SCALES - AN INTRODUCTION

Scales are groups of notes that can be played together to create different sounds. They are shown here in movable shapes. For details of the major, minor, blues scales and modes click through to their sections using the bar above.

Standard scales use 8 notes to move from a root note through an octave (oct meaning 8) to the next root note.  For example E Major is as follows:

E – F# – G# – A – B – C# – D# – E

The root note in this example is E (hence E Major). Each of the letters A – G is represented in either a sharp (#) or flat (b) form.

Pentatonic scales, on the other hand, are made up from 5 notes (penta meaning 5) not including the octave.  For example E Pentatonic Blues is as follows:

E – G – A – B – D – E

Chromatic scales use all of the 12 notes available.  E Chromatic scale is as follows:

E – F – F# – G – G# – A – A# – B – C– C# – D – D# – E

Which can also be written as:

E – F – Gb – G – Ab – A – Bb – B – C– Db – D – Eb – E

Other scale types that don’t fit into any of these formats include the Whole Tone scale and the Diminished scale.  The Whole Tone Scale consists of 7 notes (including octave) each of which is (unsurprisingly) a tone (2 frets) apart.

The E Whole Tone scale is:

E – F# – G# – A# – C – D – E

The Diminished Scale has 9 notes (including octave) and can be played in 2 different ways:  The whole – half tone and half – whole tone versions. These are as follows:

E Diminished Whole – Half:

E – F – G – G# –A# – B –C# – D – E

E Diminished Half – Whole:

E – F# – G – A – A# –C– C# – D# – E