SCALES

Scales are groups of notes that can be played together to create different sounds.

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