Lesson 1: Understanding the Major Scale

Understanding the Major Scale

The major scale is one of the most fundamental scales in music. It serves as the basis for creating melodies, harmonizing chords, and understanding music theory. Learning the major scale is a crucial step in your journey as a guitarist. In this lesson, we’ll explore the major scale’s construction and play it on a single string.

• The major scale consists of seven notes. The formula for constructing the major scale is: Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half. This formula determines the intervals between each note in the scale. An interval is defined as the distance in pitch between two notes. It is labeled with a numerical value. The numerical value indicates the number of tones of the diatonic scale, or in this case, the major scale. So if we lay out the major scale in C it would look like this with the intervals shown. After the scale reaches the 7th interval, it repeats back to the root which is C, Note that the first note in a scale is called the root.

This chart shows the C Major Scale laid out with intervals and the steps that create the scale. Starting on the C note, and stepping through 

• C	D	E	F	G	A	B	C
  W	W	H	W	W	W	H	Octive
  1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8

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• C Major Scale (Single String):
• Start with the A string (fifth string, 3rd fret as your first note or the root of the scale.
• Apply the major scale formula to find the subsequent notes on the 5th string:
  • 3rd fret (Fret 3): Whole step (1)
  • 5th fret (Fret 5): Whole step (2)
  • 6th fret (Fret 7): Half step (3)
  • 8th fret (Fret 8): Whole step (4)
  • 10th fret (Fret 10): Whole step (5)
  • 12th fret (Fret 12): Whole step (6)
  • 14th fret (Fret 14): Whole step (7)
  • 15th fret (Fret 15): Half step ( To Octave)
• The c major scale has no sharps or flats so it’s an easy one to start with. Try playing the C major scale on the fifth string. You can play along with the video to see where your fingers go.

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• Playing the Major Scale on a Single String: Let’s start by playing the major scale on a single string. We’ll use the E string (the thickest string) for this exercise and play the E Major Scale.

  1. E Major Scale (Single String):
     • Start with the open E string, your first note (the root).
     • Apply the major scale formula to find the subsequent notes:
       • 1st fret (Fret 1): Whole step (1)
       • 2nd fret (Fret 2): Whole step (2)
       • 4th fret (Fret 4): Half step (3)
       • 5th fret (Fret 7): Whole step (4)
       • 7th fret (Fret 8): Whole step (5)
       • 9th fret (Fret 10): Whole step (6)
       • 11th fret (Fret 11): Whole step (7)
       • 12th fret (Fret 12): Half step (Octave)

   

• Playing Exercise:

  • Use a metronome to keep time.
  • Play the E major scale slowly, one note at a time, ascending and descending.
  • Pay attention to the intervals and the sound of each note.

  Tips:

  • Ensure your fingers are pressing the strings firmly on the frets.
  • Use a metronome to maintain a consistent tempo.
  • Practice this scale regularly to build muscle memory.

  Homework:

  • Memorize the E major scale on the E string.
  • Practice playing the scale forwards and backward until you can do it smoothly.
  • Take note of the intervals between each note.

  Play along with this video to learn the E Major scale on the low E string.

In the next lesson, we’ll delve deeper into playing the major scale in various positions on the guitar, expanding our understanding and playing ability. Keep practicing, and don’t forget to tune your guitar regularly to maintain proper pitch.