The Major Scale – Lesson 7

[Alicia Willis]

None of the lessons are playing for me. Does anyone else have this problem?

Hey Ryan, this is a known issue and the team is diligently working to correct it. Sorry for the inconvenience. Hang tight and they’ll be up soon. Updates on the issue will be announced.

 

[mravenged]

Is this formula the same going back down the neck or is it reversed?

 

[botastiac]

I’m having trouble understanding why we start on B for the major scale here? To me seems like there is no rhyme or reason to it? If we are playing on the 5th string, why aren’t we playing A first? Thanks!

 

[Rad Synner]

I’m having trouble understanding why we start on B for the major scale here? To me seems like there is no rhyme or reason to it? If we are playing on the 5th string, why aren’t we playing A first? Thanks!

the 3rd fret of the 5th string is actually a C so we're playing the C major scale! One of the primary reason we use the C to represent the major scale is because there are no sharp or flats in it so it's one of the easiest to represent in terms of theory. But I don't think you should overthink it too much. It's an example that can be applied to any other notes. It's just that if you break down the notes that are part of a Major scale for any other note, they would have sharps and flats and for beginners the C again is easier to demonstrate.

 

[botastiac]

the 3rd fret of the 5th string is actually a C so we're playing the C major scale! One of the primary reason we use the C to represent the major scale is because there are no sharp or flats in it so it's one of the easiest to represent in terms of theory. But I don't think you should overthink it too much. It's an example that can be applied to any other notes. It's just that if you break down the notes that are part of a Major scale for any other note, they would have sharps and flats and for beginners the C again is easier to demonstrate.

Thank you for the clarification!!
Edit: was just practicing this scale and I realized now why it starts on B! It makes a lot of sense to me now. Also why there is a half note on E.

 

[Rad Synner]

Thank you for the clarification!!
Edit: was just practicing this scale and I realized now why it starts on B! It makes a lot of sense to me now. Also why there is a half note on E.

What do you mean by half note on E?

 

[botastiac]

What do you mean by half note on E

“Whole whole half whole whole whole half”

half notes because there are not sharps on b and e.

 

[Ed Seith]

Correct terminology is "half step."

 

[Harthicc]

Hey Yall!
Do the gaps between b and c; e and f matter for the whole whole half and whole whole whole half sequence? Or does this only pertain to gaps in the fretboard and not between notes?

 

[Ed Seith]

GREAT QUESTION! And the answer is none of the gaps matter. Each of them is 1 fret, or one 1/2 step. B to C is a half-step sharp. F to E is a half-step flat. B to C# is one whole step.