there, so when learning the scale you will learn to recognize the sound of those notes.

Hope this helps!