# Guitar/Scales

!The god of music Apollo strumming a lyre. In Greek mythology the lyre
was invented by Hermes who presented it to Apollo as recompense for
stealing his
cattle.

Western music uses twelve notes called the complete chromatic scale. The
seven white keys and their corresponding black keys on a keyboard allows
for easy visualization of the complete chromatic scale and the twelve
semitones. From this simple twelve note system are all the other scales
derived. A scale is simply a way of ordering the twelve sounds found in
Western Music. It must be borne in mind that music as an activity
precedes musical theory and that the scales we use now have an evolution
that predates written records. Today\'s scale system is referred to as
the major-minor system. Go back to the Medieval period and the system
used then was called the Church Modes. The study of scales should start
with the major scales and minor scales or the blues and pentatonic
scales. Unlike the piano where each semitone is represented by a key; on
the guitar each semitone is represented by a fret. Pianists visualize
the chromatic scale as the seven white keys and five black keys but
guitarists should visualize their complete chromatic scale as all the
notes from the open E string (low) up to the open high e string.
Basically play all the open notes and fretted notes on the first four
frets in sequence starting with the low open E string and ending on the
high open e string. This is the complete chromatic scale over two
octaves as visualized on the guitar. Scales take their names from the
first note played - the C major, C minor, C diminished are all scales
that start with C. For historical reasons the major scale and the minor
scale consists of seven notes. Other scales may use more than seven
notes and some (e.g. pentatonic = 5) less than seven notes.

It is important to remember that on the guitar, if you know the pattern
of a particular scale, you can move that pattern anywhere else on the
fret board and be playing in a different key. By this, I mean if you are
playing a major scale, beginning on the low E string at the fifth fret,
which is an A note and then you played the same pattern of notes, but
you started on the 3rd fret of the low E string, you will be playing a G
major scale. If this sounds confusing to you, read the entire article,
and if it is still unclear, see the musical
scale article on Wikipedia or the Music
Theory wikibook.

There are many different scales: the major scale, three different forms
of the minor scale, the blues scale, the pentatonic scale, the whole
tone scale, the diminished scale and some scales that originated in
Spain and India. There are also very interesting scales from eastern
music. It is possible to create your own scales by altering another as
you wish, or completely coming up with your own. Note that though there
are three minor scales (Natural. Harmonic and Melodic) you don\'t
actually have to learn three different scales. The Harmonic and Melodic
Minor scales are variations of the Natural Minor scale. After you have
learnt, for example, the A natural minor scale, you only have to sharpen
the seventh note to change it to a Harmonic minor scale. The Melodic
Minor has two notes sharpened - the sixth and seventh note. Once again
the reasons for the existence of these scales is historical. The
Harmonic minor scale is so called because it is from this scale that
minor harmony is usually taken. A simpler way of saying this is that the
Harmonic minor scale is the scale we use to build the chords in a minor
key. The Melodic Minor scale is so called because this scale is
frequently used for building melodies.

The \"Circle of Fifths\" is a memory aid for learning the major and
minor scales which can equally be applied to all scales. The scales in
common use have evolved over many centuries and the established major
scale, followed by the natural minor and then the two variants: the
harmonic minor scale and the melodic minor scale form the basis of
Western music. The \"Circle of Fifths\" and major scales in tab can be
found in the Scale Manual section of this book.

All scales in this section are in the key of A and presented in tab
except the Hungarian Minor which is given in the key of C. This means
that the root note of all these scales is A.

## Pentatonic Scales

Pentatonic scales are the least complicated, because they have five
notes rather than the seven notes used in the major scale. The
pentatonic scale is used extensively by blues and rock guitarists and
provides an ideal starting point for jamming along with recorded music.
A very famous song that uses the A minor pentatonic is \"Stairway To
Heaven\" by Led Zeppelin.

### A Minor Pentatonic

`   `**`A-C-D-E-G-A`**

Most guitarists feel comfortable beginning with the A minor pentatonic,
which is the single most popular scale for solos in Western music. Most
guitarists know this shape of the Am pentatonic scale by heart, mainly
because it is so frequently used in solos. It can also be used for
pretty much anything, especially if you want to give it a slightly
melancholy sound.

Remember that this scale pattern (and any other scale pattern) can be
moved up and down the fretboard therefore allowing the guitarist to play
in many different keys using the one shape.

!600x100

In this diagram, the notes are ordered sequentially up the scale (going
higher in pitch). The different octaves of the first degree of the scale
(in this case, the A note) are highlighted with a yellow dot.

#### Learning the Scale

When you are learning any scale, it is helpful to break it down into
smaller chunks, which can be practiced and memorized much more easily.
With the A minor pentatonic scale, it is most commonly broken down into
these sections.

Section 1:

```{=html}
<div style="line-height:1em">
```
`e |--0-------3--`\
`B |-----1----3--`\
`G |--0-----2----`\
`D |--0-----2----`\
`A |--0-------3--`\
`E |--0-------3--`

```{=html}
</div>
```
!A minor pentatonic
Ex1{width="800"}

Section 2:

```{=html}
<div style="line-height:1em">
```
`e |-----3-----5--`\
`B |-----3-----5--`\
`G |--2--------5--`\
`D |--2--------5--`\
`A |-----3-----5--`\
`E |-----3-----5--`

```{=html}
</div>
```
!A minor pentatonic
Ex2{width="800"}

Section 3:

```{=html}
<div style="line-height:1em">
```
`e |--5--------8--`\
`B |--5--------8--`\
`G |--5-----7-----`\
`D |--5-----7-----`\
`A |--5-----7-----`\
`E |--5--------8--`

```{=html}
</div>
```
!A minor pentatonic
Ex3{width="800"}

Section 4:

```{=html}
<div style="line-height:1em">
```
`e |-----8-----10-`\
`B |-----8-----10-`\
`G |--7-----9-----`\
`D |--7--------10-`\
`A |--7--------10-`\
`E |-----8-----10-`

```{=html}
</div>
```
!A minor pentatonic
Ex4{width="800"}

Section 5:

```{=html}
<div style="line-height:1em">
```
`e |----10----12--`\
`B |----10------13`\
`G |--9-------12--`\
`D |----10----12--`\
`A |----10----12--`\
`E |----10----12--`

```{=html}
</div>
```
!A minor pentatonic
Ex5{width="800"}

Scales should be practiced repeatedly and slowly. Scales are an ideal
way to improve hand co-ordination and finger memory which in turn leads
to a personal technique. A common technical problem associated with the
guitar is string noise. Even a simple chord movement from C to Am should
be played at the slowest speed possible with care being taken not to
bend the strings and for each note, open or fretted, to ring out
clearly. The A minor pentatonic shapes shown above should be played
slowly up and down. If you are playing with a plectrum then practice
alternate picking or tremolo
picking. To play scales with fingers
just alternate the index and middle finger of the right hand. If you are
using a steel-string acoustic then to avoid tendonitis and hand fatigue
it is advised that you tune your guitar down a tone when practising
scales.

#### The Blues scale

*Please see the Blues section for more
lessons.*

You can easily modify the minor pentatonic scale by adding a single note
and turning it into the blues scale - the flatted fifth note (b5) of the
scale. In the diagram below, A blues scale is shown at the fifth fret.
The number represent the frets played, and the numbers in parentheses
represent the Blue Note which, as the name suggests, is the major source
of the blues vibe in the scale. The blue note is not actually part of
the Minor Pentatonic scale, although it is often added in for extra
colour.

```{=html}
<div style="line-height:1em">
```
`e |--5--------8--`\
`B |--5--------8--`\
`G |--5-----7-(8)-`\
`D |--5-----7-----`\
`A |--5-(6)-7-----`\
`E |--5--------8--`

```{=html}
</div>
```
!A minor pentatonic including \"blue\"
notes{width="800"}


### Major Pentatonic

The A major pentatonic also has five notes:

**A-B-C#-E-F#-A**

!600x100

The major pentatonic can be formed from any seven note major scale by
simply leaving out the fourth and seventh note. The difference between
the A minor pentatonic and the A major pentatonic is their modality.
They both use the same first degree, however it is the interval between
the first degree and the third that defines a scales modality. In the
major pentatonic we have a major third (A - C#) so therefore the modal
quality of this scale is major. The minor pentatonic has a minor third
(A - C) and therefore the modal quality of this scale is minor. Though
they both have the same tonality by starting on the same note they
differ in sound. Understanding that it is the third of a scale that
determines whether a scale is minor mode or major mode is important. In
a scale the I, IV and V notes are called the tonal degrees and the III,
VI, and VII notes are called the modal degrees.

```{=html}
<div style="line-height:1em">
```
`e |-----5---------`\
`B |-----5-----7---`\
`G |--4-----6------`\
`D |--4--------7---`\
`A |--4--------7---`\
`E |-----5-----7---`

```{=html}
</div>
```
!A major pentatonic scale - two
octaves{width="800"}

Practice this the same way you practice the minor pentatonic scale. When
you feel completely comfortable with both pentatonic scales, begin to
explore the other different scales. 

## Major Scale

The pattern for any major scale is 2-2-1-2-2-2-1, meaning that the
difference from the first note to the second is 2 frets, from the second
to the third is 2 frets, from the third to the fourth is 1 fret, etc.
The difference in notes can also be called steps, 2 notes being a whole
step, and 1 note being a half step. This pattern in steps can be shown
as W-W-H-W-W-W-H or as full tones and semitones T-T-S-T-T-T-S.

Major scale in the key of A

**A-B-C#-D-E-F#-G#-A**

```{=html}
<div style="line-height:1em">
```
`e |-4-5---------`\
`B |---5---7-----`\
`G |-4---6-7-----`\
`D |-4---6-7-----`\
`A |-4-5---7-----`\
`E |---5---7-----`

```{=html}
</div>
```
\[\[Image:A major scale for guitar two octave 4th
position.png\|thumb\|800px\|left\|A major scale - two

`octaves]]`

## Natural Minor Scale

The pattern for any natural minor scale is 2-1-2-2-1-2-2, shown in steps
as W-H-W-W-H-W-W

Natural Minor Scale in the key of A

**A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A**

```{=html}
<div style="line-height:1em">
```
`e |---5--------`\
`B |---5-6---8--`\
`G |-4-5---7----`\
`D |---5---7----`\
`A |---5---7-8--`\
`E |---5---7-8--`

```{=html}
</div>
```
!A natural minor scale - two
octaves{width="800"}

The movable shape for this scale is shown:

```{=html}
<div style="line-height:1em">
```
`e |-------|---x---|-------|-------|-------|`\
`B |-------|---x---|---x---|-------|---x---|`\
`G |---x---|---x---|-------|---x---|-------|`\
`D |-------|---x---|-------|---x---|-------|`\
`A |-------|---x---|-------|---x---|---x---|`\
`E |-------|---x---|-------|---x---|---x---|`\
`             5th`

```{=html}
</div>
```
## Harmonic Minor Scale

The Harmonic minor scale has a very different quality than the minor
pentatonic scale. It has a \"middle-eastern\" sound when used to play
lead lines.

**A-B-C-D-E-F-G#-A**

This is a moveable shape and to play in other keys just move the shape
up or down the neck:

```{=html}
<div style="line-height:1em">
```
`e |--4--5-----7--8--`\
`B |-----5--6--------`\
`G |--4--5-----7-----`\
`D |--------6--7-----`\
`A |-----5-----7--8--`\
`E |-----5-----7--8--`

```{=html}
</div>
```
!A harmonic minor scale - two
octaves{width="800"}

This looks a little more complicated, and is certainly more difficult to
get to sound nice, but when you have mastered it, it will sound great!


## Melodic Minor Scale

This scale is actually *two* scales. Thus when one speaks of a \"melodic
minor\" pattern, one refers to two patterns - one ascending and one
descending.

**A-B-C-D-E-F#-G#-A** (ascending) **A-G-F-E-D-C-B-A** (descending)

This is best illustrated by playing the melodic minor scale. Below is
the A melodic minor scale in tab; note the sharps when ascending and the
naturals when descending.

!A melodic minor scale - one
octave{width="800"}

The ascending pattern is constructed by raising the 6th and 7th steps of
the natural minor scale. When descending the normal natural minor scale
is used without the 6th and 7th raised. The reason for this is to be
found in singing. Vocalists find the augmented second between the F and
G sharp in the Harmonic minor scale very awkward to sing. It is not
impossible but the dissonance of the interval and the sense of
\"leaping\" meant that a different approach was sought. The answer was
to also raise the sixth note. The awkward augmented second was gone and
the melody flowed better due to the absence of the leap.

## Hungarian Minor

The Hungarian minor scale is a type of combined musical scale. It is
akin to the harmonic minor scale, except that it bears a raised fourth.
Its tonal center is slightly ambiguous, due to the large number of half
steps. Also known as Double Harmonic Minor, or Harmonic Minor #4, it
figures prominently in Eastern European music, particularly in gypsy
music. Melodies based on this scale have an exotic, romantic flavor.

```{=html}
<div style="line-height:1em">
```
`e |--7--8-----10--11--`\
`B |--7--8--9----------`\
`G |--7--8-------------`\
`D |--------9--10------`\
`A |--------9--10--11--`\
`E |-----8-----10--11--`

```{=html}
</div>
```
!C Hungarian minor scale - one
octave{width="800"}

A Hungarian minor scale in the key of C would proceed as follows:

**C-D-Eb-F#-G-Ab-B-C**

Its scale degrees are 1 2 b3 #4 5 b6 7 and its step pattern w - h - + -
h - h - + - h, where w indicates a whole step, h indicates a half step,
and + indicates an augmented second. 

### Derived chords

Chords that may be derived from the Hungarian minor scale are:

<File:C> minor barre chord for guitar 3rd position.png\|**C Minor**
<File:D7b5> chord for guitar 5th position.png\|**D7 Flat Fifth**
<File:E> augmented chord for guitar open position.png\|**E Flat
Augmented** <File:G> major chord for guitar open position (no doubled
third).png\|**G Major** <File:A> flat seventh chord for guitar barre 4th
position.png\|**A Flat Seventh** <File:B> minor sixth chord for guitar
open position.png\|**B Minor Sixth**

This scale is obtainable from the \*Arabic scale by starting from the
fourth of that scale. Said another way, the C Hungarian minor scale is
equivalent to the G Arabic scale.

In the video game, The Illusion of Gaia (published by the Enix
Corporation), the flute melody found in the Inca Ruins uses the C
Hungarian minor scale (a #4 is used in the second phrase); this music is
also quoted when the player reaches the Larai Cliff stage of the game,
transposed to D.

Joe Satriani has composed several songs using the Hungarian minor scale.

## Church Modes

The Church Modes preceded the Major-Minor system. The student is advised
to listen to the music of Palestrina as well as the jazz album *Kind of
Blue* by Miles Davis; both use modes to great effect.

For example, in the key of C, the notes are:

**C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C**

If you wanted to play in the 2nd mode, called the Dorian mode, then you
would just play the same notes, but start on the second note. So instead
you would play:

**D-E-F-G-A-B-C-D**

The different modes are called:

-   Ionian
-   Dorian
-   Phrygian
-   Lydian
-   Mixolydian
-   Aeolian
-   Locrian

The Phrygian mode - **E F G A B C D E** - is of special interest to
flamenco players. The third and seventh degrees are often sharpened,
giving the scale notes **E F G# A B C D# E**. This arrangement is
commonly used in descending form. The second degree of the scale is
referred to as a leaning note, which means the note tends to fall one
semitone. In this case F falls to E.

