Major Scale

[shiggityshwa]

Can someone help me with major scales? I pretty much have no idea how to do them, although I half assed my way through C, G, and A before, I think I did it wrong. I started at the root note on the low E, then I kept going up like this (w being whole step, h being half step): w-w-h-w-w-w-h. So it ended up looking like this for the C Major:

--------------------------------7-8--------
---------------------------8-10------------
--------------------7-9-10-----------------
-------------7-9-10------------------------
------7-8-10-------------------------------
-8-10--------------------------------------


And I just realized, when I wrote these down on a chart a while ago, the G major that I wrote down is the same pattern, just starts on a G note, as that C major that I just tabbed out (even though they're probably both wrong). Here is the A that I probably did wrong again:

-----------------------------6-------------
-------------------------6-8---------------
-------------------6-7-9-------------------
-------------6-7-9-------------------------
-------5-7-9-------------------------------
-5-7-9-------------------------------------


Yeah so pretty much if I did those right, tell me, and if I did them wrong, which is more likely, can you please explain how to construct them.

[emixolydian]

The C major is right. C D E F G A B C
For "A major" you put: A B C# D E F# G# A, which is infact A major, but then you put some funky notes on top.

There are a few easy ways to learn all your major scales.

1. take the W-W-h-W-W-W-h method. This means take the root note: for instance G:

G Ab A Bb B C C# D Eb E F F# G

Whats the root? G.
Whats a whole step above G? A.
Whats a whole step above A? B.
Whats a half step above B? C.
Whats a whole step above C? D
Whats a whole step above D? E
Whats a whole step above E? F#
Whats a half step above F#? G

2. You can just memorize the 6 string pattern for the C major scale (the first tab you posted) and simply shift the root, so if you wanted D major you would start on the 10th fret on the E string with the same pattern.

I suggest memorizng them, so here are all 15 Major scales for reference:

C major: C D E F G A B
G major: G A B C D E F#
D major: D E F# G A B C#
A major: A B C# D E F# G#
E major: E F# G# A B C# D#
B major: B C# D# E F# G# A#
F# major: F# G# A# B C# D# E#
C# major: C# D# E# F# G# A# B#

F major: F G A Bb C D E
Bb major: Bb C D Eb F G A
Eb major: Eb F G Ab Bb C D
Ab major: Ab Bb C Db Eb F G
Db major: Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C
Gb major: Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F
Cb major: Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb

You may be wondering why theres 15, if there are only 12 notes, well, there are a few scales that are enharmonically the same [same notes, different names]

C# major= Db major
Cb major= B major
Gb major= F# major

[shiggityshwa]

Alright thanks. So pretty much just take the same pattern I made for C, and shift it up to an F or something? And it will be the F major scale?

[emixolydian]

Yes, but its essential to understand the relation and purpose of each note in the scale as you move the pattern. Afterall, the major scale is the foundation of most the shit you'll ever learn.

[shiggityshwa]

Alright cool thanks. After I get this down what is the next step you think?

[emixolydian]

Minor scales, and basic chord construction. Intervals, if you haven't already learned them.

[etingi]

Emix, after you've learned average chord construction/intervals and minor/major scales, what should you learn after that? I have a basic understanding of theory, but I'm not sure where to go from here.

[emixolydian]

I would say modes, but people often just get confused doing that.

I would suggest looking at the major and minor chord scales, as well as the concept of stacking thirds, and chord extensions. Cadences.

[shiggityshwa]

I exalted you emix. now your karma is 1 (I don't know what that does though...)

[emixolydian]

It means I'm a cat, get down.