The Other Side Of Scales - Not just for singing Do, Re, Mi...
Beginner and intermediate musicians often under use scales. I’m not addressing the endless horde of scales that posses many musicians. There are only two scales truly necessary to command chord sequences (see my first article) and melodies. This concept eventually develops into a mastery of harmony (supporting notes in a chord or melody, and knowing how tonality affects everything). Tonality is an academic term referring to whether a chord, song key, scale, or melody is major or minor.
Minor “Sad” Scale
Both scales reside on the bottom, or fat two stings for our exercise. The minor scale can be achieved by picking the 5th, 7th, and 8th frets, one at a time on the thickest string, Low E, and then the same fret numbers on the neighboring string, A. The last note of the seven different intervals is on the third fret of Low E. When practicing, most people start and end by playing the same note, resolving the scale.
Major “Happy” Scale
This scale begins by playing frets 5 and 7 on Low E. Continuing on to the A string. pick frets 4, 5, and 7. The last 2 notes are played on the Low E, frets 2, 4 and resolving back on 5.
Using Scales To Create Chord Progressions
If you read my previous lesson, you know how to make a progression with randomly selected notes. These scales allow you to control your note choices. Follow the example below and you will understand:
1) Choose a scale (major or minor)
2) Starting on the root, choose three other notes to prepare a chord sequence
3) Each note chosen will be the root of a power chord
4) Play each chord for one measure (strum each chord four consistent times)
Intervals and Progression Names
Intervals are just the chromatic numbering of the notes in the scale consecutively. If you start a progression on the root or first note of our minor scale above and choose the third note in the scale as your second choice to play the next measure, your sequence is called a Minor 1-3 progression. This is simply because you chose the first note for your first chord and measure and the third note in the scale for your following chord and measure: major 1-3 progression in the key of A (note name of the 5th fret of Low E).
Why This is Worth Knowing
As paradoxical as it sounds, chord progressions have little to do with the marginal differences between songs. You can only get so many combinations of seven intervals. Rhythm, melody and unique chord builds are at the heart of what makes songs stand apart. There are also abstract elements like sonic qualities and musician characteristics but those are topics not entirely relevant here.
What’s Next?
This process is the first step to a full understanding of how the two tonalities interlock in one key. The next step in this topic is to know how and when to play a major or minor chord during a chord progression. Until then, create chord progression using these two scales.