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In our fourth lesson, we will learn some common scales. Scales are simple patterns of notes that either increase or decrease in pitch.
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In our fourth lesson, we will learn some common scales. Scales are simple patterns of notes that either increase or decrease in pitch.
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Lesson 4: Learning Scales
- Once you have mastered all of the chord structures that we have discussed so far, you are ready to start playing scales. A scale is a group of musical notes that are played in either a descending or ascending order. Scales are based around a specific root note (i.e. A, B C, etc.) and form the basis for songs and improvisation around that note. To put it in context, a piano chord is simply three of the notes in a particular scale played together. Although there are many different types of scales - much like chords - in this lesson we will concentrate exclusively on how to play the major scale of each note.
- No matter what root note you start on, the major scale of that note is always constructed in the same way. Here is how you play a major scale:
- Start by playing the root note
- Move up a whole step and play that note
- Move up a whole step and play that note
- Move up a half-step and play that note
- Move up a whole step and play that note
- Move up a whole step and play that note
- Move up a whole step and play that note
- Move up a half-step and play that note.
- Now we will go over the major scales for each of the 7 notes we've discussed so far. When reading the diagrams, take note of how the root note is labeled with an R. Also, since the major scale can be played up and down the keyboard, each of the scales have been repeated twice. Here we go:
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The Minor Scale
- In order to create the minor scale version of each of these root notes, you simply need to use a different formula for figuring out the pattern of whole and half-steps. While we aren't going to illustrate each specific minor scale, we will go over the steps you will need to figure them out on your own.
- Follow this formula in order to play the minor scale of each note:
- Start by playing the root note
- Move up a whole step and play that note
- Move up a half-step and play that note
- Move up a whole step and play that note
- Move up a whole step and play that note
- Move up a half-step and play that note
- Move up a whole step and play that note
- Move up a whole step and play that note
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