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intermediate course
Major and Minor Scales
Understand how scales are generated from step patterns, spell them in any key, and play them on the neck in any position.
By the end you'll be able to:
- Build a major or natural minor scale from any tonic
- Explain relative major and minor keys
- Play and move one-octave scale shapes to any key
Major and Minor Scales
Degrees, step patterns, spelling, relative keys, scale shapes and transposition.
- What Is a Scale?A scale is a set of notes in order, starting from a home note called the tonic.7 min · 3 exercises
- The Major Scale PatternWhole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half: the recipe behind every major scale.10 min · 4 exercises
- Major Scales in Any KeyTwo rules let you spell any major scale without memorising charts.11 min · 6 exercises
- The Natural Minor ScaleA different step pattern gives the darker sound of minor keys.10 min · 5 exercises
- Relative Major and MinorEvery major scale shares its notes with a minor scale. Only the home note changes.9 min · 5 exercises
- Scale Shapes Across StringsPlay a scale in one hand position instead of sliding along a single string.11 min · 3 exercises
- Moving Scales to New KeysShapes are moveable: put the root on a new fret and the whole scale follows.11 min · 6 exercises
- Checkpoint: Major and Minor ScalesCheckpointSpell, build and move scales in keys you haven't practised.12 min · 8 exercises