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So - We have 12 notes from which to choose. We already know we can make chords
from scales, but what are these scales?
Scales are notes arranged in a certain order to make specific sounds.
There are many kinds of scales, but we will start with the major scale because it is the
most common.
We create the intervals of a scale by applying a formula of whole steps and half steps
from any tonic.
Whole steps are two frets and half steps are one fret.
The formula for the major scale is:
Whole Whole Half Whole Whole - Whole - Half
Which creates these intervals:
1
So if we apply our major scale formula from the tonic C, our C major scale would be:
C D E F G A B C
But what about accidentals? We already know that some scales have sharps and flats,
so where do they come in? To answer this, lets try to make a G major scale:
If we start on G, we see that the distance from G to A is a whole step, from A to B is a
whole step, B to C is a half step (because there is no note in-between B and C), C to
D is a whole step and D to E is a whole step. So far so good.
But look at what happens next. We are on E, and need a whole step, but the distance
between E and F is only a half step (because there is no note between E and F).
I major
II minor
III minor
IV major
V major
VI minor
VII dim
F#
F#
C#
C#
F#
G#
F#
G#
C#
D#