Matt Ouellette's Blog

Hello, fellow "My Fox Bostionians", my name is Matt and is you're interested in the world of music theory, then sit back and hopefull you will learn something from this and use it to your musical advantage.

Before we get started, allow me to quickly give you a little bit of background info about myself. I have been playing the guitar (Electric, Acoustic 12 string guitars and some bass) for about 6 years now. Also, took up on some piano, too. I am a deep studier of music and even if I look like you "average rocker" I take my music and the music I study very seriously and am interested more than just a simply lifestyle. Trust me, you might learn something. ;-)

Okay, this blog post isn't just for guitarists but keep in mind that I, myself am a guitarist and that's how I learned music, so if I post too many guitar-bias references, please let me know and I will comment back to help clear some of the fog. I will try and aim this for all levels of musicians.

Okay, let's get started. Oh, by the way, this: "#" means "sharp" and this: "b" means flat. (Sharp is up a half step, Flat is down a half step)

---

Scales: Scales are very important in music, if not the most important part of music. For you beginers out there that think you're going to get by on just learning songs and not having a mind to know what key you are in and what scales built that song, unless if your name is Eddie Van-Halen, that's not going to happen.

Why study scales? 1. For technical skill and knowlege. Through a scale you will i ncreasr your strength with both hands and improve your dexterit, control and coordination using both hands together. 2. Scale studies should take you all through your instrument, assuring you that you will master difficult registers, locations and complex movements. 3. For the knowlege of theory in scales you will play more musically. You will improve your abilities to hear and play in refection. (Learning by ear). 4. Because I said so.

---

The Major Scale

Scale formula from Root "C": C  D  E  F  G  A  B  C

C major is often thought of as the simplest key, because it either has sharps or flats, as does it's relative minor of "A minor".  There is only one major scale, unlike the minor that has many variations. (We will get into that later.) Every major has a relative minor (See bottom of page) and I will explain how both fit together.

 

The Major Pentatonic Scale

Scale form. from Root "C":  C(R)  D(2,9)  E(3)  G(5)  A(6,13)

                                                      
          

This scale is called the "Major Pentatonic" because the interval from "C" to "E" is a major third, and helps to define the chord "C Major" found in this scale (C,E,G). Also, the word "Pentatonic" comes from the Greek/Latin "penta" meaning five. There are five notes in this scale.

When two numerals are shown to the right of a letter in the scale formular (Ex "D", above) the note has two functions or titles in the scale and its chords. As you can see, "D", in the major scale is both the 2nd not and the 9th and the "A" is both the sixth and the thirteenth.  This is only in effect when playing in two octaves.

The Natural Minor Scale

Scale form. from Root "C": C D Eb F G Ab Bb C

Scale form. from Root "A": A B C D E F G A

This is the "Natural Minor Scale". (You saw the title, right? haha). The Natural Minor Scale is really the major scale started from the 6th degree. That means A Natural Minor equal C Major making "A minor" C Major's relative minor. Get it? To make a major scale into the Natural Minor you flat the major 3rd to a minor third and flat the sixth and the seventh, as shown above in the scale in root "C".

The Minor Pentatonic Scale

Scale formula from Root "C":  C  Eb(b3)  F  G  Bb(b7)  C

Shown above you can see that we're calling Eb a "Flat third" because in the C Major scale the third note is "E". In the C Natural Minor scale, however, the "E" is flat. (Minor third). This scaled is also called the Minor Pentatonic because the scale contains 4 different tones. (And if you're asking about that 6th note, the C, that is just finishing up the scale with the high root octave, not a seperate note).

The Blues Scale

Scale formula from Root "C": C  Eb  F  F#  G  Bb

As you can see above, the Blues Scale is really the minor pentatonic scale with another nore added, the sharp fourth. ( or flat 5th, if you will) which is "F#". This one note, however, adds an insteresting and powerful sound and it is of a great importance in rock, blues and jazz improvisations. For all you B.B. King, Jimmi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan fans out there, this scale will be a treat for you. And yes, I do realise I just names three guitar players so, don't bother pointing that out! haha.

The Harmonic Minor Scale

Scale formula from root "C": C  D  Eb  F G Ab B C

In this "Harmonic Minor" scale, you take the Natural Minor and and sharp the "B" from a Bb of the minor, to a B-natural. This scale gives off a very unique middle-eastern like tone. For you Metallica fans out there (Yes, I know guitar-bias) listen to the guitar solos on "Wherever I May Roam", that is a great example of this type of scale.

The Melodic Minor (Jazz Minor) Scale

Scale formula from Root "C": C  D  Eb F  G  A  B  C

This is the Melodic Minor (Jazz Minor) scale. In the Harmonic Minor we took the Natrual minor scale and made the "B" note in that scale sharp from Bb. In this scale you not only make the Bb a B natural, but you do the same to the sixth, the Ab now becomes an A-Natural. One thing I learned in music is it makes a pretty cool effect in sound if you accend using the Natural Minor and decend using the Melodic Minor. It also makes a good finger excesise so your fingers don't get to fizzed in playing in the same positions all the time. Try it out!

---

Here is a list of major keys and the relative minor to it's right

C Major  -  A minor

D Major  -  B minor

E Major  -  C# minor

F Major  -  D minor

G Major  -  E minor

A Major  -  F# minor

B Major  -  G# minor

Bb Major - G minor

C# Major - Bb minor

F# Major -  D# minor

G# Major -  F minor

Eb Major -  C minor

---

Well, that's all for now, fellow My Fox Bostonians, of course this isn't all and everything about music scales, but I hope you learned something from this and gave you a strong foundation for other scales and modes to be used in the future. Any questions about this or music in general feel free to ask me and I will get back to you, or if you want to drop a comment to let me know what you think of this lesson, feel free to give me your commentary, I would appreciate it.

Thanks for reading,

Matt Ouellette, Fall River, MA