Learning Music Theory. The Beginning

Updated: 07.16.2008

Table of Contents:

1.0 - Introduction
1.1 - Where to start?
1.2 – The first 10 thing to learn

2.0 - What intervals and steps are
2.1 - Interval guide
2.2 - Steps
2.3 - Tones and semi-tones

3.0 - Understanding the Chromatic scale

4.0 - The Major scale
4.1 - Triads

5.0 - The Circle of Fifths and Key Signatures Introduction
5.1 - The Circle of Fifths
5.2 - Key Signatures - How they work

6.0 - Chord Construction
6.1 - Extending
6.2 - Altering
6.3 - Suspended Chords
6.4 - Inversions

7.0 - The meaning of 'Diatonic' and what it does
7.1 - Diatonic in chords
7.2 - Diatonic in scales
7.3 - E# and B# DO exist

8.0 - Finding out what chords are in what key

9.0 - Natural Minor, Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor scales Introduction
9.1 - Natural Minor Scale
9.2 - Harmonic Minor Scale
9.3.0 - Melodic Minor Ascending
9.3.1 - Melodic Minor Descending
9.4 - What chords do these scales go with?

10.0 - The Modes of the Major scale Introduction
10.1 - Using the intervals
10.2 - Using the Steps
10.3 - Using the modes over chords

11.0 - Applying #1-9 on the guitar Introduction
11.1 - Applying 'What Intervals and Steps are'
11.2 - Applying 'Understanding the Chromatic Scale'
11.3 - Applying 'The major scale and Triads'
11.4 - Applying 'Natural Minor, Harmonic Minor and Melodic Minor Scales'
11.5 - Applying 'The Modes of the Major scale'

1.0 - Introduction.
So you've seen people talking their heads off about "Lydian sharp 11 dominant 9" and you have no idea what they're talking about, or maybe you're interested in starting to learn music theory. Well, it's a great choice to come this route, as theory can make your music excel to great heights, and it lets you know what you're doing, and why. I chose to learn music theory because I wasn't much of a song writer and wanted my music to sound good. Plus, on the forums on this site, I would visit "Musicians Talk" and not know what was going on. So I've learned quite a bit and have prepared this list for you, someone new to music theory, or someone who needs a nice refresher. In this lesson, you will need no knowledge of previous theory, but you will need to know that the notes only go to G and what sharps (#) and flats (b) are. Also keep in mind you might see parts from other lesson I have written, as I can copy from them all I want, but if I didn’t write the lesson, I will link to it. Have fun!

1.1 - Where to start?
Since I am an avid believer of not using steps, except for the major scale, you are going to have to learn what intervals are, and what steps are. Once you have learned how to get the major scale, all the #9, and b7 will come into the clear and become understandable. The major scale is the basis of which pretty much all chords and scales are derived from. If you've ever heard "1 3 5" or "1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1" you will know that those 'formulas' are in relation to the major scale.

1.2 - The first 10 things to learn.
This is a list for easy reference, and everything is explained down the in this article. 1, being the first thing to learn, etc.

01. What Intervals and Steps are
02. Understanding the Chromatic Scale
03. The major scale
04. The Circle of Fifths and Key signatures.
05. Chord Construction
06. The meaning of 'Diatonic' and what it does
07. Finding out what chords are in what key
08. Natural Minor, Harmonic Minor and Melodic Minor Scales
09. The Modes of the Major scale
10. Applying 1-9 on the guitar

I will go into each and every one of these so you, the beginner can understand them.

2.0 - What Intervals and Steps are.
First, I'll start with intervals and steps, as they are critical in learning how everything works, and they help you understand the major scale, and almost everything on this list. And interval is the space between one note and another. When you see 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1, those are intervals. Learning intervals is very important when learning everything in this article, because I dislike steps. I will get into that more in the steps section.

2.1 - Interval guide.
This is an easy reference chart to look at for naming intervals. This example is in the key of C, for simplicity, but can be applied to any root note to find the intervals of that key.

Interval | Name | Note.(In C)
-----------------------------------------------
1 | Unison (root note) | C
b2 | Minor Second | Db
2 | Major Second | D
#2 | Augmented Second | D#
b3 | Minor Third | Eb
3 | Major Third | E
4 | Perfect Fourth | F
#4 | Augmented Fourth | F#
b5 | Diminished Fifth | Gb
5 | Perfect Fifth | G
#5 | Augmented Fifth | G#
b6 | Minor Sixth | Ab
6 | Major Sixth | A
#6 | Augmented Sixth | A#
bb7 | Diminished Seventh | Bbb
b7 | Minor Seventh | Bb
7 | Major Seventh | B
8 | Unison (Octave higher) | C
b9 | Minor Ninth | Db
9 | Major Ninth | D
#9 | Augmented Ninth | D#
------------------------------------------------

etc.

The intervals repeat, where 2 = 9, 3 = 10, 4 = 11, etc. Notice that you're adding 7 to get the octave higher interval. For those who don’t know what an octave is: An octave is the same exact note only played higher. Ex. Middle C on a piano, and the next C, going higher are an octave apart. Just like b9 is an octave higher than b2.

When dealing with intervallic inversions (more on that later, this needs to be said in the interval section) you need to know a couple things. You have 4 perfect intervals. Unison, Fourth, Fifth, and Octave. A perfect interval inverts to a perfect interval, and when you ad the interval numbers together, you will always get 9. So if you know a P4 inverts to another perfect interval, you know (9-4 = 5, P inverts to P) so a P4 inverts to a P5. Same thing with unison. Unison inverts to the octave. The other intervals (2, 3, 6, 7) are either minor or major, and a major interval inverts to a minor one, and vice versa. So with your formula, you can find that a minor third inverts to a major sixth (3 + 6 = 9). Then an augmented interval inverts to a diminished interval. A perfect interval goes right to diminished when its flattened, and all intervals go right to augmented when sharpened. An inverted interval is the same as a normal interval but instead of going up the chart (1-b2, ex) you are going down. Here’s a chart for your inversions.

P1 - P8
m2 - M7
M2 - m7
m3 - M6
M3 - m6
P4 - P5
A4 - D5

D7 - A2

P = Perfect
m = Minor
M = Major
D = Diminished
A = Augmented

Some intervals aren't used as much as others, but still exist. b10 is still an acceptable name, but will more commonly be call #9. 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths are used more often than their enharmonic (Enharmonic- Same note; different name) siblings.

2.2 - Steps, 2.3 - Tones And Semi-Tones.
Steps. These are what many beginners use to form scales and the such, but here’s what I'm going to do. I'll explain the steps and show you how to use them, but it’s up to you whether you use steps or intervals. A choice! Steps can identify how far two notes are apart and they can (if you must) form scales. There are two common types of steps. A whole step and a half step. A whole step (Indicated by the letter 'W') which is two frets. E - F# is a whole step. I've seen people who think E-F is a whole step. It is not. Two frets! This makes a half step self explanatory. It's one fret. E-F, G-G# and half steps apart. This will all make sense after reading the section just below, 3. 0- Understanding the Chromatic scale. Right now steps might seem a little pointless but they play a big part in the next section.

Tones and semitones are the same as steps, just with a different name. I use steps throughout, but you can think of them as tones throughout:

T = Tone = Whole step
S = Semitone = Half Step

3.0- Understanding the Chromatic scale.
The Chromatic is very simple and easy to understand but it is important and it's very helpful to know. It makes it a breeze to memorize the notes on the fret board, and just know notes in general. The Chromatic scale is a series of 12 notes starting from any note (doesn’t matter which one... You could use D# for all I care) and going up by half steps. Ex. Playing any open string, and preceding to play each note, going up by one fret each time will give you a chromatic scale. But... There’s a catch! Not every note has a sharp/flat between them. This applies to all the notes except between B - C and E - F. There is nothing between B - C and E - F. Your chromatic scale (in C) is:

C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Bb B C

Remember the enharmonic notes! D# is enharmonic to Eb. It is indicated with a '/'.

Know it inside and out, as you should. Very important stuff. As short of a section this takes, it is just as important as the others.

4.0 - The Major Scale.
Possible the most important thing here. Everything from chords to scales is derived from the major scale. You can even use the major scale when soloing and writing, as it’s a normal scale too. It's just more important. The formula, in steps for the major scale is W W H W W W H. You apply that in any key (I'm using C again) and you get the major scale.

C D E F G A B C 
W W H W W W H

Notice how those notes fit right into the formula? Let’s try it with E.

E F# G# A B C# D# E
W W H W W W H

Apply that to any note you want to find its major scale.

You must know this. Memorize the WWHWWWH however you want, and once you know the major scales (Wait for Circle Of Fifths, it helps) everything is dramatically easier.

4.1 - Triads.
Triads are three note chords. I'm going to slip this in before chord construction while you're hot of the press of the major scale. I'll also teach you the way to make chords with intervals (as that how they're done). There are 4 types of triads. Major, Minor, Augmented, Diminished. They are each different in formation and sound different. Four different formulas... Easy to remember, ok?

Major- 1 3 5

Minor- 1 b3 5

Augmented- 1 3 #5

Diminished- 1 b3 b5
***

Major triads are unaltered. You take the first, third and fifth notes of the major scale. The major chord you want (F, for example) is the scale you use. F uses F major Scale, C uses C major scale, etc... In C you have C E G, in F you have F A C, and so on. Another way to say this is "Root, Major Third, and Perfect Fifth"

Minor Triads are like the major triads, in that you do the same thing to form them except you lower the third by one half step. In C you get C Eb G, E is E G B, and so on. Another way to say it is "Root, Minor Third, and Perfect Fifth"

Augmented Triads follow the same rule for creating them. You always use the major scale to make chords. Always. Same as the major triad, but you're raising the fifth by a half step. In C, C E G#, A is A C# E#. Augmented Triads can be said as "Root, Major Third, and Augmented Fifth". Augmented triads are stacked major thirds.

Diminished Triads, like all the other ones are based off the major scale. You are lowering the third AND the fifth in the formula. In C it is C Eb Gb, A is A C Eb. Diminished Triads are "Root, Minor Third, and Diminished Fifth". Remember how I said Augmented Triads were stacked major thirds? Well, diminished triads are stacked minor thirds. This knowledge will come in handy in the chord construction section.

5.0 - The Circle Of Fifths And Key Signatures Introduction.
The Circle of fifths (Short form - Co5) is a tool to help you with major scales and Key Signatures. In this section I'll show you the Co5, how it works, the actual circle, and I’ll move on to key signatures, explaining what they are and what they do. The Co5 is a must know for all theory beginners because it helps you identify major scales, and it becomes easy to play in key.

5.1 - The Circle Of Fifths.
The CoF (or Co5) is your tool to find what notes are in what key. This is very useful to me and many other people, but if you don’t want to use it, and can remember all the major scales another way, that’s fine. As long as you know the info it’s all good. As you move clockwise from C, you go up a fifth. This is the Circle of Fifths:

Notice how G is a perfect fifth from C, B is from E, etc... You don’t really have to memorize this but it does help. If you can picture a fifth interval in your head (think power chords) then this isn’t hard to memorize at all.

Starting at the top, at C there are no sharps or flats. As you turn clockwise (To G) you add 1 sharp to the key signature, until you get to F#. Same with going to F. You add one flat to the key signature. How do you know what sharp or flat to add? Well, here is the order:

Sharps: F C G D A E B
Flats: B E A D G C F

Sharps to the left, and flats to the right. So if we know D has two sharps, then we look at the line here. F# and C# are the sharps in the key of D. Now take Eb. We know from the Co5 that it has 3 flats, and the line tells us the first 3 flats are B, E and A. So we know Eb had Bb, Eb, and Ab in it. This is what helps you will the major scales. Since we know D has F# and C#, we then know D major scale is D E F# G A B C# D. In Eb, we know it would be Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb. You can do this for every key. Take any note off there, find how many flats or sharps it has, then look at the line to see what flats or sharps it has. That way you can find the major scale of any key.

The key with the most sharps in its key signature is C#. For flats, it’s Cb. Notice how those scales are directly opposite each other in the CoF. Likewise, the scales with one sharp/flat, G and F, are opposite each other. The same applies to D and Bb.
Another interesting aspect of the CoF is that the notes the furthest apart are always a tritone apart. C is a tritone away from Gb and F#, Db and C# are a tritone away from G, etc. This relationship should reinforce the concept that a tritone is right in the middle of the octave.

What about minor keys you ask? Here’s a simple trick: Look at the above picture of the circle of fifths side ways, starting from A. A is the relative minor to C.

Same rules apply. Dm has 1 flat, and it is B, so we know Dm scale is D E F G A Bb C D. More on minor scales later.

5.2 - Key Signatures. How they work.
Key signatures make reading music much easier, and they tell what key the song is in. Key signatures help when composing pieces also.

In your key signature say you have a Bb, and an Eb. From Co5 you know that’s the key of Bb major. All notes throughout the piece that are B and E are to be played as Bb and Eb. This makes writing music easier, so you don’t have to use so many accidentals (accidentals- sharps and flats). You won’t find key signatures so much on conventional TAB, but on sheet music and Power Tabs, and even Guitar One transcriptions there are key signatures. So, with your Bb and Eb in the key signature, all B's and E's are to be played as Bb and Eb throughout, unless there is a natural sign (Google the natural sign- I can’t type it).

With Co5, you know what flats are in what key signature. Here’s a list, with both sharps and flats, for easy reference.

C major- No flats/sharps
G major- F#
D major- F# C#
A major- F# C# G#
E major- F# C# G# D#
B major- F# C# G# D# A#
F# major- F# C# G# D# A# E#
C# major- F# C# G# D# A# E# B#
*****************************
C major- No flats/sharps
F major- Bb
Bb major- Bb Eb 
Eb major- Bb Eb Ab
Ab major- Bb Eb Ab Db 
Db major- Bb Eb Ab Db Gb 
Gb major- Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb 
Cb major- Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb Fb

6.0 - Chord Construction.
Here’s how you make chords. Chord construction is very important is you've ever wanted to make a chord, or learn more chords and not known how. Let’s get right into it. Since you already know your 4 triads:

Major - 1 3 5

Minor - 1 b3 5

Augmented - 1 3 #5

Diminished - 1 b3 b5

That’s great. Because that is the beginning of chord construction. You already know the basics of it, but I'll teach you how to alter them and extend them to get the chords you want for your own playing.

6.1 - Extending.
This how you can make other chords that are different from your triads. All you really do is extend your triads in this section, and then we'll alter them in the next section. I'll give you some formulas for extended chords here.

_7 (dominant 7th): 1 3 5 b7

maj7 (major 7th) : 1 3 5 7

m7 (minor 7th) : 1 b3 5 b7

Those are your 3 most common extensions, and they can go even farther, but hers some examples.

C7 : C E G Bb

Cmaj7: C E G B

Cm7 : C Eb G Bb

Now we can extend those to 9, 11, and 13. You must have a 7th degree in the scale to call it _maj9, or _11, because the 7th tone is what 'supports' the further extensions. Without the 7th degree (b7, or 7) your 9, 11, or 13 degrees become an 'add chord'... Add chords explained in the next section!

_9 : 1 3 5 b7 9
_11: 1 3 5 b7 (9) 11
_13: 1 3 5 b7 (9) (11) 13

The numbers in brackets represent the optional notes. You can still have G13 without the 9 and 11. Also, every chord where the fifth is unaltered, or needed, it can be omitted.

_maj9 : 1 3 5 7 9
_maj11: 1 3 5 7 (9) 11
_maj13: 1 3 5 7 (9) (11) 13

_m9 : 1 b3 5 b7 9
_m11: 1 b3 5 b7 (9) 11
_m13: 1 b3 5 b7 (9) (11) 13

What about the diminished and augmented triads? Can you extend them too? Yes.

_°7 (° = dim): 1 b3 b5 bb7.

These notes are all a minor third away from each other, until you extend more.

_°9 : 1 b3 b5 bb7 9
_°11: 1 b3 b5 bb7 (9) 11
_°13: 1 b3 b5 bb7 (9) (11) 13

_+7 (+ = aug): 1 3 #5 b7
_+9 : 1 3 #5 b7 9
_+11 : 1 3 #5 b7 (9) 11
_+13 : 1 3 #5 b7 (9) (11) 13

Remember, those are all in relation to the major scale, and the 9 is enharmonic to the 2, etc... They don’t have to be an octave higher, because you shouldn’t name a chord _7(add2) because the 2nd is better named as a 9, making _9.

6.2 - Altering.
This is how you can make your chords suit your needs, and also in this section as well as altering, I'll show you some other extended chords that could be considered 'altered'. Most alterations explain themselves. If the name says Em7b5, then you know it’s an Em7, with a b5. The construction for that would be 1 b3 b5 b7. Some common alterations you'll see are:

b5
#5
b6
b9
#9
#11
b13

With those you can produce chords like E7#9, Fmaj7(#11), Cmaj7#5, Bm7(b9), etc... But remember if your alteration is a b5, your formula changes to 1 3 b5, not 1 3 5 b5. Some not so common chords that can still sound good.

_m/maj7 (aka m/M7, its minor/major seventh. A minor triad with major seventh) 1 b3 5 7
_m7b5 (It looks altered, and it is, but its best name is _half diminished, or ø) 1 b3 b5 b7.

Use alterations as you please, but remember, they're probably going to put you out of key.

Another part in altering - add chords. When you see Cadd9 or C(9) that is an add chord. Not to be confused with a dominant chord, the note is in (brackets). You can add:

2...9
4..11
6..13

They are enharmonic, remember!

6.3 - Suspended Chords.
Suspended chords are neither minor nor major. Suspended means you take the 3rd out and replace it with a 2nd or a 4th. There are 3 common types of suspended chords:

_sus2 : 1 2 5
_sus4 : 1 4 5
_sus (aka _7sus4): 1 4 5 b7

You can do crazy things, like _9sus4, which would leave you with 1 2 4 5 b7 9, but you have to use common sense to figure those out. C9sus4 can also be named as Gm11. The name you choose will depend on the context the chord is used in. Not much to say about these, but remember they are chords too, just they aren’t minor, or major.

6.4 - Inversions.
Inversions are slighter harder than what we've been doing, but are easy to remember. Inversion means that you don't use the root, or the 1 as the bass note of the chord. For instance C/E can be labelled differently.

When working with inversions its good to know the intervals of the chords already. A First Inversion is when the 3rd of the chord is the bass note. C, with the base note E (or C/E) can be called C, in the first inversion. When the 5th tone is the bass note, we have a second inversion. C/G is C in the second inversion. When the 7th tone is the bass note, we have a third inversion. Guess what happens when the 9th tone is the bass note? Fourth inversion.

C (first inversion): E G C
C (2nd inversion) : G C E
C7 (3rd inversion) : Bb C E G

etc.

7.0 - The Meaning Of 'Diatonic' And What It Does.
'Diatonic' means that in a 7 tone scale, such as the major scale, you use each note (A-G, with a sharp or flat) only once. That’s why you don’t see C major scale as C D Fb F G A B B#. Diatonic also means you follow the formula. In a °7 chord the formula is 1 b3 b5 bb7. The tones (in C) are C Eb Gb Bbb. That is diatonic. You don’t have C D# F# A, because that doesn’t follow the formula. Sure, it has the same sound and you can't tell the difference without knowing, but it helps you organize tones, and help you figure out a chord or a scale without having much trouble.

7.1 - Diatonic In Chords.
As explained above, diatonic formulas apply to chords. If it says 1 3 5, then you're using the 1, 3 and the 5, not the 1, 3 and the bb6. Chords are given specific formulas for a reason! So use 'em. It'll help you out down the road and organize your thoughts.

7.2 - Diatonic In Scales.
Yes! It's everywhere! You look at the scale formula (Again, the formula is there for a reason), say its 1 b3 #5 b7 (random) then you have (in C) C Eb G# Bb, not C D# G# A#, or any of the like. There for a reason. Using diatonic in scales is very important when trying to make your own scales, and finding out what one is. As you can tell from this section, I'm a fan of diatonic stuff. You should be too

7.3 - E# And B# Do Exist!
C'mon, you couldn’t have though they didn’t exist. They are perfectly valid notes, and are common place in scales. When you were reading the Co5 part and wondered what I was doing with the E# and B#... Well, they are used for diatonic purposes. Take the C# major scale for example: C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C#. You can’t put C# D# F F# G# A# C C#, because it is not diatonic!

8.0 - Finding Out What Chords Are In What Key.
This lesson is all about finding out what chords fit into what key. In this lesson the author (SilentDeftone) tells you that finding the diatonic triads in each key will tell what chords are in what key. This is true, but I'm going to expand on 'diatonic' here. Diatonic can also mean that a specific piece fits into one key exactly. Example, a song that uses the notes A F# G E C fits diatonically into the key of Em, or G major. Read through that lesson as it explains this section to a great extent, but since I actually have to do something, here is a list of universal formulas for chords and extensions. This is what you get if you go through that lesson all the way. In the key of C:

Cmaj7
Dm7
Em7
Fmaj7
G7
Am7
Bm7b5

And beyond...

Cmaj9
Dm9
Em7(b9)
Fmaj9
G9
Am9
Bm7(b5, b9)

Further:

Cmaj11
Dm11
Em11(b9)
Fmaj9(#11)
G11
Am11
Bm11(b5, b9)

And to 13ths!

Cmaj13
Dm13
Em11(b9, b13)
Fmaj13(#11)
G13
Am13
Bm11(b5, b9, b13)

9.0 - Natural Minor, Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor Scales Introduction.
These new scales are all minor scales. They sound different from the major scale that you already know in that they have a minor tonality. They sound darker and can be used in more of a rock context. The natural minor scale is the most commonly used in rock, etc. and is probably the easiest to play. Harmonic minor is my personal favourite scale and is rather different. It can sound classical, eastern, or whatever. Yngwie Malmsteen (Shredder. Check out some of his music) is even known to use this scale a lot. Melodic minor is the least common from what I've seen, but it is still awesome. It can be used in jazz, or even in place of the major scale, for a little dissonance.

9.1 - Natural Minor Scale.
This scale is more commonly called the 'minor scale' but I find it helpful to call it the natural minor scale, because somewhere in history way back, 'minor' could mean any of the 3 minor scales here... or something like that.

The formula for the minor scale is 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1. The formulas for scales are the same as chords as chords, in the way that they are compared to the major scale. If 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 is the major scale, without any alterations, then 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1 has a lowered 3rd (Every minor scale has a b3. Thats what makes it minor), sixth and seventh. So you can apply this formula to any key... I'll use C for example.

C major: C D E F G A B C
Intervals: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1

C minor: C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
Intervals: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1

See the pattern? Apply that to any key you want! In A, for example.

A major: A B C# D E F# G# A
Intervals: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1

A minor: A B C D E F G A 
Intervals: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1

Any major scale you apply that to will get you the minor scale (for that key). For you step loving people, here’s the minor scale in steps.

W H W W H W W

In A:

A B C D E F G A
W H W W H W W

etc.

9.2 - Harmonic Minor Scale.
This is my personal favourite scale. It has a classical vibe about it, and can sound very eastern. It all depends on how you use it. Remember, you don’t use anything until you know all this! There is a specific section for applying these ideas to guitar!

Here’s your Harmonic minor formula: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 1. Not very different from the natural minor is it? Only the 7th is brought back up to a major seventh, from a minor one. The b6 - 7 is a very cool interval. It gives you a nice eastern vibe, and in the steps watch out! Applying it to C:

C major: C D E F G A B C
Intervals: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1

C Harm. Minor: C D Eb F G Ab B C
Intervals: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 1

By now, you're not completely new to theory, so you can apply it to any major scale you want, and do it for yourself. You learn much better when you see the results for yourself. For steps, I have to introduce a new step! It’s the WH step. It’s a whole step AND a half step. Or a whole half step!

Harmonic Minor: W H W W H WH H

C D Eb F G Ab B C
W H W W H WH H

Play around with that. See how you like it.

9.3.0 - Melodic Minor - Ascending.
The melodic minor is really two scales. The reason- I don’t know... I think I might have at one time. Another thing to do with ancient times, and the such. This is the ascending version. Next section (I've made them sub sections, if you notices I put an extra number for the table of contents: p) is the descending melodic minor. The melodic minor isn’t always melodic. You can make it sound horrible, but it’s at your own disposal. You melodic minor formula: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 1. Very simple one here... Just lower the third.

C major : C D E F G A B C
Intervals: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 

C Mel. Minor: C D Eb F G A B C
Intervals : 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 1

This scale is rather simple. And now on to the descending melodic minor! Here are your steps: W H W W W W H.

9.3.1 - Melodic Minor - Descending.
I'll cut right to chase here. Formula: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1. Look familiar eh? Well, that’s because it is. The descending Melodic minor is the same as the natural minor scale. This acts as a leading tone, just going down. Why this was done requires a brief lesson on the history of minor scales.

Old musicians had the natural minor scale and it’s b7 tone. Singers found this awkward to sing, so they raised it to a natural 7. This created the harmonic minor scale. However, the minor third interval between the b6 and 7 was awkward to sing as well, so they raised the b6 to 6 and created the melodic minor scale. However, when descending, the 6 did not pull strongly to the 5. They decided that when descending, the note should be lowered back down to b6. However, this created that awkward interval between 7 and b6 again, so they lowered the 7 to b7 as well, and that is the same pattern as the natural minor scale.

Please do not refer to a descending natural minor lick as a melodic minor lick. In practice, modern music often used the ascending pattern for the melodic minor scale both ascending and descending.

In C:

C major: C D E F G A B C
Intervals: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1

C Desc. Mel. Minor: C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
Intervals: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1

Your step formula: W H W W H W W

9.4 - What chords do these scales go with?
It’s always nice to know what goes with what, isn’t it? Natural minor goes with some normal chords, but the melodic and harmonic minor fit into some different ones.

Natural minor- minor, m7, m9, m11, m11(b13). It fits well into minor chord progressions and works in almost any style of music. You'll find this scale mostly in metal, rock, and it fits over power chords in a rock/metal song. Ex. Using each root's minor scale in a G5 D5 E5 A5 progression works in a rock scenario.

Harmonic minor- this can go with m/maj7 chords, because of the b3 and major 7th. This doesn’t quite fit a lot of chords perfectly, but is still applicable in place where the minor scale would be used. If you use a E5 F5 G5 E5 progression (key of Am) you can change it to suit the (A) harmonic minor, by making it E5 F5 G#5 E5.

Melodic Minor- Melodic Minor- Pretty much the same as harmonic minor, it is a less dark alternative. You would not use it over a m/maj7b13 chord, due to the 6/b6 clash.

10.0 - Modes of the Major scale Introduction.
Modes are a quite a challenge for most people, from what I've seen. They really aren’t that hard, and I'm going to do 2 different sections for these. One for intervals (my way) and one with steps (different way). The intervals will be from my lesson "Modes with Mode dictionary", which as it says in the title, has a mode 'dictionary'. All the modes in for all the major scales. Choose which way (intervals or steps) you like best and go for that. I find steps hinder your ability to recall the formula right away... So you aren’t saying, "Was it WWHWWWH or WHWWWHW?" while the intervals have different formulas for each, and will help you down the road when you want to find the modes of other scales, like the harmonic minor, or melodic minor.

10.1 - Using The Intervals.
Here’s how we go with the intervals. I of course recommend this method, but do what suits you better, and remember you can always change your mind and come back to the other way. A mode is just an alteration of a major scale. Here are the names of all 7 modes, and the formulas for them:

Ionian - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1

Dorian - 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 1

Phrygian - 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1

Lydian - 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7 1

Mixolydian - 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 1

Aeolian - 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1

Locrian - 1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7 1

Wondering where those intervals came from? Well after you work them out, the notes correspond to the intervals, as the formulas suggest. Take Dorian mode. In C, it is C D Eb F G A Bb C. If you look at the intervals between the notes:

C D Eb F G A Bb C
1-2
1 - b3
1 - 4
1 - 5

etc.

You remember how to get the scales, so you can use C as your example.

Ionian - C D E F G A B C. Ionian mode is also the major scale. There’s one mode you know already! Pronounce (EYE-OWN-EE-IN)

Dorian - C D Eb F G A Bb C. Dorian mode is very good for jazz, and is a minor mode. Pronounce (DORE-EE-IN)

Phrygian - C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C. Phrygian is rather Spanish sounding and is a minor mode. Pronounce (FRIJ-EE-IN)

Lydian - C D E F# G A B C. This is the closest mode to the major scale, it is a major mode. Pronounce (LID-EE-IN)

Mixolydian - C D E F G A Bb C. This on is also close to the major scale, kind of bluesy, and is a major mode. Pronounce (MIX-O-LID-EE-IN)

Aeolian - C D Eb F G Ab Bb C. Also known as the minor scale (natural). Two modes you know! Pronounce (EH-O-LEE-IN)

Locrian - C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C. Very dark and evil sounding, this is a DIMINISHED scale. Pronounce (LOW-CREE-IN)

10.2 - Using The Steps.
Here’s how the steps work: See if you can find the pattern.

W W H W W W H W W H W W W H W W H W W W H W W H W W W H 

Ionian:W W H W W W H 
Dorian: W H W W W H W 
Phrygian: H W W W H W W
Lydian: W W W H W W H
Mixolydian: W W H W W H W
Aeolian: W H W W H W W
Locrian: H W W H W W W

Those are your step formulas. Just take the first step and throw it on the end. The long one at the top is the major scale repeated. You can think of a mode as playing a scale starting on a different note.

C D E F G A B C
W W H W W W H

C D Eb F G A Bb C
W H W W W H W

C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C
H W W W H W W

C D E F# G A B C
W W W H W W H

C D E F G A Bb C
W W H W W H W

C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
W H W W H W W

C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C
H W W H W W W

10.3 - Using The Modes Over Chords.
Ionian - Ionian mode is just the name for the major scale. It has no alterations made to it. Play this mode over Major chords, Maj7, Maj6.

Dorian- Dorian mode has a flattened third and seventh (b3 and b7) making it ideal for m7 chords. You can also use Dorian mode for m6 chords. Dorian mode is often used in jazz styles.

Phrygian- Phrygian mode has a lowered second, third, sixth, and seventh. Phrygian has a Spanish feel to it so you can Play it over Spanish progressions or heavy metal/rock riffs with a b2.

Lydian- Lydian mode's only alteration is a raised fourth (#4) making it very close to the major scale. The #4 makes it a good chord to use for Maj7#11 chords, but can also be used over maj7 chords.

Mixolydian- The only alteration in Mixolydian mode is the lowered seventh (b7). This makes it perfect for dominant 7th chords. This mode can be used in blues, jazz or even country.

Aeolian- Aeolian mode, a.k.a. the minor scale has a b3, b6 and b7. (All minor scales have a b3). Aeolian mode works over minor chords, and can be used as a substitute for Dorian mode, by using it over m7 chords.

Locrian- Locrian mode has a b2, b3, b5, b6 and b7. Locrian mode is very dark sounding. It fits a m7b5 chord perfectly.

|-----7-10--10-7------8-|-(8)--8------------8---------|-------8-10-----------|
|---8------------8h10---|--------10-----------10------|-8--10------10-8s6--5-|
|-9---------------------|-----------10-9-7-------10-9-|----------------------|
|-----------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------|
|-----------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------|
|-----------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------|


|---8-7-5---8-7---8-7-|---8-7-10b12----|
|-6-------6-----6-----|-6--------------|
|---------------------|----------------|
|---------------------|----------------|
|---------------------|----------------|
|---------------------|----------------|


|-10-8-7-10-8-7----------------------------------------------|
|---------------10-8----10-8---------------------------------|
|--------------------10------10-9-7----9-7-------------------|
|-----------------------------------10-----10-9-7----9-7-----|
|-------------------------------------------------10-----10--|
|------------------------------------------------------------|


|-----------------------------------------------7-8-10-8----|
|------------------------------------------8-10-------------|
|-----------------------------------7-9-10------------------|
|----------------------------7-9-10-------------------------|
|-8-7----8-7----------7-8-10--------------------------------|
|-----10-----10-8-7-8---------------------------------------|

That’s built completely off the C major scale and triads, in the key of C. You can even repeat it!

11.0 - Applying #1-9 on the guitar Introduction.
This is the section where you apply all your new knowledge to the guitar. I'll put in everything that I feel needs to be applied. The ones being left out are: Circle Of Fifths, The meaning of 'diatonic', and finding what chords are in what key. You're going to need your guitar for this section! All these examples will be in TAB form.

11.1 - Applying What Intervals And Steps Are.
First, I'll do intervals. All TAB examples are in standard tuning.

|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-1--|

In the key of E, E - F is a b2, or a minor second. All these interval examples are in E major.

|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-2--|

E-F# is a 2, or major second interval.

|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-3--|

E-G is a b3, or a minor third.

|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-4--|

E-G# is a 3, or major third.

|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-5--|

E-A is a 4, or major fourth.

|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-6--|

E-Bb is a b5, or diminished fifth.

|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-7--|

E-B is a 5, or a perfect fifth.

|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-8--|

E-C is a #5, or an augmented fifth.

|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-9--|

E-C# is a 6, or a major sixth.

|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-10-|

E-D is a b7, or minor seventh.

|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-11-|

E-D# is a 7, or major seventh.

|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-12-|

E-E is unison, or an octave.

Now for steps.

|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-1--|

E-F is a half step (H)

|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-2--|

E-F# is a whole step (W)

|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-3--|

E-G is a whole + half step (WH)

11.2 - Applying Understanding The Chromatic Scale.
So you know your chromatic scale, and how it works, but just to drive it home, here’s the chromatic scale in TAB:

|-------------------------------|
|-------------------------------|
|-------------------------------|
|-------------------------------|
|-------------------------------|
|-0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12--|

That’s just one octave, starting on E, there is much more of it. Here it is played differently.

|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|
|---------------------0-1-2--|
|-----------0-1-2-3-4--------|
|-0-1-2-3-4------------------|

By now, you should fully understand the chromatic scale.

11.3 - Applying The Major Scale And Triads.
In this section I'm going to give you examples of the major scale, by TAB-ing it out in all the keys for you, and then examples of triads starting on strings 6, 5, 4 and 3. Here are your major scales:

Ab (Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab):
|-----------------------------4--|
|-------------------------6-8----|
|-------------------5-6-8--------|
|-------------5-6-8--------------|
|-------4-6-8--------------------|
|-4-6-8--------------------------|

A (A B C# D E F# G# A):
|-----------------------------5--|
|-------------------------7-9----|
|-------------------6-7-9--------|
|-------------6-7-9--------------|
|-------5-7-9--------------------|
|-5-7-9--------------------------|

Bb (Bb C D Eb F G A Bb):
|----------------------------------6--|
|-----------------------------8-10----|
|----------------------7-8-10---------|
|---------------7-8-10----------------|
|--------6-8-10-----------------------|
|-6-8-10------------------------------|

B (B C# D# E F# G# A# B):
|----------------------------------7--|
|-----------------------------9-11----|
|----------------------8-9-11---------|
|---------------8-9-11----------------|
|--------7-9-11-----------------------|
|-7-9-11------------------------------|

C (C D E F G A B C):
|---------------------------------------8--|
|---------------------------------10-12----|
|-------------------------9-10-12----------|
|-----------------9-10-12------------------|
|---------8-10-12--------------------------|
|-8-10-12----------------------------------|

Db (Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db):
|-----------------------------------------9--|
|-----------------------------------11-13----|
|--------------------------10-11-13----------|
|-----------------10-11-13-------------------|
|---------9-11-13----------------------------|
|-9-11-13------------------------------------|

D (D E F# G A B C# D):
|-------------------------------------------10--|
|-------------------------------------12-14-----|
|----------------------------11-12-14-----------|
|-------------------11-12-14--------------------|
|----------10-12-14-----------------------------|
|-10-12-14--------------------------------------|

Eb (Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb):
|-------------------------------------------11--|
|-------------------------------------13-15-----|
|----------------------------12-13-15-----------|
|-------------------12-13-15--------------------|
|----------11-13-15-----------------------------|
|-11-13-15--------------------------------------|

E (E F# G# A B C# D# E):
|-----------------------------0--|
|-------------------------2-4----|
|-------------------1-2-4--------|
|-------------1-2-4--------------|
|-------0-2-4--------------------|
|-0-2-4--------------------------|

F (F G A Bb C D E F):
|-----------------------------1--|
|-------------------------3-5----|
|-------------------2-3-5--------|
|-------------2-3-5--------------|
|-------1-3-5--------------------|
|-1-3-5--------------------------|

Gb (Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb):
|-----------------------------2--|
|-------------------------4-6----|
|-------------------3-4-6--------|
|-------------3-4-6--------------|
|-------2-4-6--------------------|
|-2-4-6--------------------------|

G (G A B C D E F# G):
|-----------------------------3--|
|-------------------------5-7----|
|-------------------4-5-7--------|
|-------------4-5-7--------------|
|-------3-5-7--------------------|
|-3-5-7--------------------------|

Triads:

Major

R = Root
T = Major Third
F = Perfect Fifth

e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|---|
G|-|---|---|---|---|---|
D|-|---|-F-|---|---|---|
A|-|---|---|---|-T-|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|

e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|---|
G|-|---|-F-|---|---|---|
D|-|---|---|---|-T-|---|
A|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|

e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|-F-|---|---|
G|-|---|---|---|-T-|---|
D|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
A|-|---|---|---|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|

e|-|---|---|-F-|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|-T-|
G|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
D|-|---|---|---|---|---|
A|-|---|---|---|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|

Minor:

R = Root
T = Minor Third
F = Perfect Fifth

e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|---|
G|-|---|---|---|---|---|
D|-|---|-F-|---|---|---|
A|-|---|---|-T-|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|

e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|---|
G|-|---|-F-|---|---|---|
D|-|---|---|-T-|---|---|
A|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|

e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|-F-|---|---|
G|-|---|---|-T-|---|---|
D|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
A|-|---|---|---|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|

e|-|---|---|-F-|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|-T-|---|
G|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
D|-|---|---|---|---|---|
A|-|---|---|---|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|

Augmented:

R = Root
T = Major Third
F = Augmented Fifth

e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|---|
G|-|---|---|---|---|---|
D|-|---|---|-F-|---|---|
A|-|---|---|---|-T-|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|

e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|---|
G|-|---|---|-F-|---|---|
D|-|---|---|---|-T-|---|
A|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|

e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|-F-|---|
G|-|---|---|---|-T-|---|
D|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
A|-|---|---|---|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|

e|-|---|---|---|-F-|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|-T-|
G|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
D|-|---|---|---|---|---|
A|-|---|---|---|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|

Diminished:

R = Root
T = Minor Third
F = Diminished Fifth

e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|---|
G|-|---|---|---|---|---|
D|-|-F-|---|---|---|---|
A|-|---|---|-T-|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|

e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|---|
G|-|-F-|---|---|---|---|
D|-|---|---|-T-|---|---|
A|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|

e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|-F-|---|---|---|
G|-|---|---|-T-|---|---|
D|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
A|-|---|---|---|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|

e|-|---|-F-|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|-T-|---|
G|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
D|-|---|---|---|---|---|
A|-|---|---|---|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|

So there’s you basic triads, and combining those major scales and triads, I'll make you a nice mini solo!

~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~
|-----7-10--10-7------8-|-(8)--8------------8---------|-------8-10-----------|
|---8------------8h10---|--------10-----------10------|-8--10------10-8s6--5-|
|-9---------------------|-----------10-9-7-------10-9-|----------------------|
|-----------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------|
|-----------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------|
|-----------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------|


~ ~~~~~
|---8-7-5---8-7---8-7-|---8-7-10b12----|
|-6-------6-----6-----|-6--------------|
|---------------------|----------------|
|---------------------|----------------|
|---------------------|----------------|
|---------------------|----------------|


|-10-8-7-10-8-7----------------------------------------------|
|---------------10-8----10-8---------------------------------|
|--------------------10------10-9-7----9-7-------------------|
|-----------------------------------10-----10-9-7----9-7-----|
|-------------------------------------------------10-----10--|
|------------------------------------------------------------|


|-----------------------------------------------7-8-10-8----|
|------------------------------------------8-10-------------|
|-----------------------------------7-9-10------------------|
|----------------------------7-9-10-------------------------|
|-8-7----8-7----------7-8-10--------------------------------|
|-----10-----10-8-7-8---------------------------------------|

That’s built completely off the C major scale and triads, in the key of C. You can even repeat it!

11.4 - Applying Natural Minor, Harmonic Minor And Melodic Minor Scales.
This one will be broken down into three sections. One for Natural Minor, one for harmonic minor and one for melodic minor. And then I'll give you another mini solo!

Natural Minor.
First off, I'll give you a box pattern. I'm not a huge fan of these but they are good for beginners.

R = Root
o = other note (2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7)

e|-|-R-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
B|-|-O-|-O-|---|-O-|---|
G|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|---|
D|-|-O-|---|-R-|---|-O-|
A|-|-O-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
E|-|-R-|---|-O-|-O-|---|

From that you can find minor scales.

Em
|-----------------------------0-2-3--|
|-----------------------0-1-3--------|
|-------------------0-2--------------|
|-------------0-2-4------------------|
|-------0-2-3------------------------|
|-0-2-3------------------------------|
Am
|-----------------------------5-7-8--|
|-----------------------5-6-8--------|
|-------------------5-7--------------|
|-------------5-7-9------------------|
|-------5-7-8------------------------|
|-5-7-8------------------------------|

etc. Just follow the box pattern.

Harmonic Minor.
I'll just do the same thing. Box pattern and tabs.

e|-|-R-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
B|-|-O-|-O-|---|---|-O-|
G|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|---|
D|-|---|-O-|-R-|---|-O-|
A|-|-O-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
E|-|-R-|---|-O-|-O-|---|

E Harmonic Minor
|-----------------------------0-2-3--|
|-----------------------0-1-4--------|
|-------------------0-2--------------|
|-------------1-2-4------------------|
|-------0-2-3------------------------|
|-0-2-3------------------------------|

A Harmonic minor
|-----------------------------5-7-8--|
|-----------------------5-6-9--------|
|-------------------5-7--------------|
|-------------6-7-9------------------|
|-------5-7-8------------------------|
|-5-7-8------------------------------|

Melodic Minor:

e|-|-R-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
B|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
G|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|---|
D|-|---|-O-|-R-|---|-O-|
A|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
E|-|-R-|---|-O-|-O-|---|

E Melodic Minor
|-----------------------------0-2-3--|
|-----------------------0-2-4--------|
|-------------------0-2--------------|
|-------------1-2-4------------------|
|-------0-2-4------------------------|
|-0-2-3------------------------------|

A Melodic minor
|-----------------------------5-7-8--|
|-----------------------5-7-9--------|
|-------------------5-7--------------|
|-------------6-7-9------------------|
|-------5-7-9------------------------|
|-5-7-8------------------------------|

Now for the mini solo.

4/4
||--12h13p12--------------------------------12h13-16h17p16h17p16h17p|
||o----------15p13p12-----------------12h13-------------------------|
||--------------------14p13-----13h14-------------------------------|
||--------------------------15--------------------------------------|
||o-----------------------------------------------------------------|
||------------------------------------------------------------------|

|-16p13p12-------------12h13-16h17p16h17p16h17p16-13p12------------------------------|
|----------13p12h13h15----------------------------------15p13------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------14p13------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------14p12----14p12---|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------14---------|
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|---------------------------------------------12--17-16-17-13-17-16-----||
|----------------------------13-------13-0-15--------------------------o||
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------||
|-12h14p10h12h14p10h12h14h15----14h15-----------------------------------||
|----------------------------------------------------------------------o||
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------||

11.5 - Applying 'the Modes Of The Major Scale'.
Check out "Modes With Mode Dictionary", under scales for all the modes tabbed out. In this section I'll give you the box patterns for the modes so you can move them around.

Ionian.
e|-|-R-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
B|-|---|---|-O-|---|-O-|
G|-|---|-O-|-O-|---|-O-|
D|-|---|-O-|-R-|---|-O-|
A|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
E|-|-R-|---|-O-|---|-O-|

Dorian.
e|-|-R-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
B|-|-O-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
G|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|---|
D|-|-O-|---|-R-|---|-O-|
A|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
E|-|-R-|---|-O-|-O-|---|

Phrygian.
e|-|-R-|-O-|---|-O-|---|
B|-|-O-|-O-|---|-O-|---|
G|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|---|
D|-|-O-|---|-R-|-O-|---|
A|-|-O-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
E|-|-R-|-O-|---|-O-|---|

Lydian.
e|-|-R-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
B|-|---|---|-O-|---|-O-|
G|-|---|-O-|---|-O-|-O-|
D|-|---|-O-|-R-|---|-O-|
A|-|---|-O-|-O-|---|-O-|
E|-|-R-|---|-O-|---|-O-|

Mixolydian.
e|-|-R-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
B|-|---|---|-O-|-O-|---|
G|-|---|-O-|-O-|---|-O-|
D|-|-O-|---|-R-|---|-O-|
A|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
E|-|-R-|---|-O-|---|-O-|

Aeolian.
e|-|-R-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
B|-|-O-|-O-|---|-O-|---|
G|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|---|
D|-|-O-|---|-R-|---|-O-|
A|-|-O-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
E|-|-R-|---|-O-|-O-|---|

Locrian.
e|-|-R-|-O-|---|-O-|---|
B|-|---|-O-|---|-O-|---|
G|-|-O-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
D|-|-O-|---|-R-|-O-|---|
A|-|-O-|-O-|---|-O-|---|
E|-|-R-|-O-|---|-O-|---|

No mini solo for this one, I'd just be repeating myself.

Comments

[Freepower]

Good stuff, you know my views on this.

[metal4all]

It's very long but worth reading.

[xtremepunk0024]

Very long buts looks good and is very useful to read. learnig music theory helped me alot w/ my playing.

slash_pwns pwns

[shadows666]

Thank you so much for this lesson! I have been looking everywhere for someone to explain theory in a way that I would understand it!!! Thanks again and keep this good shit coming!!!\m/

[spazzymagee]

good lesson, i think this is much better than buying books on the subject. cheers dude. long live Zakk Wylde and Guinness

[AnthonyZ Great]

That is not necessary.You can just listen to your favourite songs and just create a chord to play.Music is about creativity.Be natural and play emotionally!Give it a shot!!

[Soma3009]

Thanks, this is the first lesson on the Site that finally explains how scales work well. All of the other ones just give you some patterns without telling us why. Thanks man, this greatly improved my improvsation.

[9mmpainpill]

Great lesson. This is the first time i've ever seen this explained to where its actually understandable.

[9mmpainpill]

HAHAHA Wrong Smiley.

[viciodk]

slash_pwns: As mentioned before in another thread, you should remember that the vi chord in a diatonic major key, can be extended to _m11(b13) - NOT _m13 due to the b6 of Aeolian

Also remember that the 5th is an optional note for 7th to 13th chords.

And I just hate when people reverse the circle of fifths

[gdm09]

mr slash_pwns, i love you.

[DropD_Todd]

This is the best article on music theory yet thanks dude

[guitarshredder1]

this is bs you copied this i know it

[ProjectDark]

Wow this is very in depth
and i don't know wtf he talking about:o
any great stuff i gotta print this out

guitarshredder1
wrote:
this is bs you copied this i know it

No, he wrote it. Don't be a douchebag.

chink nigger, you are warned. No more racist comments.

[Pon]

I havent played guitar for very long but this article doesn't explain concepts well. I've learned much of this elsewhere, explained with more clarity!

Maybe it's a good reference or theory review, but its not for Newbies-- at least not this one.

[nightside]

HAHA, what a headache i got from readign this!
Maybe i do not speak english fluent, but seem to be ****ed up, so much text, and i don`t undertsand you some times. Every smart person, don`t need this in an own creativity.

[legions]

VERY good lesson dude, it explains music theory the best out of any of the previous UG lessons.
good work.
and i suppose.
this is not for n00bs.
so HA.

[hanesh]

hi everyone..i just wanna ask...must we learn classical guitar b4 learning electric guitar??

[slayerman]

very good, indepth article. I learnt a lot.

[AlexWaterman]

well, learning classical guitar is probably the last thing i would wana do, and i figure playint this on my electric would be the same thing. I also appreciate how legions is applying the cs term 'n00b' to every day life. GJ man.

[AlexWaterman]

when i get around to completely reading and comprehending this article i am sure it will be extremely helpful

[Scifischizo4]

Very good, man. As a musician myself (and Music Education Major), I really have issues with the low level of actual musical knowlage of many guitar players. Hopefully this will help raise understanding of music. And for those few who are all going on about just "listnening and being creative" it helps A LOT if you actually know what you are doing. Granted, sometimes you get lucky, but you can't just randomly play notes and have everything turn out right!

Good job, man, much better than one I made a bit ago, keep it up.

[Pipan]

What does he mean with "the notes only go to G" in the introduction?

How do I find out what "sharps (#) and flats (b)" is?

[newcomer]

Fu*king awesome information, i'm printing this, i wondered how to get a spanish sound out of my axe.

[bangyourhead]

Pipan, he means that there are no more notes after G.
Notes: A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#

[ThoseThreeWords]

9mmpainpill wrote:

Great lesson. This is the first time i've ever seen this explained to where its actually understandable.

[ThoseThreeWords]

great lesson, alot better than my teacher could have given me, got to get round to remembering it all, but goodjob(Y), hats off to you

[learner656]

This lesson seems to jump from section 10.3 to 11.4 Is there something wrong with my browser? Or are those vital parts missing? Great lesson, don't want to miss out on those sections.

[learner656]

This lesson seems to be missing its sections from 10.3 to 11.4. Is theresomething wrong with my browser or are they not there? This is a great lesson and i don't want to miss out.

[metal4all]

^you're right u crazy bastard. you're probably the only person that saw that. wow

[Vantage]

man thanks a lot.....a very great article!

[abigape]

oh man information overload
[Brain melts]

[clifford13]

nice one!!!!! 10 stars

[Johnljones7443]

Brilliant lesson.

[benwahballs]

ive stared at this...this monster of a lesson for so long (at a certain part) but my brain continues to not work.

[one trick pony]

wow... finally a lesson that makes sense and gets me excited about theory,

[emu_kid]

cheers man
im always looking for theory but can never find anything good
this is tops
wats the diffrence between a tube amp and a normal one

[DMCrimson]

This is the best lesson ever. Period.

[gothikchile13]

Awesome job, I learned a lot!

[dimebag7]

it was good

[Scourge441]

Best. Lesson. Ever.

I still don't get the circle of fifths, though.

[dneck]

11.0 - Applying #1-9 on the guitar Introduction
11.1 - Applying 'What Intervals and Steps are'
11.2 - Applying 'Understanding the Chromatic Scale'
11.3 - Applying 'The major scale and Triads'

those sections are all missing otherwise this has been really awsome and helpful

[dneck]

11.0 - Applying #1-9 on the guitar Introduction
11.1 - Applying 'What Intervals and Steps are'
11.2 - Applying 'Understanding the Chromatic Scale'
11.3 - Applying 'The major scale and Triads'

Those sections are all missing. Otherwise this was really awsome and helpful.

[Lysol]

sweet

[yoannalover]

Great and cool love it fanx

[Spacessj]

nice

[Cromok]

i dont understand a thing this guy said....
:3)

[applax]

I understood it until he got to the circle of 5ths then it seemed like he just started taking big logical jumps that people like me who are just starting out on theory really need to be talked through everything

[benwahballs]

the interval reference chart is where im stuck. what if u made the first note a B?!!! try it it doesnt work because with the b2 u cant flatten C. help me

[nab_guitarist]

Strange.: couldnt get the Interval ChaRT!!

[kurt.aint.dead]

wow! awesome crap man! how the hell do you come up with these lessons??
you should get paid for this...or better yet, publish a book!

[ErgoBruce]

dude this is super, helped me loads thx

[dunno85]

Sick lesson man, being a music major you really hit the key factors. Bravo

[wamiq]

hey, where's 11-11.3???

[wamiq]

hey, where's 11-11.3??

[wamiq]

oops, sorry for posting thrice. but seriously, where are they?

[EmeraldICE]

Isn't your Circle of Fifths backwards? Or am I mistaken?

[EmeraldICE]

Oh, GREAT lesson btw, I'm about half way through and let me tell you, I have been trying to learn this stuff for quite some time now, but this lesson makes it so much easier. I just got a little confused with the Co5, i think it's backwards, but I was able to convert what you said to the Co5 that I know, so it's all good.
Thanks for the awesome lesson.

[Greenday4Life]

i have been playing for about 3 months and i find this whole thing VERY difficult to follow

[playerwannabe]

Ahh, yes we can expect all the work to be done for us and we do. These types of sites are not written for those whom already know. It's a place for those people to dumb it down and make it simpler than what they had to learn by. If you can't right an article about music theory for beginers in a manor that will oversimplify it then it probably should not be written for beginners. If you already know music theory then you already know how difficult it can be to grasp so why not oversimplify it if it will help bring this apparently necessary aspect of playing to us noob's. By the way I've been playing for 20 some odd years and just recently wanted to start trying to play good, I want to improvise, you know pick up a guitar and just throw something down and it sounds cool as hell, like Zakk W., so my endevors have lead me to this article as it always leads me to having to learn theory and everytime I try I fail to understand it enough but I keep trudging on and every little bit helps, If I don't understand it from one article I always am able to find it explained differently and it works but the best ones are dumbed down.

to lozzer - sir/ma'am you sound like the kind of music teacher that causes students to quit in the early stages try being a part of the solution.

[slash_pwns]

Thanks for all the comments guys. I'm not really active here anymore, but if you need help DONT PM ME. Send me an email at [e-mail]!

lozzer: People come here to learn, as I did. I learned and then I wanted to produce a lesson to convey what I learned at this site alone, in an easy to read format. I made this so people could read it and enjoy it. So can you just fuck off and stop telling people that they're idiots! You have got the be the biggest douche bag I've seen here period. The people reading this are obviously looking for a good resource to learn how to play guitar/music. Stop ruining it for the people who want to learn. Sure you can buy a book, or listen to a teacher, but this is free. If you can find a better beginner's music theory lesson than the one above, then by all means you can continue to troll other peoples writings and put others down. But untill then you can shove it.

And about 11.0-11.3... I'll post the master copy of the lesson (yes... I wrote it) on my site if I still have it.

[lozzer]

i never said it was bad, i said it was good! LISTEN TO ME!
im not tryin to insult anyone, just sayin youll get more out of a teacher if you find a good one. this is all good but teachers set you targets. that all.
sorry if i came accross arogant, its hard to put a point across when youre just typing. youre not understandin what im sayin so forget it, im not that bothered.

[lozzer]

i never said it was a bad site, a few times i said it was good. LISTEN TO ME!
just sayin a teacher will set u targets if u find a good one. sorry if i came accross arogant, its hard to put a point accross when youre just typing. youre not understanding me so forget it, im not that bothered

[lozzer]

whoops did it twice, you dont have to listen that much, just the amount of one comment.

[RonBurgundy130]

i'm 14 and don't understand any of this, i think i agree with the guy above, not that its a bad lesson, from the looks of it its a great lesson, i think its something that needs to be explained in person.

[mglasco]

wow this was the most confusing and poorly written text on music theory I've ever read. Not that you don't know your stuff. I mean I'm pretty good with music theory already but you make things a lot harder than they have to be.

[showbiz-legend]

you could check out amazon for a book called fretboard roadmaps, it explains a lot of this really well and is nice to have at hand rather than looking on this site. be that as it may this is a really good article and i doth my cap to you sir

[showbiz-legend]

wrong smiley

[Oma]

im one of those guys who saw someone playing a so-called 'guitar' and told myself: hey, i think i wanna learn to play a 'guitar'.. and after 4 years of struggling and self-teaching in my room, i must say that beginners here (specially me) are very blessed having this article of yours... THANKS MAN!!

applause!! applause!! applause!!

[powerhead]

Uhm.... i think you messed up the circle of fifths...

[Hong Siah]

you helped me out a lot dude, with that lesson of yours..and all i can do here is thank you...

*sniff*im so touch*sniff*

lol

[Night_Lights]

what does


_7 and such mean? what is a dominant chord?

[dime the legend]

man ive spent all my time just reading tabs and learning them but i never new what they actually meant. i mean i think myself that i am pretty decent i can play anything from classic rock to new from country to the blues to funk. but i never knew what any of it meant. thanks man now i have a little better view

[luvarmenians]

I'm not going to read all of that!

[luvarmenians]

(sorry)

[arsonite]

Read the whole friggin thing!! I hate people who just skim over things and then complain that they don't understand it. It is a complicated thing, but can be easily learned by actually going through the whole thing and practicing it. Very good lesson.

[flipfox_redoubt]

looks like the whole thing is just another math formula... ;p
*boring/*

[Dookie_1988]

I swear that circle of fifths circle is wrong... It looks as if you're saying a 5th from E is A, when A is the 4th in a key of E... B is the 5th...

[Random dude]

This article helped me alot. I likes how there were two differents ways you could learn( steps or intervals ) I also found that mode dictonary very helpful. Good Job

[notanotherfruit]

well...i knew a lot about how to play...and i've been playing since i was 7 but this actually helpped me bone up on some of the things i forgot...thankx man

[Bobather_909]

Musically, good, but I was a bit anoyed to be called a begginner near the start of it all, it just makes you seem big headed, and just before it, you said the guide was aimed at both beginners and people who just want to refresh everything in their heads, sorry, but I just hate bad writing.

[Bobather_909]

("I will go into each and every one of these so you, the beginner can understand them.")

[HeadBaNGeR1947]

boo u suc

[pilotinspector]

huh? im sorry i just had to post

[sumguy67]

long but really good

[acdc fanatic]

₧¥₧▓
617;fjkdsnfdsnf huh? still stumped

[Sadam]

Good stuff

[dash_right]

aint yer circle of fifths backwards?

[Satan6]

Great lesson man ,really useful!

[gitarakista]

this lesson must be copied and be pasted to my notepad right now!: grr:

[gitarakista]

ey you must put a summary of this thing... it gets me tired reading this coz its to long. also, explain clearer, anyway keep it up.

[Night_Lights]

ahhhhh its missing some parts!~

[Guitarded8988]

a point has been made about teachers being better sources. Although I agree, many posters find themselves frustrated because they do not have the self-discipline to sit down and really try and learn this stuff. My suggestion: younger players who would likely have loads of questions and difficulty translating this into tangible guitar work, seek a teacher if you can afford it. otherwise, this is a great, FREE article on music theory. Although I would debate the fact that it's for beginners. I would say it covers a very broad range of music theory.

[WhippinPinsta]

Thanks a lot!!!!! This was exactly what i was looking for!

[blitzballer1]

wot a tip top article, even tho ur cirlce offifths is backwards...

[Chairoi]

I have been playing for a year now with previous experience of music theory (was in band for 4 years) and this article is simply amazing, thanks alot man, I was very confuse on modes, but you cleared that up fast, however I am still confused on diatonic blah blah blah :3 But VERY good article *bows before slash*

[Chairoi]

and yes the co5 is backwards ^^ but still accurate

[Chairoi]

and a tip for modes, if you know how to find the key signature, look at the mode formula so you don't feel like relearning a scale pattern. ex. c in dorian mode is basically a Bb scale except with C as the root note (c d Eb f g a Bb c) same with Locrian mode, it is in the Db key... just start on the C for a C key sounding mode :3 hope that helps anyone

[slash_pwns]

Hey Guys,

I don't have time to read through all the comments but most of the feedback seems good, thanks! Heres some things I've noticed.

Yes, sections are missing. I'm working on it.

No, the Co5 isn't backwards. It works EITHER way. I learned it this way.

It is very long, but stick it out, it'll be worth it.

And I assure you, it is explained in depth (for whoever wante more explaining.

Also, keep those emails coming, I enjoy reading them and helping!

[namtetsuya]

I don't understand the whole thing 8(
help me!

[speed_freek]

i dont understand the intervals... a perfect interval inverts to a perfect interval? what does tht mean? wats a perfect interval anyway?

[jackson_marshal]

I DONT UNDERSTAND THE INTERVALS AT ALL

[jackson_marshal]

nw i got it thats awesome thanksalot

[Glennjoe]

Well Done Slash_pwns, This article has been very usefull

[sixstringz]

Great article, i took a semester of theory in college, and this covers is much better than what was tossed to us in that class. Cheers

[sevendayloss]

i barely read the introduction but tommorow when i have time im deffinatley reading it
:cheers:

[california girl]

that was a really good lesson. it was more so general reading, and brushing up for me. i have loads of music books that i spent cash on(if only i had known,lol). im adding this to my favorites. thanks for a good lesson.

[MeatPuppets22]

Who gives a ****? This shit sucks the fun out of music and makes it robotic. I would rather suckass at guitar than have a huge ****ing head full of knowledge so I can sit around with all this knowledge and talk to other *******s about it. Fuck theory and **** music. Fuck Joe Satriani, you think Skip James went to music school? If you love music, trully love music, you would play enough to get your own UNIQUE understanding of music, not a text-book understanding.

[robertreilly666]

wow that helped alot, i was struggling with theory cos im only just beginging to be interested in how music works and MeatPuppets22 knows nothing.
i bet he has a great "understanding of music"

[ooblah]

whoaa!!! meat puppet did not just say **** satriani, i dont care if you dont like the article, or you think using the tool of theory isnt for you, but never ****ing put down the satch man. I hope someone hunts you down and sticks a hot poker in your meat puppet. By the way, great article!

[handlerb]

I wonder what that guy was ****ing out. He had no problem dropping the f-bomb, repeatedly. Either way, Meat Puppets, you are a ****ing idiot. Unique understanding of music? Hey dumbass, unless you want to make up your own version of music theory, there is only one understanding, and its written above.

Oh yeah, and Skip James was taught basic music theory by an older guitar player named Henry Stuckey. I agree with the guy above me, I hope somebody with a cattle prod finds you. P.S. Good article, I recommend beginning guitarists save this page, and refer to it as you get better. Things will start to make sense.

[slash_pwns]

rofl, and I'm sure you play what sounds good to you? People like you, MeatPuppet make me laugh. You don't even realize you're using this!

Missing sections are on their way!

[Metallica122]

WTF?! This makes no sense to noobs, its only understandable if you already kno music theory! It dont explain a thng, complete waste of time for learners

[powerhead]

EmeraldICE wrote:

Isn't your Circle of Fifths backwards? Or am I mistaken?

yeh. And i think one or 2 things may be incorrect...

Wow, meatpuppets, don't take this the wrong way, but you are seriously naive and missinformed.

[Mortigi Tempo]

it looks good, pity I dont understand any of it

[SGdude452]

WOW thats frickin long

[TyphoidSpider]

im pretty much totally new to theory but i think i get most of it. great article.

[corybott]

good article, but maybe you shouldve mentioned the minor scale before explaining triads because really a minor triad is the 1st 3rd and 5th of the minor scale, not 1 b3 and 5 of the major. No difference really, but it is useful to remember that a regular triad is 135, and relate it to either the minor scale or the major scale.

[flyblow]

for all those people saying "i think the Co5 is the wrong way round" it is.

[m3cadet]

I still don't get most of this.

[scottishmob]

What a great lesson. I'll have to read through and memorize all this stuff...

[Sput]

Ok Great article but how do sus4 type chords fit into the equation from above?????

Tnanks,


Sputnik

[alex12]

hmmm... O_o anymore articles for newbies? can anybody suggest sumthin...? like a book or another thread or whatever..? tnx!

[Mortigi Tempo]

Mortigi Tempo wrote:

it looks good, pity I dont understand any of it

I retract my statement now that I take the time to look at it for more than 5 minutes it makes perfect sense and is really useful and better than Ive seen in any book so people like meatpupets are horribly wrong

[Mortigi Tempo]

as for circle of fifths I reccomend working out how to make major and minor scales with steps before looking at circle of fifths but meh

[wasp2020]

Meatpuppets, so sorry to ehar all that incredible talent going to waste because you know absolutely nothing about music theory. You will never be able to compose anything of your proper potential or do impressive improvisations and jam sessions, until you at the very least know some simple damned theory. I don't take any lessons either, and one of my worst nightmares is if anything were to happen to me that would take away my playing, but come on.

And Satriani's music is not some robotic series of random notes. Although some of his solos are hard to follow, most of his themes are CATCHY for gods sake. And all while showing exemplary knowledge of music theory. You tell me One Big Rush doesn't stick in your head. Music Theory is there to help you, it's not just for rich snobs who are forced into learning violin or whoever else you think you're more human than, just because you don't learn some simple damn music theory.

[wonko the sane]

I kinda agree with meatpuppets and you others... I've bin playin guitar for nearly a year, and dont know a thing about theory. My friend tells me to learn it, but I dont want to. Everything I get good at, ppl tell me I'm doing it wrong, and want me to learn it the 'right' way... I like just messin about with my guitar, and writin down what sounds good. It's probably the same as above, but havin someone tell me about it suks... Just play around with ur guitars and have fun!!! (no offense to anyone...)

[Dime_1966-2004]

I've been playing just over a year and have only just decided I really need to learn theory. Now I've just figured out the pentatonic scales and how they work, I've only just skimmed across this lesson and was wondering should I have learnt the major scales before the pentatonic major and minor, or do they follow the same rules?

[Dime_1966-2004]

HELP ME!!!!!

[Archon_TheReal]

I'm 18 and I've been playing music for the past 8 years (guitar for 4 of those). I have to say that this stuff is really important. Yes meatpuppets you can say that theory makes you robotic, but that only happens if you suck. Having this kind of knowledge allows you to improvise AND NOT SUCK. Oh and dime, It doesnt really matter. I learnt my pentatonic scales first (cause i used them a lot) and they dont follow the same rules, so whichever way you choose should be fine.

MeatPuppets22 wrote:

Go study some scales you useless, ...

spam. deleted. if i had caught it earlier ud be warned too.

[hehepupitre]

I don't get a word of any of this. If someone could create a lesson that actually showed it in terms of fret useage on the guitar itself I'd love them to death. Saying that they're relative because of this fret and this scale blah blah. Let's look at this scale now with the sharps and flats and stuff. **** I don't get that. If you make it step by step, I quote "I don't like to use steps", the only reason you don't do that is because you understand theory. Lots of people don't. I hated this lesson and barely understood a word of it.

[RustyGold]

slash_pwns...AWESOME JOB MAN. Everything I needed, in a compact, easy to read format.

10/10

for specific questions, visit the guitar basics section in the forums. ~UG staff

[mfkr]

Woah what the ****.

Seriously, I couldn't understand any of the first part I read.

[axe o power]

great lesson

[timmyjbone]

Music theory is is hard to understand, thats all i got to say.

[axe o power]

this is great i love this lesson. To all you noobys at guitar you should probably have a good under standing of all the notes on the neck and for all you guys whow cant understand this it would help if you printed out this and a neck diagram of all the notes on it and print out all the scales then you should have no problem understanding it.In closing this is one of the most valuable things iv ever ben taught. including"math reading ect."

[krazy kresta]

Awsome! Great help

[Jaykib]

Thankyou so much, this will all be going to good use.

[Duce1973]

I hate music theory, its dry and hard to read most of the time. Many times its not on a level that total beginners can understand and retain. This lesson is the best that I've seen in both web and book based lessons. Like anything else that is complex, you must read this lesson more than once. Read it several especially areas which are confusing, this will allow you to understand and retain this great information.
I'm very thankful to the author, your time and effort are much ablidged.

[Rosencrantz]

Oh my Hell Thats huge!
I think I'll wait till im at home to read it instead of my German Class.

[mayin]

uhhh.. i don¿t get it. i'm such a noob.. this sucks

[Chancelor101]

this is harder than algebra

[Disturber456]

i nedd help i need people to email me easy song pls im a beginer. my email is [e-mail]

[Leper_messiah]

im a beginner and im confused about major triads and minor triads

[ourlastday]

dude....love the lesson..best detail ive seen in a lesson, definetly helped me.. perfect 10

[perfectionist]

i did understand these lessons except the interval guide. damn! please give some examples on other notes cuz u only give example on note C please!

[Outlaw-theo]

This is just the beginning? Gahhhhh....
Thanks though, this'll help out a lot.

[omgelliot]

you seemed to have explained steps a whole lot better than intervals in my eyes. im sure its all good if you have some background music theory but this isnt for music theory beginners.

you dont make it clear enough if your dealing with chords or notes half the time. it might just be me, ive had a long day.

*spam check

[Petersky]

It was and it is very useful ti me

[GNR-4-Ever]

wow.....long. Probably nearly as good as stuff in books.

[Matt_Malmsteen]

Thats a great lesson, I was learning this stuff from a book earlier and this has just, explained it alot better than that.

[imranoo]

wonderful!!!!!

[awie666]

this articel was really good man..this is really helping..:m

[Vantage]

nice article.....i feel stupid now..=(

[frazer666]

I was bored so i read a newbie kinda article by this guy, who is really good btw, and i learnt a couple of things. but one question when do you ever use traids? i have never used them knowingly myself...
9/10 again

[matt..m]

AAAAHHHH!!!!!...i dont really understand the interval crazyness

[Darkened-Soul]

Thanks for the lesson.

[rock_star92]

i do not understand the intervals thingo its crazy. lol even tho im not a total beginner i still dunno wat ya on about haha

[Santakill]

Thanks dude this lesson helped me so much... it took a while to read and the interval thing was kind of confusing but i liked the chord construction part

[mfkr]

Lol that was so not for beginers I gave up at the Interval thing.

[sevendayloss]

this is really good
10 out of 10
its not the best for beginners, but it set me a really good foundation, ive been learning theory for a couple months and that just cleared up so many things

deffinatley worth reading
more theory lessons? please?
:cheers:

[sevendayloss]

oh and will you please make a lesson thats more in depth of the circle of fifths? more examples etc.
thanks

[Malakian=God]

Thanks for the gr8 article. Really filled in the gaps in my knowledge!

[inlovewithmusic]

I understood the whole concept of intervals and steps...but what i think ive confused both together.....lemme take an example to describe my doubt ....

Lets say we are considering the C mojor scale ...to find the notes in the scale...one can apply the formula ...WWHWWWH as uve mentioned in the article ....and doin so ...we get the notes CDEFGABC.

out of these four of the notes are perfect and can be only a major chord - the unison, forth,fifth and octave ie C F G and C the other intervals 2nd 3rd 6th and 7th can be a mojor or a minor chord.


Now this is where i got confused with intervals ...i found notes between 1 and 2 , 2 and 3 and so on with names b2 b3 and so on .....i tht the C major scale can have only the notes CDEFGABC ....but in the table i noticed other notes such as Db , Eb etc coming in between ....can u please explain this to me ?? im confused on which to believe now the steps concept or the intervals one ....

Also ....If we take the C major scale ....unison , forth and fifth are perfect and form the major chords C F and G in the key of C ....and the others ie. 2 3 6 and 7 can be major or minor and form the rest of the key ....my second doubt is...what about the intervals such as b2 , b3 #4, b5,#5, b5 etc ?? do they also form chords in the key ?? are they the ones that form chords such as diminished , augmented ,maj7 min7th etc ??

can someone Please help me out ....been goin carzy trying to figure this out

[Brizanishbro]

very long but very well done

[donbassist]

woah. and i thought id never learn theory. (grabs bass guitar from corner). nice lesson \m/

[CHUCK "D"]

Outstanding job!!!!! I havn't been playing that long and you really explained a lot of stuff to me and i really understood. Thanks

[mfkr]

From the start you just go into a load of stuff, that I can't understand about intervals. I gave up at that, so could've been explained better in my opinion.

[PeterMayhew1992]

that was such a help as i've been trying to understand thoery for months now. I now understand alot that i didnt before i read it, but i dont get the circle of 5ths, can someone explain clearer? Apart from that, was very helpful
thx

[Mcassidy42]

A circled note is the root note of that scale, I don't know much about theory, but I know that.

[rhcp_s]

guys i don't understand the Interval guid thing can someone please explain it to me

[Discouraged]

Alot of people complaining about the interval section. =/
In all honesty, once you've all understood and memorized the chromatic scale, intervals become very simple. You have to LEARN them. Music theory is all about LEARNING. The basic foundations of music theory involves LEARNING. You understand? LEARNING. Once you've LEARNT and memorized the basics, you can begin to apply it to form an understanding of the more difficult concepts.
My knowledge of music theory is basic, at best. When I first looked at this article a while ago, none of it made sense. But I grabbed a pencil and paper, and started scribbling down important points, and memorizing them, along with scale formulas and the god damn structure of intervals. -.-
LEARN! Darn it.

Thanks for the article dude. Was a big help.

[Dave2210]

Very cool. I know know quite a bit that I didn't get before. There are still a few things which I don't understand, although you did explain them well. The only thing I have to say is I think you put the circle of 5th the wrong way round. I thought it was mean to be (going clockwize) C, G, D, A, E, B, F#/Gb etc... But I could be wrong, but I managed to use the circle of 5ths using that consept but I didn't manage to do it the way you showed it. Appart from that it was a big help to me, so thats alot!!!

[amateur123]

nice one!

[ibanezrg120plyr]

thiw is a great lesson and it has helped me alot in understanding scales.

[ibanezrg120plyr]

this is a great lesson...thnx for taking time to post it

[*kill'emall*]

if he could make a tab for that interval chart in the beginning, maybe i would be able to understand some of this.

[BlackWingFreak]

i started guitar 5 years ago so most things are self taught and this helps,even though you have to reread this several times to get some of the things,oh and the interval thing....simple math everything adds up to nine, i got confused with this fact too...memorize the notes with the numbers, Perfect notes are notes that don't have to be inverted (no sharps or flats)ex. P4 (F) and P5 (G) the numbers both add up to 9, but if it starts with a Minor note like Db (2b) will be inverted to Major B (7) because 2 + 7 = 9, and if it starts out with a Major then it'll be the opposite way and become a Minor note....just Math here guys...all comes out to 9.

[Zameera]

I'm a begginer but still don't get

[Nitro89]

i still dont get intervals, some1 help?

[Jake100884]

I'm with BlackWingFreak. You have to re-read some parts but all in all it's great. Exactly what I was looking for.

[Bored_as_Hell]

this was exactly what I was looking for.

[goosed]

AnthonyZ Great wrote:

That is not necessary.You can just listen to your favourite songs and just create a chord to play.Music is about creativity.Be natural and play emotionally!Give it a shot!!

Ive just gotta say as a musician for 9 years now, and having two parents who are both majoring musicians that this guy is wrong. If you want to actually learn your instrument in depth, then you need to learn your notes, scales, and music theory especially. If you do not then you will not understand a god damn thing. anyways... now that I finished my ranting about nubs at the beginning of the article...

[Dunjma]

this didnt help a bit i just got really confussed

[[Creative Name]]

as said before your circle of fifths is reversed, good review for me

[Guitar-God-Elf]

i got confused at the intervals could someone help?

[Kandizzle]

This guy did a bad job of explaining everything.

[Foz]

Dude, I got to about the Triad Section and decided this was worth printing off. I don't know why other people had such a hard time with it. I've been playing guitar for 3 years, and I don't know an ounce of theory, but this looks like it'll be REALLY helpful. Thanks, dude, well done.

[xtopher_aaron]

readin the part about Co5 i felt like smashin my guitar on my screen man..
i need help wit it

[KGHerman]

Fantastic lesson. 5 stars.

[KGHerman]

My mistake. 10 stars of course...

[AlexLee]

This guide is the best. I have learnt so much from this guide. Really good for beginner! 10/10

[umehmood1]

hey,i didnt understand that where are C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Bb B C
on a fretboard.please help me out!

[Scythe400]

Thanks. This lesson really helped me with the music theory. Although I find using the steps instead of the the formulas quite easier.

[goatgodgarota]

I am new to music theory and some parts of this lesson confuse me...

[thechief99]

This person is far too ambiguous in his explanations, he says you don't need prior knowledge to this lesson, well upon reading this lesson i think you do, the explanations are too brief and complicated, you need to simplify and explain yourself more thouroughly!!

[tom_sawyer]

this is a good article. at fist, i was so confused but inserting the examples written on tab form below on each article makes it understandable. my advice for those who cannot understand a thing here, this not the article for you because some discussions like chromatic scale is learned through years of playing guitar without knowing it is a scale! you better check this article again if you find it out by yourself.

[luisaceo]

good lesson, though,(as "thechief99" has said), i certenly do not think that a person that has no prior knowledge would of understand any thing of this, it is certenly not for begginers, very good any way-4stars

[PDFHore]

Wow, great lesson! thanks!

[AznElliot518]

Good stuff

[MetalGS3SE]

Wow, one of the easiest to understand lessons on theory I've found. I've been playing a while but this still helped me more than I could have imagined.

Had to read it twice to get a hold on some of it but I have it now. 10/10 bro.

[Drew/Dawg]

This is amazing! Good job

[Anthony5555]

This is seriously the most informative thing I've ever read on the internet regarding music theory. I've been trying to learn music theory for months now and this really ties it all together perfectly.

[gilerguitar]

this is all veri confusing n new to me. being a noob myself, even after rereading it over n over again , i could not understand a single thing he is talking bout. this article is certainli not 4 beginners. but 4 those hu understood tis lesson, wat prior knowledge should 1 need in order 2 understand the lesson completeli?? n where tis info could be attained??? thnx.....

[FireEMT1820]

Hey, great article. Very Helpful, I'm going to print it and keep it in a cover to read over and over. To all those who are arguing about music theory: 1. Anyone who bashes one form of learning music needs to get a life. Good tunes is good tunes, don't matter if they were written by Blind Lemon, or Satch. Anyone who has a passion for guitar, right on. 2. I personally don't think learning theory makes you a robot, it opens your mind and broadens you to new notes and ways of playing, and it's all about playing. If you don't learn new ways to play, and you stick with one way and one way only the rest of your life, you are missing out. Clapton has played everything from blues to rock to reggae to soul. Mark Morton from lamb of god plays metal with lamb, but when he is not on the road or recording with them, he plays in an blues & country band. That's just cool. Cat can make his guitar scream real fast and real loud, then make is sing real slow and soft. Music is about one thing: Music. Get over your differences, the whole "Megadeth is better than Metallica" and "Rap isn't music it's trash" and all this mess, and embrace the music for the music. Get over it, grow up, and get a life. But keep the music real.
Mac

[werty22]

Good lesson. I've never understood a lot of this before. I would like to know what chords fit in wich key, though.

[AlchoholicA]

I've been playing for 2 years and I still don't understand 5ths 7ths diminished ad all that crap..

[TonyRandall]

^ same here man 2 years and nothing, ive been trying to teach myself theory forever...

but this lesson helped me a bunch... either that or it messed me the hell up... im not sure.. i think i learnt from it though... :/

[natuta]

it's ok, thanks for the lesson

[Oke]

seems cool but im still confused

[ROCK.ON]

man I've taken BAND for 5 years, crappy guitar lessons for half a year, and played guitar in general for a year..and i got lost after like 5 minutes of reading

[capt.greenbeard]

A great article indeed, looking to becom a teacher one day and this is exactly what I was needed. Just one question about this (to anyone who can answer it)

How are major sixth and diminished seventh the same note when sharp sixth is a half step above major sixth? That doesn't make sense to me. 6 and bb7 are both listed as "a" on the chart. Its probably right because this guy obviously knows his stuff, I just need clarification.

[risaldon]

Hi guys,

First of all: great lesson. I'm thoroughly enjoying it.
I have a question about paragraph 6.1 "extending cords".
The author states the following scheme for extending minor cords to the 13th degree:
_m13: 1 b3 5 b7 (9) (11) 13
my question is: shouldn't the 13th note be lowered in comparison to the major scale (ie b13 instead of 13).
Conversion of the major to the minor scale can be done with three "lowerings". These are: the 3rd, 6th and 7th note of the major scale.
for example:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Fmaj: F G A Bb C D E F
Fmin: F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F
= = - = = - - =
As the 13th note is enharmonic with the 6th note, you see that this note gets lowered.

I'm pretty new at this stuff, so i don't know for sure that this is true. Does someone know the answer?

cheers,

Chris

[KIDRoach]

This, is a lot of crap worth reading, =)

[garypalys]

I was lost right from the begininng...

[bassmaniac101]

This is, by far, the best theory lesson i have ever seen or heard. The only problem was you didn't explain the Co5 to well. I dind't really understand, but i allready knew the major scales, so i was fine. 10/10.

[Hywel Ed]

I liked this, but the section on Co5 was confusing, so I'll try and get a friend to explain it.

[rimjob]

hey thanks for this i actually know what i'm doing now

it shut my dad up too

cheers

[JL_Shredder]

Thanks Man!
That helped a lot!

[InsomniaRocks]

The Chromatic scale is a series of 12 notes starting from any note (doesn’t matter which one... You could use D# for all I care)

hah, "for all I care"...cause we all know that D# is the least popular musical note out there

[lester2215]

Check out my lesson, the theory of music, its wayy easier, maybe not as good , of course not, but still a nice thing for u ppl who didnt understand

*Spam Cleared*

[Tasman]

Looks awesome one day i'll read it thoroughly coz I flicked through it and it was all another language :s

[thesimo]

i was lost half way through 2.0 :/

[thesimo]

i stuck at it and im about to start 6.0. very interesting, time to take a break now

[anticlementous]

Scifischizo4 wrote:
And for those few who are all going on about just "listnening and being creative" it helps A LOT if you actually know what you are doing. Granted, sometimes you get lucky, but you can't just randomly play notes and have everything turn out right!

Yeah, but some people have an ear for what the right notes are and can piece things together without knowing theory. I am not that person : (

[matt_leach12]

wow. right a textbook.

[Phil McCracken]

thanks for trying to help but all it really did was make me even more discouraged from wanting to learn. i finally find something that looks really good on music theory, but i still don't get it. definately not for beginners.

but if someone knows any really good books on music theory PLEASE TELL ME! thanks.

[foretwoone]

I think this article started with good intentions, but it was hard to follow. I got lost at the CO5 stuff. I might try and read up on this more, understanding music theory is an amazing value.

[alexcp94]

So if we know D has two sharps, then we look at the line here. F# and C# are the sharps in the key of D.
how cdan i know what are the sharps of d!!!! ahh can some one tell me please

[Ace-o-spades]

My insides are already burning from studying the first few sections. ill continue tomoorow

anyway, this is amazing. This takes u beyond tablature so u can actually learn how to "read" music instead of looking at lines which indicate the string and the number.

[flaccid james]

lost at 2.1

[metalmeep]

oh god, uh, i think i get it?

MeatPuppets22 :
Who gives a ****? This shit sucks the fun out of music and makes it robotic. I would rather suckass at guitar than have a huge ****ing head full of knowledge so I can sit around with all this knowledge and talk to other *****s about it. Fuck theory and **** music. Fuck Joe Satriani, you think Skip James went to music school? If you love music, trully love music, you would play enough to get your own UNIQUE understanding of music, not a text-book understanding.

This person is a stupid moron, I thought i'd add

[dontstoprockin]

idk if it's just me but i couldn't really understand this.
i'm totally new at this...
:P

[flaccid james]

www.theorylessons.com

this seems to help a lot

[Schane]

i say its good lesson, and for the people who do somewhat get it, good! i personally think they should go on and read notes not tabs. reading notes is also good because if you try another instrument, like piano you have some of the notes down already, in a way. but yeah i read notes and i understand music theory, so this lesson aint that bad. though i believe should learn the right way, not the "tab" way, NOT to be mean to anyone

[simonzwaan]

metalmeep wrote:

oh god, uh, i think i get it?MeatPuppets22 :
Who gives a ****? This shit sucks the fun out of music and makes it robotic. I would rather suckass at guitar than have a huge ****ing head full of knowledge so I can sit around with all this knowledge and talk to other *****s about it. Fuck theory and **** music. Fuck Joe Satriani, you think Skip James went to music school? If you love music, trully love music, you would play enough to get your own UNIQUE understanding of music, not a text-book understanding.
This person is a stupid moron, I thought i'd add

I second that
If you love music you want to understand it better

[sword shredder]

Whew, I've been looking and getting confused at this for over a year, but I've finally managed to get it %100

[gibson sg1]

nice work, covers alot of important things.

[Infatuation]

wow

[ermangelo]

Wow, thanks dude, I was struggling my head off to learn this stuff, thanks for making my job easier.
Very very nice, keep up the good work.

[KingJustinian25]

I knew what this stuff is from orchestra but not the purpose of it, good job =)

[ChrisHecox]

this was a great lesson... and then i read it... and i dont get a word of it

[josh_oj]

ahhh the circle of 5ths screwed me up

[wyldeshredder]

this is incredible man...incredible...i wish i had found this when i started learning theory,but im gonna go through it and clear it all up..thx man,great article

[wyldeshredder]

learner656 wrote:

This lesson seems to jump from section 10.3 to 11.4 Is there something wrong with my browser? Or are those vital parts missing? Great lesson, don't want to miss out on those sections.

i see those sections...kinda diguised, but they're in the article

[wyldeshredder]

MeatPuppets22 wrote:

Who gives a ****? This shit sucks the fun out of music and makes it robotic. I would rather suckass at guitar than have a huge ****ing head full of knowledge so I can sit around with all this knowledge and talk to other *****s about it. Fuck theory and **** music. Fuck Joe Satriani, you think Skip James went to music school? If you love music, trully love music, you would play enough to get your own UNIQUE understanding of music, not a text-book understanding.

calm down there buddy...some of us like to know what we;re doing

[Darken Rahl]

Wtf is wrong with me. I have been trying to learn this shit for so long. I don't understand like any of this. Every time I try it, I am like ok. Is all this the same if I am tuned to C. What D note are they talking about, there are like 15 of them. Which string are you talking about. What makes a note perfect or augmented. I sit here and get disgusted because this is my dream, this is what I am going to do, and every time I try to ****ing read something about theory, I just want to break down and cry.

[wyldeshredder]

Darken Rahl wrote:

Wtf is wrong with me. I have been trying to learn this shit for so long. I don't understand like any of this. Every time I try it, I am like ok. Is all this the same if I am tuned to C. What D note are they talking about, there are like 15 of them. Which string are you talking about. What makes a note perfect or augmented. I sit here and get disgusted because this is my dream, this is what I am going to do, and every time I try to ****ing read something about theory, I just want to break down and cry.

maybe u should print the parts u would like to learn,and take it to a teacher...it will take a couple weeks,but slowly work through it with a teacher,it will help.dont get discouraged too,it happens to all of us,nobody picked up a guitar and just knew it...keep goin at it dude,a teacher might help...even goin through it with a friend.

[ooder the cow]

tbh, this is exactly what i need at this point in my playing. Much Kudos is spraying your way from me mr. Slash_pwns.

[mybsaccownt]

not to take anything away from the author of this one, but those who are having trouble here may benefit from trying this one:

http://www.zentao.com/guitar/theory/

i found it a lot easier to follow

[Guitar_Poet]

your circle of fifths is backwards.

[I suk at guitar]

music theory is really confusing to me. its not easy to learn by yourself. i havnt got through the whole lesson yet but it really has helped me a lot so far. its the only lesson on theory so far that ive actually been able to understand so thanks a lot.

[Twig Boy]

Wow. I've been playing guitar for about a year now. I feel really bad when I read this. I don't get any of it. i started reading the intervals stuff and I am completely lost.

[Twig Boy]

Darken Rahl wrote:

Wtf is wrong with me. I have been trying to learn this shit for so long. I don't understand like any of this. Every time I try it, I am like ok. Is all this the same if I am tuned to C. What D note are they talking about, there are like 15 of them. Which string are you talking about. What makes a note perfect or augmented. I sit here and get disgusted because this is my dream, this is what I am going to do, and every time I try to ****ing read something about theory, I just want to break down and cry.

Dude. I feel the exact same. I loooove my guitar more than I love my mommy. And that's alot. But this is like... OMFG WTF???

[drod700]

I've been playiing guitar for nine years and have three college semesters of music theory. It takes three months of class and a whole text book to cover all of this material in depth. If you are a beginner don't get discouraged; take this information to a teacher and work through it. One more thing, understanding theory will help you excell. GREAT job man!!!

[Wolfer0624]

I've been playing guitar for about 2 years dude, and apart from learning some scales which will help me out, this was the most confusing article I've came across. This is more of a basic article than for a beginner to take in all at once. Sorry man

[palthestud]

The lesson is great but couldnt get the circle of fifths precisely...

[grille]

WHY THE FUCK DO YOU HAVE 8 and a half step to the octave .. thats wrong man

[Ringtone]

This article didn't help at all. It just got me fusterated I was so confused

[Punkismygod]

me too -^ maybe bit too complicated, but there's no help for that

[daryle_goh]

in section 6.2 it's stated that if the chord is a b5 the formula changes to 1 3 b5. what if it's a #5? is it 1 3 5 #5 or 1 3 #5?

[nine01n]

i have printed this out and will be studying it for the next few weeks. thank you very much!

[rockinroll]

i haven't read it yet but this is exactly what i've been looking for, thank's so much for makin this dude!

[2mins2midnite]

THIS IS THE BEST MUSIC THEORY LESSON ON HERE

[mkosmy01]

i started playing guitar not to long ago but when i hear people talking about Am or Adim7 or what have you i had no idea what they were talking about but after reading just a few paragraphs i think i finally understand my guitar and how to play it. thanks for posting this, this was exactly what i needed.

[damagecontrol77]

This has to be the most detail music theory/guitar lesson EVER!!!.... for a tab site...It covers like 1-2 years of theory classes at any college/university!

But all of you looking to get into this and don't understand, need to take a music theory class at a junior college. Tution is cheap (although books are expensive) and you could take a 101 course for starters. you probably won't get any instruction for applying this on the guitar, thou.

I have spent minutes, hours, days, weeks, even months learning most of this stuff and I still somewhat suck at it. You're not going understand all of it or any at all just by reading it.

In a class , any of these sections could take one or more class meeting to cover. And even when your're done with it, you still use or review it. So don't beat yourself up if you're reaction is : "wtf is this!". It takes practice just like your guitar.

[feyk]

would be damn boring for a starter. hahaha

[NOtrab]

i still dont understand anything

[NOtrab]

wait nvm aha

[coreybercher]

good shit...

[Radagascar]

yeah, the first parts are just a big "wtf, how does anyone understand this".

[Radagascar]

MeatPuppets22 wrote:

Who gives a ****? This shit sucks the fun out of music and makes it robotic. I would rather suckass at guitar than have a huge ****ing head full of knowledge so I can sit around with all this knowledge and talk to other *****s about it. Fuck theory and **** music. Fuck Joe Satriani, you think Skip James went to music school? If you love music, trully love music, you would play enough to get your own UNIQUE understanding of music, not a text-book understanding.

that is JUST what i needed at 1 in the morning when i'm dead tired and pissed because it's like reading arabic. that's hilarious!

[fret_catalyst]

A. Nicely done. Helped a lot.
B. **** all you people who rip on those whose lessons you dont like because they got it posted, so it's apparently worth something.

[kyle8407]

AAAAAGGHH it makes me want to remove my brains. somebody simplify. musics supposed to be fun

[dark_bard]

man... hell of an article, i need to learn music theory cuase im the only person capable of writing music in my band... anyone who says it makes music robotic... i dont think you understand music theory... music theory helps you understand what your playing... it doesnt force you to play a certain way, its like math... no matter how you write it, or how you get around to doing it, 2+2 still equals 4, and it helps to know that.

[Viktor Smidy]

Thank you..I finally understand the Co5 and other things...my friend helped me though because she knows lot of things about these things ..but gr8 job...

[enuenu]

Very comprehensive. Thanks for the effort. However I have to admit it completely lost me early on. I am not a dummy, I have university level education in science. I have been playing by ear for 25 years but am an absolute theory noob. It is the use terminology that confuses me. Here is my first hurdle on page 1, you say "An interval is the space between one note and another." What does that mean, "space"? Is that a fret, a certain number of Hertz, something else? Then the interval guide is shown straight away "What the...." Confused from word go. Sorry, just being honest.

[synysterA7Xrule]

woah, you must have spent ages, but i'm completely lost :S

[rossjohnson87]

This is hard for me to follow and I've been playing for a while. Like if you had the time it'd probably be real helpful to go through and provide examples on the actual guitar so it'd make a little sense. I've been trying to make a serious effort at learning this stuff and its impossible to find a guide that makes sense, I know this stuff is long already but some definitions of some of the jargon just to give us an idea of would be great. Sort of have that feeling like when a doctor's trying to explain something to you with all these technical terms and you just want to scream at him, "English please."

Still, I can tell you put a lot of effort into this and I do appreciate that. Definitely shouldn't be in the beginners section though haha.

[4thgeer]

benwahballs wrote:

the interval reference chart is where im stuck. what if u made the first note a B?!!! try it it doesnt work because with the b2 u cant flatten C. help me

Agreed. And also why don't you use the sharp or the flat of the root note? If anyone can answer it would be really helpful.

[Yeti60]

i may be wrong, but isn't your circle of fifths backwards?

[blackreign]

this is all great info. to the people that complain that it's hard to understand, try finding books in the Guitar Grimoire series. Now that is cryptic. I have three of those books (Scales, Chords, Progressions) and the system he comes up with is good, but this is way easier to follow. This is a good reference with words to explain what's going on.

[nghienviec]

Just like b9 is an octave higher than b2

Correct me if I am wrong but, shouldn't this have been "Just like b3 is an octave higher than b2"?

[nghienviec]

4thgeer wrote:

benwahballs wrote:

the interval reference chart is where im stuck. what if u made the first note a B?!!! try it it doesnt work because with the b2 u cant flatten C. help me


Agreed. And also why don't you use the sharp or the flat of the root note? If anyone can answer it would be really helpful.

That's because the root note here is used as a 'point of reference', for other notes to find our there relative intervals you simply shift the whole 'chart' across the neck, trying it on the guitar makes it easier to grasp. e.g. the chart says C to D is a major second, supposed you wanna find the 2nd second from B then it's gonna be B + 2 = C# or B - 2 = A

[xVSxNightmare]

Correct me if I am wrong but, shouldn't this have been "Just like b3 is an octave higher than b2"?

I don't think so. b3 is a STEP (2 semitones.) higher than b2, but the OCTAVE (12 semitones.) is at b9.

[Funeral Moon]

I've become lost at the Circle of Fifths, with the finding of flats and sharps in key signatures.

[rocker_26]

this is the greatest lesson on UG but i did have to read through it a few times and learn where the notes are on the neck before it made any sense

[howey]

Great Lesson!
This has really given me somewhere to start on my theory.

[paulybear]

I just started learning guitar like a few weeks ago. Would it be a good idea to learn theory early on, or will it just confuse the hell outta me? haha :P

[glen_livet]

Circle of fifths is backward from the way i learnt it, but it is still right.
Typos and bad sentences make sections difficult to read and comprehend.
Still, it brings it all together. Read it and read it again, and again, until you get it. GOOD STUFF!

I found another site that helped clarify some of the stuff that didn't immediately click.
http://www.musicarrangers.com/

[ncm414]

Dude, I am totally lost.

[getadicted]

I dont get it all right now, but i got to start somewhere, saying ur totally lost is a dumb comment to say, just learn what u can, its a great lesson

[metalist86435]

there is no way for me to get into this lesson. i know what a flat and sharp is, but the rest throws me off. the explanations are too brief for me

[F8iscruel]

i would wirte all the thnak u's u deserved but im afraid i dont have threemonths to waste, lol. thank because of this i now no how to do scales and chords, im gonna keep reviewing this b/c i need to get it ingraved in my skull however i understood it well enough the first time thru to get my wits about me. thank u for posting this it is very helpful in improving my music.

[F8iscruel]

ujm is there only one box for each mode or do i combine them

[Time Seller]

AnthonyZ Great wrote:

That is not necessary.You can just listen to your favourite songs and just create a chord to play.Music is about creativity.Be natural and play emotionally!Give it a shot!!

I lol'ed.

[Punk_Savage]

This is awsome. Thanx.

[Realturka]

I don't get it at all.

[Armagedn]

That's definitely being bookmarked.

[burningmice]

Im completly lost at 2.1 dont understand this at all .

[Jawshuwa]

Very good read, very good lesson.

[MetalheaD_]

royaly confused! could you explain alittle more simply

[...A7X...]

Hey, awesome stuff here. It really helped me alot. One question...i got lost when you visualized the "triads"... could you plz explan those out for me. i'm not sure how to read em

[nuub13]

Just got my first guitar today. Didn't understand a word of this article. What is it doing in the beginners section? :|

[Kurikinton Fox]

This lesson isn't really fitted for beginners.

[AngryGoldfish]

Kurikinton Fox wrote:

This lesson isn't really fitted for beginners.

i think this is more dedicated to theory for beginners in a way that its there if you want the whole lot in one go. I woulnd't suggest it for someone who has never picked up a guitar before. Anyone can learn this stuff really, it just takes time. I've been playing guitar for three years and I know quite a bit of theory, but not this much! This still baffles me, but I know I can do it.

[LaGrange]

Damn great lesson man, Helpin out alot of people >.

[nappyfretz83]

too much knowledge to learn before anything practical..i say just learn how to tune, and if you're into it enough, it all comes naturally

[Normozoidz]

I think this lesson is great. The only downside to this lesson is that the steps or the lessons is arranged in a way that it makes a lot of begginers loose their track (Just an oppinion). so can anyone just PM me your ideas on what to learn first?

[shwell]

Great lesson, had to read other sites for the stuff I didn't get at first, nothing unusual about that.

lesson has been edited and updated to include a correct version of the circle of fifths, in image form. and some other minor mistakes and typos have been corrected. enjoy.

[scguitarking927]

god i hardly understood any of that, im gonna reread it again, to see if i get anything else from it.

I'm just not picking up on theory at all... =( This is really frustrating.

I'm sure its great stuff, im just not understanding.

[Patchy13]

I like this theory thing, but to the simple minded such as me, I don't get jack squat out of it. ._.; I'm gonna try re-reading it later on, but it's quite compliacted....

[ChemicalFire]

There is just too much here, I lost track after reaching the co5 and gave up. The info is written in a way, where you just get confused...

[ChemicalFire]

Just want to add, there are too many words in there which are left undefined like inverted, what the hell does that mean in this context, also the thing in the Co5 defiantly made no sense to me, everything is made of sharps, what the hell is going on?

[Iron_Dude]

Okay, for all of you new to theory, this guide is broken down into sections for a reason. You are supposed to read the first section, and if you don't understand it, reread it. Keep rereading it until it sinks into your head and you understand it all fully. DON'T move on to the next section until you finish reading the previous section. These guides up set up this way for a reason, so you can use it too it's fullest potential.

[L.P]

your eplanation on diatonics isnt getting through to me... help?

[Megasmrt]

Iron_Dude wrote:

Okay, for all of you new to theory, this guide is broken down into sections for a reason. You are supposed to read the first section, and if you don't understand it, reread it. Keep rereading it until it sinks into your head and you understand it all fully. DON'T move on to the next section until you finish reading the previous section. These guides up set up this way for a reason, so you can use it too it's fullest potential.

yeah listen to the man

[mightmuffin]

Simply amazing! helped me understand so much more than other lessons have

[ninja2142]

Omg this is awesome the diatonic explanation really helped

[indrarai]

aah it's too long anyway it's good

[Dustybrown]

I didn't understand a darn thing mentioned in that whole article!!!

[aznmissemo]

wow... real long but i learned sooo much it was totally worth reading...

[drewfromutah]

This cleared up a lot. Thanks.

[ChucklesMginty]

Ahhh so complicated I can't understand any of this to save my life. Forget music, I can play Raining Blood on expert! Joke, great article but my stupid brain can't take any of it in.

[wobbley]

it's hard to find everything about music theory in one place but this is perfect..thanks

[rockerskater12]

what should i learn first because i dont understand any of this crap
i can play guitar though

[Thnikkamann]

Amazing lesson

[Fender_Mex-DB#1]

At first glance this is seems hard to understand, but just keep reading. This lesson makes sense. Take your time on it like you do when you physically practice. Don't think you can shortcut through this one. It's music theory. It isn't easy but is very useful. Start from the beginning and work your way to the end. No reason to rush...learn it. It helped me immensely. I have natural talent and can read tabs and know this and that about theory but never put it all together until going through this lesson. Slash_Pwns you are the shitt!

[fiztech]

not bad, perhaps needs a little fleshing out around the way you see things and some of the terminology used is a little presumptuious (spelling lol). but overall one of the better ones that will help people who click with this way of seeing it.

[cilaes]

Wow very extensive but I was completely lost from the beginning. "What intervals and steps are" from what I'm getting out of it it's just showing WHAT they are, not explaining. I am possibly missing something but I'm definitely printing this and going to try to make sense out of it. Thanks!

[cfh0636]

Great lesson taught it a lot better than my theory professor in college.

[sarmadical]

Circle of Fifths is messed, he screwed up big time, other than that, CRAZY lesson dude, good way to review my theory again (i forgot it)

the CoF the C# adn Cb being most sharps and flats is wrong, as Cd doesnt exist, and he got the CoF backwards so check out CoF somewhere else people if your confused

[sarmadical]

*you're

[sarmadical]

Also, for all the people complaining, i did'nt get any of it, i suggest you go to biggener music site, learn the simple stuff in depth, THEN come back here and read it again and it should make more sense.

This lesson was more of a theory review as he doesnt go in depth to EVERY concept, so for you music begginers, learn you basics thoroughly first!

[AgentWiggles]

Jesus H. Christ - all these people whining about not understanding it - did you actually take the time to read it in detail and try it out with your guitar? This isn't easy stuff, and you can't learn it by skimming.

And all of you saying theory makes you robotic and that you just "play your guitar": guess what?
You're using theory. Anytime you come up with something that sounds good, whether you like it or not, there's music theory behind it.

This stuff unlocks a whole new world of guitar playing, and if you refuse to learn it, you're not only being stubborn and stupid, but refusing to expand your skill on your instrument.

GREAT lesson.

[myearshurt]

awesome stuff, easy to understand. the guitar book i have only touches lightly on these topics, so thanks xD

[myearshurt]

what does stacked mean?

[mattiwillohouse]

circe of fifths bit is well complicated. for instance, how can you tell that Eb has three flats just by looking at that picture??

goddam theory!!

[Froboarder]

mattiwillohouse wrote:

circe of fifths bit is well complicated. for instance, how can you tell that Eb has three flats just by looking at that picture??

goddam theory!!

If you go counterclockwise from C, you add a flat to each note you land on. Since Eb is 3 notes away from C, it has 3 flats. Another way to look at it is just by taking the major scale:
Eb F G Ab Bb C D
3 flats. Because of the rule of diatonics, it can't be like this:
Eb F G G# A# C D

[lukeuh36azabc]

best lesson on the entire site

an essential for EVERYONE!!!!!

[Spudderz]

Am I tho only person to find the part about intervals very vague?

[tenki]

this is great stuff! you can actually forgive some of his misgivings (if ever he had one), and still pull off some licks up from your own sleeve. you just have to understand what the lesson tells you to do, and see the results for yourself.

KEEP ON ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD!!!Ü

[gsomej]

Spudderz wrote:

Am I tho only person to find the part about intervals very vague?

I know huh? It confuses me so much. grrr

[mikes182]

This helped a lot. I'm still not sure about the whole diatonic section, but other then that this was a big help. I've been playing guitar for a while, but I don't really know anything about theory. This just started me on the right track. Thanks again.

[add_g]

im confused

[skwisgaar5051]

really good helped me with some stuff
kinda surprised it be written by a guy who thinks slash is good at guitar

[blacksurgeband]

gsomej wrote:

Spudderz wrote:

Am I tho only person to find the part about intervals very vague?

I know huh? It confuses me so much. grrr

Yeah I know what you mean, everything makes sense to me except intervals and chords :P

[decayingdave]

AgentWiggles wrote:
...And all of you saying theory makes you robotic and that you just "play your guitar": guess what?
You're using theory. Anytime you come up with something that sounds good, whether you like it or not, there's music theory behind it.

This stuff unlocks a whole new world of guitar playing, and if you refuse to learn it, you're not only being stubborn and stupid, but refusing to expand your skill on your instrument.

GREAT lesson.

Too Right Mate! Fair doos, if you don't understand this article then there's no need to throw your new toy out of the pram - To me, most of the above is complete gibberish, But I still appreciate that it's merely a complicated tool that I'm yet to understand.

Brilliant article, it's complicated (as all good theory articles are!) but unlike most, this covers EVERYTHING. Awesome.

[eGraham]

I've been playing for about 9 months now, and I'm just beginning to look into theory. I'm hoping I can expand my knowledge so that I can one day write good songs, that are dynamic. Not just C, D, Am, etc.

Anyway, this is actually my first night of studying it, and I think I understand the creating of chords, but I think I've missed everything else lol!

Anyway thanks for a good lesson, I'll be sure and check back once I'm able to focus a little better.

[PoopChute]

correct me if im wrong here but the notes and their intervals from any mode is just compared to the major scale. EG.
Major- C D E F G A B C =
W W W H W W W H =
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1

Dorian- C D Eb F G A Bb C =
W H W W W H W =
1 2 3b 4 5 6 7b
Any one see what i mean? because 3rd note is E in the major, its Eb or 3b in dorian. So if a guy goes and makes his own scale and wants to write out the intervals he does it in comparison of the major?

[pwnagegnome]

i have no idea whats going on, im just going to take a music theory class senior year

[dxpaintball8000]

hmmmm didn't really get any of it

[church773]

Thanks alot, the stuff on making chords helped me alot.
Also you explained the Co5 in a way I understood.

Awesome lesson, 10/10.

[FryingNemo]

Hey guys, I really want to commit to learning my theory, but it seem like quite a bit to wrap my head around. So, to give me some incentive to do this, how will theory help me? In what ways will it help me create better music?

[Fzau]

Thanks for the great lesson!
I was completely new to music theory (despite playing guitar for 1,5+ years now) and it really helped explaining how and why everything works. I dedicated two evenings to this lesson and now I understand all of it! Can't wait to apply this to my playing!
Kudos to you good sir!

[Doc5678]

One important thing to realize about music theory, is that none of it is new; very little has been added or changed in hundreds of years.

The major scale is as important as the name sounds - everything in music theory is described in reference to it. C Major is the simplest of all keys, having no sharps or flats. All the natural notes (A B C D E F G) are two "half-steps" apart, except E & F and B & C, being just one "half-step" apart.

The notes of C Major scale are: C D E F G A B (C)

[Doc5678]

Ok the comment I wrote was obviously far too long, I transcribed it to a thread in musician talk forum, if anyone is interested see here: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111315 8

[urbanesatan]

cool dude u practically gave a lot of stuff man thx

[PoopChute]

That mini solo b4 11.5 is perfect for my question. A teacher once told that certain key signatures have X amount of sharps or flats and they follow in order Eg: G major has 1# and its an F# then following the Co5 D has 2 F# and C# etc. But if you write down the notes and play that mini solo the notes are A B C D E F G#, I think thats diatonically correct and when i play it it seems to resolve on the A note so i think its in the key of A with a flatenned 3rd and 6th ( if I'm wrong plz let me know and explain so i may understand). Ok for my question when your trying to make your own scale how do figure out what key its in?

[akolyte123]

i see a lot of comments here saying that they dont understand this stuff and that it makes no sense. YOU CANT READ ONE ARTICLE ON MUSIC THEORY AND EXPECT TO UNDERSTAND IT ALL.(sry bout the caps just trying to make a point lol). its just like playing guitar you have to practice at this a lot to really understand. this is honestly not advanced music theory this is still basic it gets so much harder its ridiculous ive been studying for a while now and still have so musch to learn. and those people who say music theory isnt worth are the people who dont understand and dont try hard enough to understand and if you really want to make a career of this you wont get far in music if you dont understand your theory.

[moonatblack]

OMFGZ LAWL

[angus_young_32]

mybsaccownt wrote:

not to take anything away from the author of this one, but those who are having trouble here may benefit from trying this one:

http://www.zentao.com/guitar/theory/

i found it a lot easier to follow

Thank you!!!

[daniel731]

Great lesson, thanks!

[RegentBlack]

Wow, lots of stuff to go through
Especially the Chord Construction helped me alot!
I got it pretty fast´n´easy!
THX for your efforts

[DieGarbageMan]

No offense but you made this far more complicated than it needed to be, i went on another lesson to try and see what it was then come back here and see if i could understand it, and i still couldn't

but its a good guide and keep up the work.

[mynamesbetter]

I wish you can save lessons

[fivefiveFIVE]

I feel bad for all you lesser beings who weren't born with a guitar in hand and an extensive knowledge of music theory. Pathetic!

[fivefiveFIVE]

fivefiveFIVE wrote:

I feel bad for all you lesser beings who weren't born with a guitar in hand and an extensive knowledge of music theory. Pathetic!

Honestly, who needs to learn. Absorbing knowledge is where it's at man.

[fivefiveFIVE]

This lesson actually really helped me out, It has helped me improve not only with guitar but I can now jam on the piano!