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1.0 - Introduction
1.1 - Where to start?
1.2 - The first 10 thing to learn
2.0 - What intervals and steps are
2.1 - Interval guide
2.2 - Steps
2.3 - Tones and semi-tones
3.0 - Understanding the Chromatic scale
4.0 - The Major scale
4.1 - Triads
5.0 - The Circle of Fifths and Key Signatures Introduction
5.1 - The Circle of Fifths
5.2 - Key Signatures - How they work
6.0 - Chord Construction
6.1 - Extending
6.2 - Altering
6.3 - Suspended Chords
6.4 - Inversions
7.0 - The meaning of "Diatonic" and what it does
7.1 - Diatonic in chords
7.2 - Diatonic in scales
7.3 - E# and B# DO exist
8.0 - Finding out what chords are in what key
9.0 - Natural Minor, Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor scales Introduction
9.1 - Natural Minor Scale
9.2 - Harmonic Minor Scale
9.3.0 - Melodic Minor Ascending
9.3.1 - Melodic Minor Descending
9.4 - What chords do these scales go with?
10.0 - The Modes of the Major scale Introduction
10.1 - Using the intervals
10.2 - Using the Steps
10.3 - Using the modes over chords
Since I am an avid believer of not using steps, except for the major scale, you
are going to have to learn what intervals are, and what steps are. Once you
have learned how to get the major scale, all the #9, and b7 will come into the
clear and become understandable. The major scale is the basis of which pretty
much all chords and scales are derived from. If you've ever heard "1 3 5" or "1 2
b3 4 5 b6 b7 1" you will know that those "formulas" are in relation to the major
scale.
1.2 - The first 10 things to learn
This is a list for easy reference, and everything is explained down the in this
article. 1, being the first thing to learn, etc.
01. What Intervals and Steps are
02. Understanding the Chromatic Scale
First, I'll start with intervals and steps, as they are critical in learning how
everything works, and they help you understand the major scale, and almost
everything on this list. And interval is the space between one note and another.
When you see 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1, those are intervals. Learning intervals is very
important when learning everything in this article, because I dislike steps. I will
get into that more in the steps section.
2.1 - Interval guide
This is an easy reference chart to look at for naming intervals. This example is
in the key of C, for simplicity, but can be applied to any root note to find the
intervals of that key.
Interval | Name
| Note.(In C)
----------------------------------------------1 | Unison (root note) | C
b2 | Minor Second
| Db
2 | Major Second
|D
#2 | Augmented Second
| D#
b3 | Minor Third
| Eb
3 | Major Third
|E
4 | Perfect Fourth
|F
#4 | Augmented Fourth
| F#
b5 | Diminished Fifth
| Gb
5 | Perfect Fifth
|G
#5 | Augmented Fifth
| G#
b6 | Minor Sixth
| Ab
6 | Major Sixth
|A
#6 | Augmented Sixth
| A#
bb7 | Diminished Seventh | Bbb
b7 | Minor Seventh
| Bb
7 | Major Seventh
|B
8 | Unison (Octave higher) | C
b9 | Minor Ninth
| Db
9 | Major Ninth
|D
#9 | Augmented Ninth
| D#
----------------------------------------------etc.
The intervals repeat, where 2 = 9, 3 = 10, 4 = 11, etc. Notice that you're adding
7 to get the octave higher interval. For those who don't know what an octave is:
An octave is the same exact note only played higher. Ex. middle C on a piano,
and the next C, going higher are an octave apart. Just like b9 is an octave
higher than b2.
When dealing with intervallic inversions (more on that later, this needs to be
said in the interval section) you need to know a couple things. You have 4
perfect intervals. Unison, Fourth, Fifth, and Octave. A perfect interval inverts
to a perfect interval, and when you ad the interval numbers together, you will
always get 9. So if you know a P4 inverts to another perfect interval, you know
(9-4 = 5, P inverts to P) so a P4 inverts to a P5. Same thing with unison. Unison
inverts to the octave. The other intervals (2, 3, 6, 7) are either minor or major,
and a major interval inverts to a minor one, and vice versa. So with your
formula, you can find that a minor third inverts to a major sixth (3 + 6 = 9). Then
an augmented interval inverts to a diminished interval. A perfect interval goes
right to diminished when its flattened, and all intervals go right to augmented
when sharpened. An inverted interval is the same as a normal interval but
instead of going up the chart (1-b2, ex) you are going down. Here's a chart for
your inversions.
P1 - P8
m2 - M7
M2 - m7
m3 - M6
M3 - m6
P4 - P5
A4 - D5
D7 - A2
P = Perfect
m = Minor
M = Major
D = Diminished
A = Augmented
Some intervals aren't used as much as others, but still exist. b10 is still an
acceptable name, but will more commonly be call #9. 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths
are used more often than their enharmonic (Enharmonic- Same note; different
name) siblings.
2.2 - Steps, 2.3 - Tones and Semi-Tones
Steps. These are what many beginners use to form scales and the such, but
here's what I'm going to do. I'll explain the steps and show you how to use
them, but it's up to you whether you use steps or intervals. A choice! Steps can
identify how far two notes are apart and they can (if you must) form scales.
There are two common types of steps. A whole step and a half step. A whole
step (Indicated by the letter "W") which is two frets. E - F# is a whole step. I've
seen people who think E-F is a whole step. It is not. Two frets! This makes a
half step self explanatory. It's one fret. E-F, G-G# and half steps apart. This will
all make sense after reading the section just below, 3.0- Understanding the
Chromatic scale. Right now steps might seem a little pointless but they play a
big part in the next section.
Tones and semitones are the same as steps, just with a different name. I use
steps throughout, but you can think of them as tones throughout:
T = Tone = Whole step
S = Semitone = Half Step
The Chromatic is very simple and easy to understand but it is important and it's
very helpful to know. It makes it a breeze to memorize the notes on the fret
board, and just know notes in general. The Chromatic scale is a series of 12
notes starting from any note (doesn't matter which one... You could use D# for
all I care) and going up by half steps. Ex. playing any open string, and
preceding to play each note, going up by one fret each time will give you a
chromatic scale. But... There's a catch! Not every note has a sharp/flat between
them. This applies to all the notes except between B - C and E - F. There is
nothing between B - C and E - F. Your chromatic scale (in C) is:
C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Bb B C
Remember the enharmonic notes! D# is enharmonic to Eb. It is indicated with a
"/".
Know it inside and out, as you should. Very important stuff. As short of a section
this takes, it is just as important as the others.
4.0 - The Major Scale
Possible the most important thing here. Everything from chords to scales is
derived from the major scale. You can even use the major scale when soloing
and writing, as it's a normal scale too. It's just more important. The formula, in
steps for the major scale is W W H W W W H. You apply that in any key (I'm
using C again) and you get the major scale.
C D E F GAB C
WWHWWWH
Notice how those notes fit right into the formula? Let's try it with E.
E F# G# A B C# D# E
WWHWWWH
Apply that to any note you want to find its major scale.
You must know this. Memorize the WWHWWWH however you want, and once
you know the major scales (Wait for Circle Of Fifths, it helps) everything is
dramatically easier.
4.1 - Triads
Triads are three note chords. I'm going to slip this in before chord construction
while you're hot of the press of the major scale. I'll also teach you the way to
make chords with intervals (as that how they're done). There are 4 types of
triads. Major, Minor, Augmented, Diminished. They are each different in
formation and sound different. Four different formulas... Easy to remember, ok?
Major: 1 3 5
Minor: 1 b3 5
Augmented: 1 3 #5
Diminished: 1 b3 b5
Major Triads are unaltered. You take the first, third and fifth notes of the major
scale. The major chord you want (F, for example) is the scale you use. F uses F
major scale, C uses C major scale, etc... In C you have C E G, in F you have
F A C, and so on. Another way to say this is "Root, Major Third, and Perfect
Fifth".
Minor Triads are like the major triads, in that you do the same thing to form
them except you lower the third by one half step. In C you get C Eb G, E is E G
B, and so on. Another way to say it is "Root, Minor Third, and Perfect Fifth".
Augmented Triads follow the same rule for creating them. You always use the
major scale to make chords. Always. Same as the major triad, but you're raising
the fifth by a half step. In C, C E G#, A is A C# E#. Augmented Triads can be
said as "Root, Major Third, and Augmented Fifth". Augmented triads are
stacked major thirds.
Diminished Triads, like all the other ones are based off the major scale. You
are lowering the third AND the fifth in the formula. In C it is C Eb Gb, A is A C
Eb. Diminished Triads are "Root, Minor Third, and Diminished Fifth".
Remember how I said Augmented Triads were stacked major thirds? Well,
diminished triads are stacked minor thirds. This knowledge will come in handy
in the chord construction section.
5.0 - The Circle of Fifths and Key Signatures Introduction
The Circle of Fifths (Short form - Co5) is a tool to help you with major scales
and Key Signatures. In this section I'll show you the Co5, how it works, the
actual circle, and I'll move on to key signatures, explaining what they are and
what they do. The Co5 is a must know for all theory beginners because it helps
you identify major scales, and it becomes easy to play in key.
5.1 - The Circle of Fifths
The CoF (or Co5) is your tool to find what notes are in what key. This is very
useful to me and many other people, but if you don't want to use it, and can
remember all the major scales another way, that's fine. As long as you know the
info it's all good. As you move clockwise from C, you go up a fifth. This is the
Circle of Fifths:
Notice how G is a perfect fifth from C, B is from E, etc... You don't really have to
memorize this but it does help. If you can picture a fifth interval in your head
(think power chords) then this isn't hard to memorize at all.
Starting at the top, at C there are no sharps or flats. As you turn clockwise (To
G) you add 1 sharp to the key signature, until you get to F#. Same with going to
F. You add one flat to the key signature. How do you know what sharp or flat to
add? Well, here is the order:
Sharps: F C G D A E B
Flats: B E A D G C F
Sharps to the left, and flats to the right. So if we know D has two sharps, then
we look at the line here. F# and C# are the sharps in the key of D. Now take Eb.
We know from the Co5 that it has 3 flats, and the line tells us the first 3 flats are
B, E and A. So we know Eb had Bb, Eb, and Ab in it. This is what helps you
will the major scales. Since we know D has F# and C#, we then know D major
scale is D E F# G A B C# D. In Eb, we know it would be Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb.
You can do this for every key. Take any note off there, find how many flats or
sharps it has, then look at the line to see what flats or sharps it has. That way
you can find the major scale of any key.
The key with the most sharps in its key signature is C#. For flats, it's Cb. Notice
how those scales are directly opposite each other in the CoF. Likewise, the
scales with one sharp/flat, G and F, are opposite each other. The same applies
to D and Bb.
Another interesting aspect of the CoF is that the notes the furthest apart are
always a tritone apart. C is a tritone away from Gb and F#, Db and C# are a
tritone away from G, etc. This relationship should reinforce the concept that a
tritone is right in the middle of the octave.
What about minor keys you ask? Here's a simple trick: Look at the above
picture of the circle of fifths side ways, starting from A. A is the relative minor to
C.
Same rules apply. Dm has 1 flat, and it is B, so we know Dm scale is D E F G
A Bb C D. More on minor scales later.
5.2 - Key Signatures. How They Work
Key signatures make reading music much easier, and they tell what key the
song is in. Key signatures help when composing pieces also.
In your key signature say you have a Bb, and an Eb. From Co5 you know that's
the key of Bb major. All notes throughout the piece that are B and E are to be
played as Bb and Eb. This makes writing music easier, so you don't have to use
so many accidentals (accidentals - sharps and flats). You won't find key
signatures so much on conventional TAB, but on sheet music and Power Tabs,
and even Guitar One transcriptions there are key signatures. So, with your Bb
and Eb in the key signature, all B's and E's are to be played as Bb and Eb
throughout, unless there is a natural sign () (Google the natural sign - I can't
type it).
With Co5, you know what flats are in what key signature. Here's a list, with both
sharps and flats, for easy reference.
C major: No flats/sharps
G major: F#
D major: F# C#
A major: F# C# G#
E major: F# C# G# D#
B major: F# C# G# D# A#
F# major: F# C# G# D# A# E#
C# major: F# C# G# D# A# E# B#
*****************************
C major: No flats/sharps
F major: Bb
Bb major: Bb Eb
Eb major: Bb Eb Ab
Ab major: Bb Eb Ab Db
Db major: Bb Eb Ab Db Gb
Gb major: Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb
Cb major: Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb Fb
Here's how you make chords. Chord construction is very important is you've
ever wanted to make a chord, or learn more chords and not known how. Let's
get right into it. Since you already know your 4 triads:
Major - 1 3 5
Minor - 1 b3 5
Augmented - 1 3 #5
Diminished - 1 b3 b5
That's great. Because that is the beginning of chord construction. You already
know the basics of it, but I'll teach you how to alter them and extend them to get
the chords you want for your own playing.
6.1 - Extending
This how you can make other chords that are different from your triads. All you
really do is extend your triads in this section, and then we'll alter them in the
next section. I'll give you some formulas for extended chords here.
_7 (dominant 7th): 1 3 5 b7
maj7 (major 7th) : 1 3 5 7
m7 (minor 7th) : 1 b3 5 b7
Those are your 3 most common extensions, and they can go even farther, but
hers some examples.
C7 : C E G Bb
Cmaj7: C E G B
Cm7 : C Eb G Bb
Now we can extend those to 9, 11, and 13. You must have a 7th degree in the
scale to call it _maj9, or _11, because the 7th tone is what "supports" the
further extensions. Without the 7th degree (b7, or 7) your 9, 11, or 13 degrees
become an "add chord"... Add chords explained in the next section!
_9 : 1 3 5 b7 9
_11: 1 3 5 b7 (9) 11
_13: 1 3 5 b7 (9) (11) 13
The numbers in brackets represent the optional notes. You can still have G13
without the 9 and 11. Also, every chord where the fifth is unaltered, or needed, it
can be omitted.
_maj9 : 1 3 5 7 9
_maj11: 1 3 5 7 (9) 11
_maj13: 1 3 5 7 (9) (11) 13
_m9 : 1 b3 5 b7 9
_m11: 1 b3 5 b7 (9) 11
_m13: 1 b3 5 b7 (9) (11) 13
What about the diminished and augmented triads? Can you extend them too?
Yes.
_7 ( = dim): 1 b3 b5 bb7.
These notes are all a minor third away from each other, until you extend more.
_9 : 1 b3 b5 bb7 9
_11: 1 b3 b5 bb7 (9) 11
_13: 1 b3 b5 bb7 (9) (11) 13
_+7 (+ = aug): 1 3 #5 b7
_+9 : 1 3 #5 b7 9
_+11 : 1 3 #5 b7 (9) 11
_+13 : 1 3 #5 b7 (9) (11) 13
Remember, those are all in relation to the major scale, and the 9 is enharmonic
to the 2, etc... They don't have to be an octave higher, because you shouldn't
name a chord _7(add2) because the 2nd is better named as a 9, making _9.
6.2 - Altering
This is how you can make your chords suit your needs, and also in this section
as well as altering, I'll show you some other extended chords that could be
considered "altered". Most alterations explain themselves. If the name says
Em7b5, then you know it's an Em7, with a b5. The construction for that would
be 1 b3 b5 b7. Some common alterations you'll see are:
b5
#5
b6
b9
#9
#11
b13
With those you can produce chords like E7#9, Fmaj7(#11), Cmaj7#5, Bm7(b9),
etc... But remember if your alteration is a b5, your formula changes to 1 3 b5,
not 1 3 5 b5. Some not so common chords that can still sound good.
_m/maj7 (aka m/M7, its minor/major seventh. A minor triad with major
seventh) 1 b3 5 7
_m7b5 (It looks altered, and it is, but its best name is _half diminished, or ) 1
b3 b5 b7.
Use alterations as you please, but remember, they're probably going to put you
out of key.
Another part in altering - add chords. When you see Cadd9 or C(9) that is an
add chord. Not to be confused with a dominant chord, the note is in (brackets).
You can add:
2...9
4..11
6..13
They are enharmonic, remember!
6.3 - Suspended Chords
Suspended chords are neither minor nor major. Suspended means you take
the 3rd out and replace it with a 2nd or a 4th. There are 3 common types of
suspended chords:
_sus2 : 1 2 5
_sus4 : 1 4 5
_sus (aka _7sus4): 1 4 5 b7
You can do crazy things, like _9sus4, which would leave you with 1 2 4 5 b7 9,
but you have to use common sense to figure those out. C9sus4 can also be
named as Gm11. The name you choose will depend on the context the chord is
used in. Not much to say about these, but remember they are chords too, just
they aren't minor, or major.
6.4 - Inversions
Inversions are slighter harder than what we've been doing, but are easy to
remember. Inversion means that you don't use the root, or the 1 as the bass
note of the chord. For instance C/E can be labelled differently.
When working with inversions its good to know the intervals of the chords
already. A First Inversion is when the 3rd of the chord is the bass note. C, with
the base note E (or C/E) can be called C, in the first inversion. When the 5th
tone is the bass note, we have a second inversion. C/G is C in the second
inversion. When the 7th tone is the bass note, we have a third inversion. Guess
what happens when the 9th tone is the bass note? Fourth inversion.
C (first inversion): E G C
C (2nd inversion) : G C E
C7 (3rd inversion) : Bb C E G
etc.
7.0 - The Meaning of "Diatonic" and What It Does
"Diatonic" means that in a 7 tone scale, such as the major scale, you use each
note (A-G, with a sharp or flat) only once. That's why you don't see C major
scale as C D Fb F G A B B#. Diatonic also means you follow the formula. In a 7
chord the formula is 1 b3 b5 bb7. The tones (in C) are C Eb Gb Bbb. That is
diatonic. You don't have C D# F# A, because that doesn't follow the formula.
Sure, it has the same sound and you can't tell the difference without knowing,
but it helps you organize tones, and help you figure out a chord or a scale
without having much trouble.
7.1 - Diatonic in Chords
specific formulas for a reason! So use 'em. It'll help you out down the road and
organize your thoughts.
7.2 - Diatonic in Scales
Yes! It's everywhere! You look at the scale formula (Again, the formula is there
for a reason), say its 1 b3 #5 b7 (random) then you have (in C) C Eb G# Bb,
not C D# G# A#, or any of the like. There for a reason. Using diatonic in scales
is very important when trying to make your own scales, and finding out what
one is. As you can tell from this section, I'm a fan of diatonic stuff. You should be
too
7.3 - E# and B# Do Exist!
C'mon, you couldn't have though they didn't exist. They are perfectly valid
notes, and are common place in scales. When you were reading the Co5 part
and wondered what I was doing with the E# and B#... Well, they are used for
diatonic purposes. Take the C# major scale for example: C# D# E# F# G# A#
B# C#. You can't put C# D# F F# G# A# C C#, because it is not diatonic!
8.0 - Finding Out What Chords Are in What Key
This lesson is all about finding out what chords fit into what key. In this lesson
the author (SilentDeftone) tells you that finding the diatonic triads in each key
will tell what chords are in what key. This is true, but I'm going to expand on
"diatonic" here. Diatonic can also mean that a specific piece fits into one key
exactly. Example, a song that uses the notes A F# G E C fits diatonically into
the key of Em, or G major. Read through that lesson as it explains this section
to a great extent, but since I actually have to do something, here is a list of
universal formulas for chords and extensions. This is what you get if you go
through that lesson all the way. In the key of C:
Cmaj7
Dm7
Em7
Fmaj7
G7
Am7
Bm7b5
And beyond...
Cmaj9
Dm9
Em7(b9)
Fmaj9
G9
Am9
Bm7(b5, b9)
Further:
Cmaj11
Dm11
Em11(b9)
Fmaj9(#11)
G11
Am11
Bm11(b5, b9)
And to 13ths!
Cmaj13
Dm13
Em11(b9, b13)
Fmaj13(#11)
G13
Am13
Bm11(b5, b9, b13)
These new scales are all minor scales. They sound different from the major
scale that you already know in that they have a minor tonality. They sound
darker and can be used in more of a rock context. The natural minor scale is the
most commonly used in rock, etc. and is probably the easiest to play. Harmonic
minor is my personal favourite scale and is rather different. It can sound
This scale is more commonly called the "minor scale" but I find it helpful to call
it the natural minor scale, because somewhere in history way back, "minor"
could mean any of the 3 minor scales here... or something like that.
The formula for the minor scale is 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1. The formulas for scales
are the same as chords as chords, in the way that they are compared to the
major scale. If 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 is the major scale, without any alterations, then 1
2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1 has a lowered 3rd (Every minor scale has a b3. Thats what
makes it minor), sixth and seventh. So you can apply this formula to any key...
I'll use C for example.
C major: C D E F G A B C
Intervals: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1
C minor: C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
Intervals: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1
See the pattern? Apply that to any key you want! In A, for example.
A major: A B C# D E F# G# A
Intervals: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1
A minor: A B C D E F G A
Intervals: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1
Any major scale you apply that to will get you the minor scale (for that key). For
you step loving people, here's the minor scale in steps.
WHWWHWW
In A:
ABCDEFGA
WHWWHWW
etc.
9.2 - Harmonic Minor Scale
This is my personal favourite scale. It has a classical vibe about it, and can
sound very eastern. It all depends on how you use it. Remember, you don't use
anything until you know all this! There is a specific section for applying these
ideas to guitar!
Here's your Harmonic minor formula: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 1. Not very different from
the natural minor is it? Only the 7th is brought back up to a major seventh, from
a minor one. The b6 - 7 is a very cool interval. It gives you a nice eastern vibe,
and in the steps watch out! Applying it to C:
C major: C D E F G A B C
Intervals: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1
C Harm. Minor: C D Eb F G Ab B C
Intervals: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 1
By now, you're not completely new to theory, so you can apply it to any major
scale you want, and do it for yourself. You learn much better when you see the
results for yourself. For steps, I have to introduce a new step! It's the WH step.
It's a whole step AND a half step. Or a whole half step!
Harmonic Minor: W H W W H WH H
C D Eb F G Ab B C
W H W W H WH H
Play around with that. See how you like it.
9.3.0 - Melodic Minor - Ascending
The melodic minor is really two scales. The reason - I don't know... I think I
might have at one time. Another thing to do with ancient times, and the such.
This is the ascending version. Next section (I've made them sub sections, if you
notices I put an extra number for the table of contents :p) is the descending
melodic minor. The melodic minor isn't always melodic. You can make it sound
horrible, but it's at your own disposal. You melodic minor formula: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7
1. Very simple one here... Just lower the third.
C major : C D E F G A B C
Intervals: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1
C Mel. Minor: C D Eb F G A B C
Intervals : 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 1
This scale is rather simple. And now on to the descending melodic minor! Here
are your steps: W H W W W W H.
9.3.1 - Melodic Minor - Descending
I'll cut right to chase here. Formula: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1. Look familiar eh? Well,
that's because it is. The descending Melodic minor is the same as the natural
minor scale. This acts as a leading tone, just going down. Why this was done
requires a brief lesson on the history of minor scales.
Old musicians had the natural minor scale and it's b7 tone. Singers found this
awkward to sing, so they raised it to a natural 7. This created the harmonic
minor scale. However, the minor third interval between the b6 and 7 was
awkward to sing as well, so they raised the b6 to 6 and created the melodic
minor scale. However, when descending, the 6 did not pull strongly to the 5.
They decided that when descending, the note should be lowered back down to
b6. However, this created that awkward interval between 7 and b6 again, so
they lowered the 7 to b7 as well, and that is the same pattern as the natural
minor scale.
Please do not refer to a descending natural minor lick as a melodic minor lick. In
practice, modern music often used the ascending pattern for the melodic minor
scale both ascending and descending.
In C:
C major: C D E F G A B C
Intervals: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1
C Desc. Mel. Minor: C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
Intervals: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1
Your step formula: W H W W H W W
9.4 - What Chords Do These Scales Go With?
It's always nice to know what goes with what, isn't it? Natural minor goes with
some normal chords, but the melodic and harmonic minor fit into some different
ones.
Natural Minor: minor, m7, m9, m11, m11(b13). It fits well into minor chord
progressions and works in almost any style of music. You'll find this scale
mostly in metal, rock, and it fits over power chords in a rock/metal song. Ex.
using each root's minor scale in a G5 D5 E5 A5 progression works in a rock
scenario.
Harmonic Minor: this can go with m/maj7 chords, because of the b3 and
major 7th. This doesn't quite fit a lot of chords perfectly, but is still applicable in
place where the minor scale would be used. If you use a E5 F5 G5 E5
progression (key of Am) you can change it to suit the (A) harmonic minor, by
making it E5 F5 G#5 E5.
Melodic Minor: Melodic Minor - pretty much the same as harmonic minor, it is a
less dark alternative. You would not use it over a m/maj7b13 chord, due to the
6/b6 clash.
10.0 - Modes of the Major Scale Introduction
Modes are a quite a challenge for most people, from what I've seen. They really
aren't that hard, and I'm going to do 2 different sections for these. One for
intervals (my way) and one with steps (different way). The intervals will be from
my lesson "Modes With Mode Dictionary", which as it says in the title, has a
mode "dictionary". All the modes in for all the major scales. Choose which way
(intervals or steps) you like best and go for that. I find steps hinder your ability to
recall the formula right away... So you aren't saying, "Was it WWHWWWH or
WHWWWHW?" while the intervals have different formulas for each, and will
help you down the road when you want to find the modes of other scales, like
the harmonic minor, or melodic minor.
10.1 - Using the Intervals
Here's how we go with the intervals. I of course recommend this method, but do
what suits you better, and remember you can always change your mind and
come back to the other way. A mode is just an alteration of a major scale. Here
are the names of all 7 modes, and the formulas for them:
Ionian - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1
Dorian - 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 1
Phrygian - 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1
Lydian - 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7 1
Mixolydian - 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 1
Aeolian - 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1
Locrian - 1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7 1
Wondering where those intervals came from? Well after you work them out, the
notes correspond to the intervals, as the formulas suggest. Take Dorian mode.
In C, it is C D Eb F G A Bb C. If you look at the intervals between the notes:
C D Eb F G A Bb C
1-2
1 - b3
1-4
1-5
etc.
You remember how to get the scales, so you can use C as your example.
Here's how the steps work: See if you can find the pattern.
WWHWWWHWWHWWWHWWHWWWHWWHWWWH
Ionian: W W H W W W H
Dorian: W H W W W H W
Phrygian: H W W W H W W
Lydian: W W W H W W H
Mixolydian: W W H W W H W
Aeolian: W H W W H W W
Locrian: H W W H W W W
Those are your step formulas. Just take the first step and throw it on the end.
The long one at the top is the major scale repeated. You can think of a mode as
playing a scale starting on a different note.
C D E F GAB C
WWHWWWH
C D Eb F G A Bb C
WHWWWHW
C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C
HWWWHWW
C D E F# G A B C
WWWHWWH
C D E F G A Bb C
WWHWWHW
C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
WHWWHWW
C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C
HWWHWWW
Ionian - Ionian mode is just the name for the major scale. It has no
alterations made to it. Play this mode over Major chords, Maj7, Maj6.
Dorian - Dorian mode has a flattened third and seventh (b3 and b7)
making it ideal for m7 chords. You can also use Dorian mode for m6
chords. Dorian mode is often used in jazz styles.
Aeolian - Aeolian mode, a.k.a. the minor scale has a b3, b6 and b7. (All
minor scales have a b3). Aeolian mode works over minor chords, and
can be used as a substitute for Dorian mode, by using it over m7
chords.
Locrian - Locrian mode has a b2, b3, b5, b6 and b7. Locrian mode is
very dark sounding. It fits a m7b5 chord perfectly.
|-----7-10--10-7------8-|-(8)--8------------8---------|-------8-10-----------|
|---8------------8h10---|--------10-----------10------|-8--10------10-8s6--5-|
|-9---------------------|-----------10-9-7-------10-9-|----------------------|
|-----------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------|
|-----------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------|
|-----------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------|
|---8-7-5---8-7---8-7-|---8-7-10b12----|
|-6-------6-----6-----|-6--------------|
|---------------------|----------------|
|---------------------|----------------|
|---------------------|----------------|
|---------------------|----------------|
|-10-8-7-10-8-7----------------------------------------------|
|---------------10-8----10-8---------------------------------|
|--------------------10------10-9-7----9-7-------------------|
|-----------------------------------10-----10-9-7----9-7-----|
|-------------------------------------------------10-----10--|
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------7-8-10-8----|
|------------------------------------------8-10-------------|
|-----------------------------------7-9-10------------------|
|----------------------------7-9-10-------------------------|
|-8-7----8-7----------7-8-10--------------------------------|
|-----10-----10-8-7-8---------------------------------------|
That's built completely off the C major scale and triads, in the key of C. You
can even repeat it!
11.0 - Applying #1-9 on the Guitar Introduction
This is the section where you apply all your new knowledge to the guitar. I'll put
in everything that I feel needs to be applied. The ones being left out are: Circle
Of Fifths, The meaning of "diatonic", and finding what chords are in what key.
You're going to need your guitar for this section! All these examples will be in
TAB form.
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-9--|
E-C# is a 6, or a major sixth.
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-10-|
E-D is a b7, or minor seventh.
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-11-|
E-D# is a 7, or major seventh.
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-12-|
E-E is unison, or an octave.
Now for steps.
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-1--|
E-F is a half step (H)
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-2--|
E-F# is a whole step (W)
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|------|
|-0-3--|
E-G is a whole + half step (WH)
11.2 - Applying Understanding the Chromatic Scale
So you know your chromatic scale, and how it works, but just to drive it home,
here's the chromatic scale in TAB:
|-------------------------------|
|-------------------------------|
|-------------------------------|
|-------------------------------|
|-------------------------------|
|-0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12--|
That's just one octave, starting on E, there is much more of it. Here it is played
differently.
|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|
|---------------------0-1-2--|
|-----------0-1-2-3-4--------|
|-0-1-2-3-4------------------|
By now, you should fully understand the chromatic scale.
11.3 - Applying the Major Scale and Triads
In this section I'm going to give you examples of the major scale, by TAB-ing it
out in all the keys for you, and then examples of triads starting on strings 6, 5, 4
and 3. Here are your major scales:
Ab (Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab):
|-----------------------------4--|
|-------------------------6-8----|
|-------------------5-6-8--------|
|-------------5-6-8--------------|
|-------4-6-8--------------------|
|-4-6-8--------------------------|
A (A B C# D E F# G# A):
|-----------------------------5--|
|-------------------------7-9----|
|-------------------6-7-9--------|
|-------------6-7-9--------------|
|-------5-7-9--------------------|
|-5-7-9--------------------------|
Bb (Bb C D Eb F G A Bb):
|----------------------------------6--|
|-----------------------------8-10----|
|----------------------7-8-10---------|
|---------------7-8-10----------------|
|--------6-8-10-----------------------|
|-6-8-10------------------------------|
B (B C# D# E F# G# A# B):
|----------------------------------7--|
|-----------------------------9-11----|
|----------------------8-9-11---------|
|---------------8-9-11----------------|
|--------7-9-11-----------------------|
|-7-9-11------------------------------|
C (C D E F G A B C):
|---------------------------------------8--|
|---------------------------------10-12----|
|-------------------------9-10-12----------|
|-----------------9-10-12------------------|
|---------8-10-12--------------------------|
|-8-10-12----------------------------------|
Db (Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db):
|-----------------------------------------9--|
|-----------------------------------11-13----|
|--------------------------10-11-13----------|
|-----------------10-11-13-------------------|
|---------9-11-13----------------------------|
|-9-11-13------------------------------------|
D (D E F# G A B C# D):
|-------------------------------------------10--|
|-------------------------------------12-14-----|
|----------------------------11-12-14-----------|
|-------------------11-12-14--------------------|
|----------10-12-14-----------------------------|
|-10-12-14--------------------------------------|
Eb (Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb):
|-------------------------------------------11--|
|-------------------------------------13-15-----|
|----------------------------12-13-15-----------|
|-------------------12-13-15--------------------|
|----------11-13-15-----------------------------|
|-11-13-15--------------------------------------|
E (E F# G# A B C# D# E):
|-----------------------------0--|
|-------------------------2-4----|
|-------------------1-2-4--------|
|-------------1-2-4--------------|
|-------0-2-4--------------------|
|-0-2-4--------------------------|
F (F G A Bb C D E F):
|-----------------------------1--|
|-------------------------3-5----|
|-------------------2-3-5--------|
|-------------2-3-5--------------|
|-------1-3-5--------------------|
|-1-3-5--------------------------|
Gb (Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb):
|-----------------------------2--|
|-------------------------4-6----|
|-------------------3-4-6--------|
|-------------3-4-6--------------|
|-------2-4-6--------------------|
|-2-4-6--------------------------|
G (G A B C D E F# G):
|-----------------------------3--|
|-------------------------5-7----|
|-------------------4-5-7--------|
|-------------4-5-7--------------|
|-------3-5-7--------------------|
|-3-5-7--------------------------|
Triads:
Major:
R = Root
T = Major Third
F = Perfect Fifth
e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|---|
G|-|---|---|---|---|---|
D|-|---|-F-|---|---|---|
A|-|---|---|---|-T-|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|---|
G|-|---|-F-|---|---|---|
D|-|---|---|---|-T-|---|
A|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|
e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|-F-|---|---|
G|-|---|---|---|-T-|---|
D|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
A|-|---|---|---|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|
e|-|---|---|-F-|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|-T-|
G|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
D|-|---|---|---|---|---|
A|-|---|---|---|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|
Minor:
R = Root
T = Minor Third
F = Perfect Fifth
e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|---|
G|-|---|---|---|---|---|
D|-|---|-F-|---|---|---|
A|-|---|---|-T-|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|---|
G|-|---|-F-|---|---|---|
D|-|---|---|-T-|---|---|
A|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|
e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|-F-|---|---|
G|-|---|---|-T-|---|---|
D|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
A|-|---|---|---|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|
e|-|---|---|-F-|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|-T-|---|
G|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
D|-|---|---|---|---|---|
A|-|---|---|---|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|
Augmented:
R = Root
T = Major Third
F = Augmented Fifth
e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|---|
G|-|---|---|---|---|---|
D|-|---|---|-F-|---|---|
A|-|---|---|---|-T-|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|---|
G|-|---|---|-F-|---|---|
D|-|---|---|---|-T-|---|
A|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|
e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|-F-|---|
G|-|---|---|---|-T-|---|
D|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
A|-|---|---|---|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|
e|-|---|---|---|-F-|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|-T-|
G|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
D|-|---|---|---|---|---|
A|-|---|---|---|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|
Diminished:
R = Root
T = Minor Third
F = Diminished Fifth
e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|---|
G|-|---|---|---|---|---|
D|-|-F-|---|---|---|---|
A|-|---|---|-T-|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|---|---|
G|-|-F-|---|---|---|---|
D|-|---|---|-T-|---|---|
A|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|
e|-|---|---|---|---|---|
B|-|---|-F-|---|---|---|
G|-|---|---|-T-|---|---|
D|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
A|-|---|---|---|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|
e|-|---|-F-|---|---|---|
B|-|---|---|---|-T-|---|
G|-|---|---|---|---|-R-|
D|-|---|---|---|---|---|
A|-|---|---|---|---|---|
E|-|---|---|---|---|---|
So there's you basic triads, and combining those major scales and triads, I'll
make you a nice mini solo!
|-----7-10--10-7------8-|-(8)--8------------8---------|-------8-10-----------|
|---8------------8h10---|--------10-----------10------|-8--10------10-8s6--5-|
|-9---------------------|-----------10-9-7-------10-9-|----------------------|
|-----------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------|
|-----------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------|
|-----------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------|
|---8-7-5---8-7---8-7-|---8-7-10b12----|
|-6-------6-----6-----|-6--------------|
|---------------------|----------------|
|---------------------|----------------|
|---------------------|----------------|
|---------------------|----------------|
|-10-8-7-10-8-7----------------------------------------------|
|---------------10-8----10-8---------------------------------|
|--------------------10------10-9-7----9-7-------------------|
|-----------------------------------10-----10-9-7----9-7-----|
|-------------------------------------------------10-----10--|
|------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------7-8-10-8----|
|------------------------------------------8-10-------------|
|-----------------------------------7-9-10------------------|
|----------------------------7-9-10-------------------------|
|-8-7----8-7----------7-8-10--------------------------------|
|-----10-----10-8-7-8---------------------------------------|
That's built completely off the C major scale and triads, in the key of C. You can
even repeat it!
11.4 - Applying Natural Minor, Harmonic Minor and Melodic Minor Scales
This one will be broken down into three sections. One for Natural Minor, one
for Harmonic Minor and one for Melodic Minor. And then I'll give you another
mini solo!
Natural Minor
First off, I'll give you a box pattern. I'm not a huge fan of these but they are good
for beginners.
R = Root
o = other note (2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7)
e|-|-R-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
B|-|-O-|-O-|---|-O-|---|
G|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|---|
D|-|-O-|---|-R-|---|-O-|
A|-|-O-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
E|-|-R-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
From that you can find minor scales.
Em
|-----------------------------0-2-3--|
|-----------------------0-1-3--------|
|-------------------0-2--------------|
|-------------0-2-4------------------|
|-------0-2-3------------------------|
|-0-2-3------------------------------|
Am
|-----------------------------5-7-8--|
|-----------------------5-6-8--------|
|-------------------5-7--------------|
|-------------5-7-9------------------|
|-------5-7-8------------------------|
|-5-7-8------------------------------|
etc. Just follow the box pattern.
Harmonic Minor
Melodic Minor
e|-|-R-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
B|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
G|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|---|
D|-|---|-O-|-R-|---|-O-|
A|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
E|-|-R-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
E Melodic Minor
|-----------------------------0-2-3--|
|-----------------------0-2-4--------|
|-------------------0-2--------------|
|-------------1-2-4------------------|
|-------0-2-4------------------------|
|-0-2-3------------------------------|
A Melodic Minor
|-----------------------------5-7-8--|
|-----------------------5-7-9--------|
|-------------------5-7--------------|
|-------------6-7-9------------------|
|-------5-7-9------------------------|
|-5-7-8------------------------------|
Now for the mini solo.
4/4
||--12h13p12--------------------------------12h13-16h17p16h17p16h17p|
||o----------15p13p12-----------------12h13-------------------------|
||--------------------14p13-----13h14-------------------------------|
||--------------------------15--------------------------------------|
||o-----------------------------------------------------------------|
||------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-16p13p12-------------12h13-16h17p16h17p16h17p1613p12------------------------------|
|----------13p12h13h15----------------------------------15p13------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------14p13------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------14p12----14p12---|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------14---------|
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------12--17-16-17-13-17-16-----||
|----------------------------13-------13-0-15--------------------------o||
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------||
|-12h14p10h12h14p10h12h14h15----14h15-----------------------------------||
|----------------------------------------------------------------------o||
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------||
Check out "Modes With Mode Dictionary", under scales for all the modes
tabbed out. In this section I'll give you the box patterns for the modes so you
can move them around.
Ionian
e|-|-R-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
B|-|---|---|-O-|---|-O-|
G|-|---|-O-|-O-|---|-O-|
D|-|---|-O-|-R-|---|-O-|
A|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
E|-|-R-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
Dorian
e|-|-R-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
B|-|-O-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
G|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|---|
D|-|-O-|---|-R-|---|-O-|
A|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
E|-|-R-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
Phrygian
e|-|-R-|-O-|---|-O-|---|
B|-|-O-|-O-|---|-O-|---|
G|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|---|
D|-|-O-|---|-R-|-O-|---|
A|-|-O-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
E|-|-R-|-O-|---|-O-|---|
Lydian
e|-|-R-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
B|-|---|---|-O-|---|-O-|
G|-|---|-O-|---|-O-|-O-|
D|-|---|-O-|-R-|---|-O-|
A|-|---|-O-|-O-|---|-O-|
E|-|-R-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
Mixolydian
e|-|-R-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
B|-|---|---|-O-|-O-|---|
G|-|---|-O-|-O-|---|-O-|
D|-|-O-|---|-R-|---|-O-|
A|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
E|-|-R-|---|-O-|---|-O-|
Aeolian
e|-|-R-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
B|-|-O-|-O-|---|-O-|---|
G|-|-O-|---|-O-|---|---|
D|-|-O-|---|-R-|---|-O-|
A|-|-O-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
E|-|-R-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
Locrian
e|-|-R-|-O-|---|-O-|---|
B|-|---|-O-|---|-O-|---|
G|-|-O-|---|-O-|-O-|---|
D|-|-O-|---|-R-|-O-|---|
A|-|-O-|-O-|---|-O-|---|
E|-|-R-|-O-|---|-O-|---|
No mini solo for this one, I'd just be repeating myself.