Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Major Scales and Bass.... Part One....

So lets talk about major scales.  Major scales on bass is essential and are the foundation of music.  So if you know your major scales and the theory of the major scales you will be able to construct some very tasty basslines with good melody as well.  If you can play a major scale on your bass that is great start.  Having the theory of what yo are playing is money in the bank.  I am going to try to give you a basic knowledge of a major scale, so here we go.
A major scale has seven scale tones, eight if you count the octave.  Lets look at a C major scale.

C     D     E -  F     G     A     B  - C
1     2      3     4      5      6     7     8 (OR 1)

There are two natural half steps in music.  They are E to F and B to C.  So with that in mind lets look at the whole steps and the half steps to the major scale using C major as our example.


C     D     E -  F     G     A     B  - C                              
1     2      3     4      5      6     7     8 (OR 1)

  W    W    H    W    W    W    H                           W=WHOLE STEP     H=HALF STEP

This is the formula to the major scale.  Know this inside and out.  Let me repeat that... know the formula to a major scale inside and out.  So know if we start on different note we can use the formula to tell use what notes are in the scale.  Let try this starting on G... See if you can figure it out... start on G and go up a whole step then go up another whole step.  Go up a half step then whole step, whole step, whole step, and half step.  You should have came up with this...

G      A     B     C     D     E     F#     G

So the G major scale would have one sharp in the scale... F#.  Lets try this by starting on D....

D     E     F#    G    A      B     C#     D

This is how key signatures came about.  When you start on any note in music and apply the major scale formula you will know what notes are either sharp (#) or flat (b).  Try this with these notes...

C
G
D
A        THESE ARE ALL THE KEY SIGNATURES WITH SHARPS IN THEM
E
B
F#

F
Bb
Eb      THESE ARE ALL THE KEY SIGNATURES WITH THE FLATS IN THEM
Ab
Db
Gb

Give this a try and I will post the answers on my next post which will be Dec 1st.  Also know that the pattern  that you play on your bass will be the same everywhere on your bass.  Does not matter what fret you start on the pattern is the same...  Peace out til next time...