by Will Landrum
http://www.willlandrum.com

Today I'd like to tell you just how much you can do with a small amount of knowledge. By understanding a few concepts of the regular major scale, you can literally use that information to compose your own music including chord progressions and lead playing!

Let's dig in.

First, you need to understand the "backbone" of ANY regular major scale.

That "backbone" is this:

Musical notes are separated by what's called a "half-step". Each fret on your guitar represents a half-step away from the fret above or below it. Two adjacent half-steps are referred to as a whole-step. (two adjacent frets on your guitar)

So here's the "backbone" of any regular major scale. I'll use C for this example.

1. Between the first and second note, there's a WHOLE-STEP
(C to D)
2. Between the second and third note, there's a WHOLE-STEP
(D to E)
3. Between the third and fourth note, there's a HALF-STEP
(E to F)
4. Between the fourth and fifth note, there's a WHOLE-STEP
(F to G)
5. Between the fifth and sixth note, there's a WHOLE-STEP
(G to A)
6. Between the sixth and seventh note, there's a WHOLE-STEP
(A to B)
7. Between the seventh and octave first note, there's a HALF-STEP
(B to C)

So, to know the notes of any major scale, you just start with the note of your choice and apply the steps.

That is; WHOLE-STEP, WHOLE-STEP, HALF-STEP, WHOLE-STEP, WHOLE-STEP, WHOLE-STEP, HALF-STEP

For more on this, check out

Remember: In music, the steps between B & C and E & F are always half-steps.

Now let's take a look at those seven notes and the positions they're in. Those positions have names and characteristics in relationship to the chords that go with the scale.

The 1st position is called the Tonic and it's chord characteristic is Major. In this case, C major.

The 2nd position is called the Supertonic and it's chord characteristic is minor. In this case, D minor.

The 3rd position is called the Mediant and it's chord characteristic is minor. In this case, E minor.

The 4th position is called the Subdominant and it's chord characteristic is Major. In this case, F major.

The 5th position is called the Dominant and it's chord characteristic is Major. In this case, G major.

The 6th position is called the Submediant and it's chord characteristic is minor. In this case, A minor.

The 7th position is called the Subtonic and it's chord characteristic is diminished. In this case, B diminished.

Now look what we know! We know all of the notes in the scale (or key) AND the fundamental chords that go with it! Hey, that's all you need to get going. Chords for rhythm and notes for lead playing! And...you know what?...as long as you play only these notes and chords, you'll never play anything wrong!

So check this out. Let's play some music with the above information. I'm choosing Dm, Em, G and C as my chord progression and recording it. I'm not playing any particular rhythm, just changing chords when I feel like it.

Now, I'm playing back my rhythm and soloing with the regular C major scale that we spelled out earlier. Sounds just fine!

Incidentally, here's the tablature for the C major scale that I was playing.

Need help reading tablature?

C Major Scale
Tablature 
E --------------------------------7-8-10------------
B ---------------------------8-10-------------------
G --------------------7-9-10------------------------
D -------------7-9-10-------------------------------
A ------7-8-10--------------------------------------
E -8-10---------------------------------------------
   C D  E F G  A B C  D E F  G A  B C D

So, here's a little homework.

Spell out the following regular major scales and name the chords that go with them:

(The answers are at the VERY bottom of this page.)

1. A Major Scale

2. F# Major Scale

3. Gb Major Scale

Memorize and comprehend what I've explained today and you'll be able to write songs as well as improvise. Now...what was that old saying...? Oh yeah...

Knowledge Is Power!

Article by Will Landrum of http://www.willlandrum.com

Will is helping thousands of on-line guitarists with his all original content web site, free guitar teaching ezine and growing line of instructional software and products.

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Other articles by Will Landrum @ GuitarSite.com: http://www.guitarsite.com/newsletters/010101/10.shtml?nl125