Guitar Scales

Modes and Scales for Guitar

Scales are made up of seven notes . Derived from these are Pentatonic scales' and are made up of five notes.

Intervals divide up scales and modes. The smallest, in the classical sense, is a semitone. Two semitones make up a whole tone. Set patterns of semitones and tones dictate any scale which may be reproduced. Semitone intervals are maintained between B and C and also E and F. To achieve different keys, apart from C, certain notes must be altered in order to maintain correct patterns of intervals which make up scales. 

   At the centre of modern harmony is the cycle of fifths (anti-clockwise), fourths going the other way (clockwise). This may be used to predict which chord or key change might sound good in a progression.

Memorizing this will go a long way to understanding keys and scales.

Notice that the word BEAD is spelt out. This makes it easy to remember,