This section will explain in more detail how Scales work, how to build them and their formulas. Experiment often with any of this information and remember Theory is meant to be a tool to help guide your Creativity.

**Tip #1**
Chromatic - Just like in the Finger Strength section - is a type Scale but with No spaces
Once you start adding spaces between Frets you're beginning to create a more Melodic type Scale.

Let's Get Started:

First of all - Everything revolves around the Major Scale

The Notes of C Major are

C D E F G A B

Each Note is assigned a number called a Degree

C - 1
D - 2
E - 3
F - 4
G - 5
A - 6
B - 7

The First Degree is Ionian
The Second Degree is Dorian
The Third Degree is Phrygian
The Forth Degree is Lydian
The Fifth Degree is Mixolydian
The Sixth Degree is Aeolian
The Seventh Degree is Locrian

The Major Scale Formula is

W W H W W W H

W = Whole Step - is two Frets
H = Half Step - is one Fret

Whole Step

------------------------
------------------------
------------------------
------------------------
------------------------
---8----10-------------

Half Step

------------------------
------------------------
------------------------
---9----10-------------
------------------------
------------------------

Example #1:

*Below - You can see the pattern clearly
when you play the Scale up one String*

------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
--------3------5------7-8------10------12------14-15----------
------------------------------------------------------------------

To build a C Major Scale find any C on the guitar.
*To find all the Notes on the guitar go to the Theory section*

Either follow the letter

C D E F G A B

or

W W H W W W H

All the Modes have the same notes and are in the same Key they just start on different Degree of the Scale.

C - Ionian

D - Dorian

E - Phrygian

F - Lydian

G - Mixolydian

A - Aeolian

B - Locrian

C D E F G A B

D E F G A B C

E F G A B C D

F G A B C D E

G A B C D E F

A B C D E F G

B C D E F G A

**Tip #2**
Try to remember the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
- D - Dorian is the Second Degree
- E - Phrygian is the Third Degree
And so on... It'll make things a bit easier for you.

Each Mode also has its own Formula:

C - Ionian

D - Dorian

E - Phrygian

F - Lydian

G - Mixolydian

A - Aeolian

B - Locrian

W W H W W W H

W H W W W H W

H W W W H W W

W W W H W W H

W W H W W H W

W H W W H W W

H W W H W W W

Ionian is the First Degree, everything follows off of it.

If you notice the Formulas are all the same they just start different depending on the mode you choose.

Example:

C - Ionian - W W H W W W H
D - Dorian -          W H W W W H W

The C Major Scale has three Majors, three Minors and one Diminished Scale

They are:

Ionian
Lydian
Mixolydian

Dorian
Phrygian
Aeolain

Locrian

**Tip #3**
When a song calls for a Major Scale try to flip between the three Majors
When a song calls for a Minor try and flip between the three Minors

**Tip #4**
Diminished / Locrian is more Minor and used to create tension
and for Fills between the other Scales.

**Tip #5**
Practice the Scales and learn them but when it comes down to it
and you're jamming with your friends or on your own - Just Jam
Don't try to remember the scales, just feel the music -
Your fingers will Remember.

The Notes of the Scales

Order of Sharps:

C Major

G Major

D Major

A Major

E Major

B Major

F# Major

C# Major

C D E F G A B

G A B C D E F#

D E F# G A B C#

A B C# D E F# G#

E F# G# A B C# D#

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

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

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

Order of Flats:

F Major

Bb Major

Eb Major

Ab Major

Db Major

Gb Major

Cb Major

F G A Bb C D E

Bb C D Eb F G A

Eb F G Ab Bb C D

Ab Bb C Db Eb F G

Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C

Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F

Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb

Relative Minors

The relative Minor of a Major Scale is the Sixth Degree
So the Sixth Degree of C Major is A

C D E F G *A* B C

So the Relative Minor of C is A

Other examples:

In the Key of G - The Relative Minor is E

In the Key of E - The Relative Minor is C#

As you remember the Major Scale Degrees are
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Now let's explore other Scale Formulas:

*If there is a b in front of a number you would lower or flatten the Note*

------------------------
------------------------
------------------------
------------------------
------------------------
--------3------b2-------
G        Gb

*If there is a # in front of number you would raise or sharpen the Note*

------------------------
------------------------
------------------------
------------------------
------------------------
--------3------#4-------
G        G#

Major - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Harmonic Minor - 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7

Major Scale

------------------------
------------------------
------------------------
-------------------4-5--
----------3-5-7--------
--3-5-7----------------

1  2  3  4  5  6  7  1

Harmonic Minor

------------------------
------------------------
------------------------
-------------------4-5--
----------3-5--6-------
-3-5--6----------------

1  2  b3  4  5  b6  7  1

Scale Formulas

Ionian

Dorian

Phrygian

Lydian

Mixolydian

Aeolian

Locrian

Melodic Minor

Harmonic Minor

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7

1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7

1 2 3 #4 5 6 7

1 2 3 4 5 6 b7

1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7

1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7

1 2 b3 4 5 6 7

1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7

There is only one type of Major Scale and three types of Minor Scales.

The three types of the Minor Scale are:

1 - Natural
2 - Harmonic
3 - Melodic

Natural - W - H - W - W - H - W - W
*Natural Minor is the same as the Sixth Degree the Major Scale*

Harmonic - W - H - W - W - H - W½ - H
*W½ = Whole Step plus a Half Step*

Melodic - W - H - W - W - W - W - W - H

-More will be explained Soon-

If you would like some more ideas on Soloing with Scales please check out the Chord/Scale Relationships section.

I will go into more detail with Scales on my Web Cam Lessons.
If you would like to be apart of the group lesson please let me know.
I will also be doing One-on-One Lessons as well!