Jamming scales

Ok, so here's a lesson on scales. I am going to do these in numbers (from major) and in the key of C, or else this will take up WAY too much space, you can transpose to different keys.

Basic Scales:

Chromatic Scale: Contains every note you could ever want to play, some call it the musical alphabet. Sharps are used on the way up, flats on the way down.

1 #1 2 #2 3 4 #4 5 #5 6 #6 7 8 7 b7 6 b6 5 b5 4 3 b3 2 b2 1
C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B C B Bb A Ab G Gb F E Eb D Db C

Major(Ionian)Scale: Probably the first type of scale everyone learns, and what most musical theory is based on. Creates a generally happy or triumphant sound.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
C D E F G A B C

Natural Minor (Aeolian) Scale: Another very common type of scale. Creates a sadder or darker sound. You can get this by applying the minor key signature, or starting any major scale on the 6th note. (e.g. in the key of C, the 6th note is A, so starting the C major scale on A gives you A B C D E F G A, which is the A minor scale.)

1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 8
C D Eb F G Ab Bb C

Adapted Minor Scales:

Harmonic Minor Scale: Natural Minor with a raised 7th note. Creates more of a stereotypical snake charmer sound.

1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 8
C D Eb F G Ab B C

Jazz Minor Scale:

1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 8
C D Eb F G A B C

Melodic Minor Scale: Jazz minor on the way up, Natural minor on the way down. Simple as that.

1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 8 b7 b6 5 4 b3 2 1
C D Eb F G A B C Bb Ab G F Eb D C

Modes: Every major scale has 7 notes in it, so theoretically you could start on anyone one of those notes, play the same scale, and get a new scale. These scales are called modes.

Ionian (Major)Scale: Start on the 1st note of any Major scale.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
C D E F G A B C

Dorian Scale: Start on the 2nd note. Or flatten the 3rd and the 7th. (e.g. Cmajor, start on the 2nd note, D E F G A B C D, gives you your D dorian scale, or take D major D E F# G A B C# D, flatten (lower) the 3rd and 7th notes, and you get D E F G A B C D, your D dorian scale.)

1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 8
C D Eb F G A Bb C

Phrygian Scale: Start on the 3rd note or lower the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th.

1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 8
C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C

Lydian Scale: Start on 4, or raise the 4th.

1 2 3 #4 5 6 7 8
C D E F# G A B C

Mixolydian Scale: Start on 5 or lower the 7th.

1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 8
C D E F G A Bb C

Aeolian (Minor) Scale: Start on 6 or lower the 3rd, 6th, and 7th.

1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 8
C D Eb F G Ab Bb C

Locrian Scale: Start on the 7 or lower the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th.

1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7 8
C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C

Pentatonic and Blues Scales:

Major Pentatonic Scale: Major scale with no 4 or 7. Stereotypical Asian sound. Hard to write something that sounds bad, or very interesting.

1 2 3 5 6 8
C D E G A C

Minor Pentatonic Scale: Major pentatonic scale starting on the 6. (e.g. C major pentatonic starting on A, A C D E G A, or take out the 2 and 6 and lower the 3rd and 7th.

1 b3 4 5 b7 8
C Eb F G Bb C

Blues Scale: Minor pentatonic with a tritone (raised 4th or lowered 5th).

1 b3 4 #4 5 b7 8
C Eb F F# G Bb C

Other Scales:

Whole Tone Scale:

1 2 3 #4 #5 #6 8
C D E F# G# A# C

Diminished (Octatonic) Scale: You can either start on a whole step or a half step, the pattern for this scale goes WHWHWHWH, or HWHWHWHW (W means 2 semitones up to the next note, H means 1.

1 b2 #2 3 #4 5 6 b7 8
C Db D# E F# G A Bb C

OR

1 2 b3 4 b5 b6 6 7 8
C D Eb F Gb Ab A B C

Bebop Scale:

1 2 3 4 5 #5 6 7 8
C D E F G G# A B C

Dominant Bebop Scale: start on 6 of Bebop scale.

1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 7 8
C D E F G A Bb B C

Augmented Scale:

1 #2 3 5 b6 7 8
C D# E G Ab B C

Spanish/Jewish Scale:

1 b2 3 4 5 b6 b7 8
C Db E F G Ab Bb C

Hindu Scale:

1 2 3 4 5 b6 b7 8
C D E F G Ab Bb C

I know that's a lot to take in, and that's not even close to all the scales you can know, but those are the ones that you could probably find a use for in your playing, try one out for a new sound, or try substituting scales, Dorian works in place of a minor scale really well, especially in funk. Most of you will never use all of these scales, some of you don't even understand some of them, but they're here, and even if you take one and learn it when you're bored, it could be that sound you're looking for in that song you're writing, or maybe just a fun scale to jam on. It helps a lot with tabbing too when you can here that the trumpet just played an E dorian scale, instead of trying to write out each note individually.

If there are any questions about these scales, or scale choices, or if you just want to learn a little more about using different scales in soloing and songwriting feel free to email me.