Thursday, October 3, 2013

A Beginners Guide To Scales




There are plenty of musical scale we can find and play, but basically their function are not to be remembered all because they are not useful if we cannot play them in improvisation. Thus, it's recommended if beginner musician are focused to learn only two scale : Diatonic and Pentatonic.
A pentatonic scale is a musical scale with five pitches per octave in contrast to an heptatonic (seven note) scale such as the major scale. Generally it's divided into major pentatonic and minor pentatonic scale. Major pentatonic starting from C are C-G-D-A-E, whereas minor pentatonic starting on C are C-Eb-F-G-Bb, they are just example for C as root (starting tone) and you could find yourself for another roots by using a same "fingers pattern". For instance, if you use A as root so the composition would be A-C-D-E-G.





Finish in discussing pentatonic scale, now we jump to Diatonic scale as my favorite scale. I bet that much of you are familiar with it because it was known as "do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do". But have you realize that diatonic scale is very important? Its importance was evolved to be various scale we have ever heard.
Diatonic scale was divided into seven music modes, they are : Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolidian, Aeolian, and Locrian. If we know these all modes, so we have a good starting point in learning music improvisation. For necessity of advanced scales, you will need to master the "altered scale", it is a method to find a different and unique tones from a common scale. For instance, the altered scale of C diatonic major (C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C) are C-Db-Eb-Fb-Gb-Ab-Bb-C, you see that those notes are completely different from the origin C diatonic major and it could be applied if we have a great soul and feeling in music improvisation. Thus from now, start with a basic scale, keep listening to the high quality musics/song, and have a lot of practice...
A music scale usually refers to a progression of single notes upwards or downwards in steps. The word scale comes from the Latin word la scala which means ladder, or stairway. A musical scale is a ladder of notes that runs from the root note to the octave note (octave means eight, as in octopus, octagon, etc., therefore eight notes in a scale.)
Most beginners in music are introduced to the concept of scales very early in their training. Despite this, it sometimes takes a few years of training to get good understanding of how scales work.
A scale begins with a root, called the tonic. In a C scale (the first one most beginning musicians learn) the tonic note is C. The scale progresses either up or downward until it reaches the same note in the next octave. The C scale is an easy example. It begins with the tonic C. Going upward, the notes following are D, E, F, G, A, B and C. Downward, the note progression is C, B, A, G, F, E, D and C. The C scale has a total of eight notes. The distance from the tonic note to the next note of the same name is referred to as an octave. A scale in eight notes is called a diatonic scale.
Most modern instruments, including the piano, actually contain 12 notes in an octave. This is because semitones are included. The notes that comprise the semitones on a piano in a C scale are the black keys. A scale that includes the semitones is known as a chromatic scale. A chromatic C scale going upwards would be C, C sharp, D, D sharp, E, F, F sharp, G, G sharp, A, A sharp, B and C. Downward, the notes are C, B, B flat, A, A flat, G, G flat, F, E, E flat, D, D flat and C.
A pentatonic scale is scale of five notes. Pentatonic scales are not often used in Western music. The major exception to this rule would be in American blues and some rock music. They are preferred in other cultures though, such as Asian. Pentatonic scales are also common in Celtic and African music. Less common are hexatonic (six steps) and heptatonic scales (seven steps). Scales may also be octatonic (containing eight steps). These are commonly found in modern classical and jazz music.
The intervals between the notes on any scale (diatonic, chromatic, etc.) determine the type of scale. An interval is defined as the distance between two notes. They are also sometimes referred to as steps. Scales can be major (M), minor (m), perfect (P), augmented (A) or diminished (d or dim). The type of scale is determined by the size of the intervals. Interval sizes can be unisons, seconds, thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths and sevenths. Major and minor scales are 2nds, 3rds, 6ths, and 7ths. Unisons, 4ths, 5ths and octaves are perfect.
Sometimes scales may be referred to as modal. A simple definition of a modal scale is a series of notes in a scale, but which lack a primary or tonic note. Therefore many scales may have several modes. For example, every major scale actually has seven different modal scales.

It can take several years of training before a musician gets a good handle on scales and chords. However, even the youngest and newest of musicians use scales and the principles behind them every day. Mastering their theory may come later. Of course, every musician knows that only practice makes perfect!

The sound of someone playing blues on guitar includes a very distinct sound. From Eric Clapton to Stevie Ray Vaughan the sound they might make is usually referred to as smoky because of its alluring power.
To experience the blues you will find a number of tricks to understand from blues guitar scales, blues chords and blues licks. Anyone can study the guitar, some want to be a killer guitar player others just want to become able to take part in the guitar for the hobby.
Most people are confused about where to start learning to play the blues on guitar. Extra cash or time on the system that does not teach those valuable blues guitar scales is really a waste.
A lot of music sheets or types of teaching will overwhelm a lot of individuals due to information overload. The brain simply doesn't work this way.
It just appears like a page of confusion. Blues scale for guitar doesn't have to look this way. Asking questions in the music store can be type of embarrassing. Some can be extremely helpful but others either don't know and can't be bothered to help you when confronted with questions about what are the best blues guitar lessons.
People want answers once they enter the store, not more confusion. What most people find is that they are either met with indignation or are bombarded with numerous options they simply don't know how to start. Walking out of a store feeling even more confused and downhearted isn't how anyone wants to feel.
Learning step-by-step may be the easiest and it is really fast to turn every beginner into a blues guitarist. Within days they will have the technique and the skills to be able to make some hot sounds.
The easiest, simplest way to begin with is definitely the best way to begin with. Learning everything through your guitar chops, riffs, licks and scales will have people jamming within days. By showing a system that's broken down in steps that is east to understand and much easier to retain.
5 simple what to remember when learning to play blues guitar scales are:
• Choose a course that teaches you patterns and techniques the simplest way so it can be followed
• Learn all about the chords and scales the blues greats play – by learning the names and sounds after which the way to put it in to practice it may then be applied
• As a blues fan means learning how to play every variation and complex sounds, so choose wisely
• Intermediate and experienced guitar players will discover the detail by detail system will open a number of doors which will really mean they can finally quit your day job!

• Learning blues scales combinations with a number of additional chords skills turns an ok guitarist right into a star There isn't any point throwing out money on guitar lessons that are not effective. Hearing someone play the blues takes people on a journey they never wish to end. Playing the blues yourself means you'll end up being on a trip of a lifetime that doesn't have to stop.

A music scale usually refers to a progression of single notes upwards or downwards in steps. The word scale comes from the Latin word la scala which means ladder, or stairway. A musical scale is a ladder of notes that runs from the root note to the octave note (octave means eight, as in octopus, octagon, etc., therefore eight notes in a scale.)

Most beginners in music are introduced to the concept of scales very early in their training. Despite this, it sometimes takes a few years of training to get good understanding of how scales work.

A scale begins with a root, called the tonic. In a C scale (the first one most beginning musicians learn) the tonic note is C. The scale progresses either up or downward until it reaches the same note in the next octave. The C scale is an easy example. It begins with the tonic C. Going upward, the notes following are D, E, F, G, A, B and C. Downward, the note progression is C, B, A, G, F, E, D and C. The C scale has a total of eight notes. The distance from the tonic note to the next note of the same name is referred to as an octave. A scale in eight notes is called a diatonic scale.

Most modern instruments, including the piano, actually contain 12 notes in an octave. This is because semitones are included. The notes that comprise the semitones on a piano in a C scale are the black keys. A scale that includes the semitones is known as a chromatic scale. A chromatic C scale going upwards would be C, C sharp, D, D sharp, E, F, F sharp, G, G sharp, A, A sharp, B and C. Downward, the notes are C, B, B flat, A, A flat, G, G flat, F, E, E flat, D, D flat and C.

A pentatonic scale is scale of five notes. Pentatonic scales are not often used in Western music. The major exception to this rule would be in American blues and some rock music. They are preferred in other cultures though, such as Asian. Pentatonic scales are also common in Celtic and African music. Less common are hexatonic (six steps) and heptatonic scales (seven steps). Scales may also be octatonic (containing eight steps). These are commonly found in modern classical and jazz music.

The intervals between the notes on any scale (diatonic, chromatic, etc.) determine the type of scale. An interval is defined as the distance between two notes. They are also sometimes referred to as steps. Scales can be major (M), minor (m), perfect (P), augmented (A) or diminished (d or dim). The type of scale is determined by the size of the intervals. Interval sizes can be unisons, seconds, thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths and sevenths. Major and minor scales are 2nds, 3rds, 6ths, and 7ths. Unisons, 4ths, 5ths and octaves are perfect.

Sometimes scales may be referred to as modal. A simple definition of a modal scale is a series of notes in a scale, but which lack a primary or tonic note. Therefore many scales may have several modes. For example, every major scale actually has seven different modal scales.

It can take several years of training before a musician gets a good handle on scales and chords. However, even the youngest and newest of musicians use scales and the principles behind them every day. Mastering their theory may come later. Of course, every musician knows that only practice makes perfect!

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