So far you've learned the Minor Pentatonic, Minor Blues, and Natural Minor Scales, but what about the Major Scale?
So far you've learned the Minor Pentatonic, Minor Blues, and Natural Minor Scales, but what about the Major Scales you may be asking?
The minor scales are the best ones to start with in my opinion when learning solos, but now we're going to get deep yet again..
What if I told you you've already learned the major scale?
Take a look at the below scale.
So far you've learned the Minor Pentatonic, Minor Blues, and Natural Minor Scales, but what about the Major Scales you may be asking?
The minor scales are the best ones to start with in my opinion when learning solos, but now we're going to get deep yet again..
What if I told you you've already learned the major scale?
Take a look at the below scale.
Does this look familiar? What you should notice is this is the same exact scale as the A minor scale, the only difference being we started from a different note within the same scale.
But as you play through the scale, starting on the 8th fret of the low E string, do you notice how it sounds different now? It sounds happier. This is from the concept of Relative Major/Relative Minor. Lets expand this topic.
Each scale you play will have an inverse scale that plays the exact same notes, but represents a completely different key: one a major scale, the other a minor scale.
To figure this out all you need to do is shift three frets over and you will arrive at the root note of the scale.
For example, take a look at the diagram below.
But as you play through the scale, starting on the 8th fret of the low E string, do you notice how it sounds different now? It sounds happier. This is from the concept of Relative Major/Relative Minor. Lets expand this topic.
Each scale you play will have an inverse scale that plays the exact same notes, but represents a completely different key: one a major scale, the other a minor scale.
To figure this out all you need to do is shift three frets over and you will arrive at the root note of the scale.
For example, take a look at the diagram below.
You started on the 5th fret and play the A Minor Scale, if you move up three frets and play the same scale you now are playing the C Major Scale, and thus are playing in the key of C major.
This is a strange concept to grasp at first, but once you get over the initial shock you should find it to be a pretty simple concept.
This same logic applies to the other two scales you learned.
This is a strange concept to grasp at first, but once you get over the initial shock you should find it to be a pretty simple concept.
This same logic applies to the other two scales you learned.
Lets take a look at another one, and this time I want you to figure out the relative major.
Could you figure out what the relative major is? If you guessed D major, you are correct.
And of course you could apply the same thing to the pentatonic and blues scale.
Now lets move on to another exercise.
Like before either record yourself or have a friend play the following:
Now lets move on to another exercise.
Like before either record yourself or have a friend play the following:
While this progression is being played, I want you to play through the C major scale. Utilize all of the same techniques as before (bends, hammer-ons, an pull-offs).
Major keys are used less in Rock but quite a bit in Pop. It's definitely something you should learn and be familiar with to be a well-rounded guitarist, and depending on your personal taste you prefer one to the other.
Click the link below to complete this course.