Mike's First Online Music Theory Lesson - Major Scales and Key Signatures.

Reference #1 Notes on the fretboard

I'm sure you can figure these out, but I'ma tab 'em out to clear up any uncertai
nty.
O 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
E|F | |G | |A | |B |C | |D | |E |
B|C | |D | |E |F | |G | |A | |B |
G| |A | |B |C | |D | |E |F | |G |
D| |E |F | |G | |A | |B |C | |D |
A| |B |C | |D | |E |F | |G | |A |
E|F | |G | |A | |B |C | |D | |E |
You probably noticed a couple of things right off the bat. There are gaps betwe
en all of the notes except E&F,
and B&C. These gaps are what we call accidentals, and can be denoted with a sha
rp (#) or a flat (b). For example,
The second fret of the e string could be called F# or Gb. Also, when you get to
the 12th fret, the note is
the same but as the open string, but what we call an octave up. Any questions?
The Major Scale:
The major scale is the foundation of Western music theory. It consists of 7 diff
erent notes, then the eighth or
octave, which is the same as the first note. This first note denotes the key of
the major scale we are going
to play. Lets take a look at the C Major scale which goes C D E F G A B c. Thi
s is the scale in 1st position,
meaning that your first finger lines up with the first fret .See if you can find
another way to play the scale in
this octave. Hint: Try another position. Answer in answer key #1
B| 0 1
G| 0 2
D| 0 2 3
A|3

Key Signatures:
The C Major scale can be played by simply playing each note in succession from C
to C without any accidentals
(sharps or flats). Each major scale has its own key signature. A key signature
is a list of the accidentals you
need to play instead of that natural note. For example, if we play the scale D
E F G A B C D, it does not sound
like a major scale. But if I consult the key signature for D Major, which is F#
C# then we get D E F#G A B C#D !
B| 0 2 3
G| 0 2
D| 0 2 4
This is because a major scale is comprised of a combination of half steps, and w
hole steps. A half step is one
fret on the guitar, a whole step is two. As mentioned above, there is a half st
ep between B-c and E-F, and a
whole step between the other natural notes. A major scale has a half step betwee
n the 3rd and 4th note, and
the 7th and 8th note. This is why we need a key signature for major keys other
than C. See if you can figure out
the key signature for G Major, A Major, and F Major. Answers in answer key #2