Scales 1/2

Today, let's talk about... scales.

What's a scale? A scale is a sequence of musical notes, usually 7, associated to a mode or tonality (eg. C major = C major scale). A scale is usually played from the tonic (first note). Here is, in an ascending order, every degree of the C major scale :

1 - Tonic (C)
2 - Supertonic (D)
3 - Mediant (E)
4 - Subdominant (F)
5 - Dominant (G)
6 - Submediant (A)
7 - Leading tone(B)

Scales are divided, based on the intervals between the notes they contain.

1 - Perfect unison
2 - Second
3 - Third
4 - Fourth
5 - Fifth
6 - Sixth
7 - Seventh

For now, let's stop here. (For more info : Wikipedia).
Simply be aware that a major scale always contains the same intervals. Whatever the key is, the same order must be respected. It is thus necessary to learn properly this sequence on your guitar to be able to play in any key.

To do so, I use the "square" system. In the following diagram, I wrote every important major and minor scale positions.

Let's take the first major scale pattern (6-1). The tonic is represented by a little square. This means you can play this pattern anywhere on the guitar fretboard, and the "square" will determine which key you're playing in! For example, let's say you start the pattern on the third fret on the lower string (G note), you'll find yourself playing a G major scale.

Now, the first thing you need to do is to learn every position, one by one, of the major scale by playing from one square to the next (a complete scale) and so forth. Pick a key (I recommend C to begin), then play all the patterns starting from a C note (either on the 6th or 5th string depending on the chosen pattern). Everything will make sense soon enough!

Take note of the numbers written on the left side of the sheet : 1-2-3-4-5-6-7. They simply tell you the 7 degrees of the scale you're playing. For the major scale, they're all naturel (no alteration). To play, let's say, a melodic minor scale, you just need to lower the third (b3).

* 6-1,6-2 and the rest simply mean which string (6 or 5) and which finger (1, 2 or 4) you're using to play the first note of a scale pattern.