A sequence of musical notes in ascending or descending order of pitch belonging to a single key within the compass of one octave.
11
votes
5answers
8k views
What is the first scale one should learn on guitar
The title really sums it all up but I'll try expand it slightly. Lets say I'm learning guitar and would like to improve my guitar work. Which of the scales should I learn first and why?
-1
votes
1answer
154 views
How to learn scales (guitar)? [closed]
What is a good exercise?
After one masters a pattern, how to connect with other patterns?
7
votes
3answers
445 views
Why does this key change work?
In the song 'Respect' by Aretha Franklin which is a fairly simple progression in Bb major the saxophone solo part of the song seems to make a key change to the key of Em. I don't understand why this ...
1
vote
1answer
233 views
Finding out which scales contain a specific chord
Notation note: scales will be notated as C Major, D minor, etc. and chords as Am, F, etc.
Once you know a scale, yo know which chords it contains, for example the C Major scale contains the chords:
...
2
votes
1answer
460 views
Fingering for black keys scale
I have noticed that everything I play on the black keys only sounds oriental.
I wanted to know what is the standard fingering to go through this pentatonic scale?
14
votes
7answers
415 views
Where should I go to learn about non-Western scales (particularly Turkish & Greek)
Apart from Turkey and Greece, I mean.
I'm looking for fairly abstract musicological and comparative descriptions, not "how to play"-style information. Particularly interested in departures from the ...
6
votes
2answers
163 views
Scale from Hungarian Rhapsody No.2
In Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 by Liszt from John Thompson's Grade 3 (the key singanture is Cm) there is the following scale + 2 following notes:
D E F# G A Bb C D Eb F#
Is there a name for this ...
5
votes
2answers
440 views
Why do the notes of a blues scale sound good with the I, IV, and V chords?
If you are playing the blues in the key of C, any note in the blues key of C should sound good in the melody with either of the C, F or G (I, IV or V) major chords in the bass.
Why is this and how do ...
7
votes
4answers
417 views
Is G sharp major a real key?
I'm mostly self-taught, so I don't know much in the way of theory beyond the basics. I have heard of G sharp Major a few times. I believe a scale in the key goes as such: G♯, A♯, B♯, C♯, D♯, E♯, Fx, ...
3
votes
2answers
237 views
Can a scale contain both a sharp and a flat note?
So, the question should say it all, but for example:
The G minor scale (G - A - Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G)
To change this into the G harmonic minor scale, I would need to raise the seventh note a ...
2
votes
4answers
129 views
What would be the a good tuning for an instrument with a limited amount of tones?
If you have an instrument with only a few tones(say 9), so less than to make a whole chromatic octave, what would be a good tuning that would make the instrument able to play an as large as possible ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Violin fingering schemes for different scales
I had a 10 year gap in my violin play and I'm still having trouble remembering the correct fingering (specifically for 4 and more sharps/flats).
Where can I find some fingering charts/schemes ...
33
votes
11answers
761 views
I need help getting out of my scalar rut.
I'm a well versed and experienced guitarist. I have a decent sense for rhythm and melody, but I have a VERY hard time with soloing. I know you've heard it all before.. I'm one of those guys that got ...
5
votes
5answers
1k views
How do you compose using the chromatic scale?
Writting a piece of music using the chromatic scale would be interesting, but I can't think of a way to start it? What kind of structure would a piece have? Is it all subjective and up to the composer ...
2
votes
1answer
78 views
How do you express the key of a song in tablature?
I can play open chords, barre chords on the guitar. Also I can find the key of a song, and from that can find the chords. But when it comes to tabbing the song, I get stuck.
If a song is say in C ...
7
votes
5answers
445 views
Guitar scales further up the fret board.
I'm hoping someone can help me, i've been playing guitar for a while and mostly kept myself confined to chords/rythm, but now I want to explore some lead styles to add to my skills.
So I began with ...
7
votes
4answers
339 views
Singing notes while playing scales
I've heard, that singing or humming notes while playing scales or arpeggios is good for you. Is that so? In what way? If I am not a singer, why should I be singing the notes?
6
votes
5answers
1k views
Logical way to learn movable scales on guitar?
After learning the CAGED 'open string' scales, what scales to do next? In what order or what way? When I learn a new scale, it seems to have the effect of displacing my ability to play other scales ...
5
votes
1answer
171 views
What are the names of these scales? [closed]
I noticed recently that quite a few Jewish songs (e.g. Havah Nagila) tended to use certain scales. I thought they were normal minor scales, but then I played them on the piano and noticed that the ...
3
votes
1answer
241 views
Playing non-Western scales on the Oud
How does one learn to play various non-Western scales on the oud? Are there instructions with diagrams showing notes as positions on the neck of the instrument? Book, videos, etc.?
10
votes
4answers
597 views
With sheet music, how do you determine whether the song is in the major key or the minor key?
For example, if the key signature on the left doesn't have any sharps or flats then it could theoretically be in either the C Major scale or the A Minor scale. How do you determine which one?
10
votes
4answers
762 views
What are the characteristic scales, keys, intervals, progressions, etc. of pirate / sailing / nautical music?
Title pretty much says it. I am barely an armchair composer, but I would like to try my hand at some game music that requires some nautical theming. It seems to me that penny whistles and a celtic ...
3
votes
2answers
337 views
What scale has a step pattern of HWHWHWW? [closed]
I'm playing a whole bunch of songs that use the pattern half step, whole step, half, whole, half, whole, whole. What scale is it?
5
votes
3answers
572 views
Scales, modes, techniques for writing “Super Mario” style music
I'm looking for a push in the right direction as to how to go about writing Super Mario type video game themes. What scales/modes work best, time signatures, etc...
Examples of where I'm trying to ...
4
votes
1answer
126 views
What is a standard order for learning/practicing scales when learning how to play the electric bass (esp. for jazz/blues music)?
I'd like to bring my theoretical knowledge and practical skill for playing jazz/blues scales on the electric bass up to snuff. What is the standard order for learning/practicing jazz/blues scales on ...
5
votes
4answers
3k views
What scales are suitable for funk? Is there a funk scale?
I hope this question isn't too "noob"-ish for you guys (but hey I've gotta start somewhere).
What scales are suitable for funk?
Is there a funk scale, akin to the blues scale?
I'm pretty sure the ...
5
votes
3answers
463 views
Is it acceptable to move hand position while practicing scales on guitar?
I was reading through the answers posted here, and I liked the idea of playing with the "finger per fret" method, but it's not always applicable. For instance I was practicing the Fmaj scale last ...
7
votes
5answers
518 views
What is the proper way to play A-Flat scales on piano?
Consider four cases:
A-flat major
A-flat (natural) minor
A-flat melodic minor
A-flat harmonic minor
I start them with the third finger on the A-flat key (both hands), but I have no idea how a ...
2
votes
1answer
162 views
Is it normal, when playing scales on the piano, to occasionally rub neighboring fingers against each other?
When I play the F sharp harmonic minor scale, my right index finger on E sharp (F) rubs on my third finger on F sharp, since this scale is rather awkward. Is this to be avoided, or is it ...
18
votes
3answers
778 views
What's so special about minor and major scales?
background: I'm an amateur and self-learner pianist. What I know, I know from books or google, so I'll start with summarising what I already know - please don't hesitate to correct me if I have ...
7
votes
5answers
164 views
Resources for learning the Blues
Can anyone recommend any good resources (books or online) for learning the Blues on the guitar? Scales and theory is what I am looking for.
8
votes
4answers
447 views
What is an atonal mode?
I got an album by Ornette Coleman and Pat Methany, "X", and on the linear notes it talks about atonal experiments within the song structures. Are there scales and chord progressions that go along with ...
7
votes
3answers
436 views
What is a chromatic scale?
I notice that the blues scale usues notes that don't fit into the regular pentatonic scale, is there an entire scale that icorporates this method?
1
vote
1answer
119 views
How do I find the accompaigning low-pitch note when playing fingerstyle?
If you're trying to learn a song by ear for example, how do you find the backing note to go along whith what you are playing?
For example, when playing canon in D, you first start with the D string ...
10
votes
7answers
401 views
How to figure out what key a piece is in?
I am trying to write a guitar accompaniment to the piece "Fair and Tender Ladies".
But I have no clue what I need to do to figure out what key that piece is in.
Also, the instrument playing the ...
7
votes
1answer
801 views
Where can I find jazz piano scales to practice?
I played the piano for years classically when I was younger, but eventually left it alone in my late teens and twenties. I probably wouldn't have if I'd been allowed to do more Jazz as I always wanted ...
13
votes
1answer
1k views
Differences between the concept of Scales , Raagas, and Thaaths?
Western music has Scales (major, minor, etc.) while Eastern Music primarily has a large number of Raagas derived from some basic Taaths. Both these groups represent sets of notes on which actual song ...
5
votes
3answers
78 views
Permuations or scales for building up speed
I'm currently trying to build up some speed and accuracy in my technique, and I was told a while back that a great way to do this was to play fingering permutations to a metrenome. Has anyone had any ...
