What is a Scale Formula and How to Use it For

Guitar
May 29, 2015 By ​Klaus Crow

Everything revolves around scales. We use scales to create music, study music
theory, understand music, build chords, progressions, arpeggios and learn
soloing and improvisation​.

So how do you build a scale with a formula, how do you figure out the notes
for a particular scale, what else can you do with a scale formula and how can
you make sense of it all?

Well, let’s find out.

The scale formula gives you insight in the notes you play. It gives you a clear
overview of how scales relate to each other and reveals the easiness of building
any scale in seconds.

It also a great tool for learning and understanding ​chord construction​ and
soloing. Once you know the logic behind a scale and how to use the formula, a
lot of pieces to the puzzle will fall into place one step at a time.

To construct or build a scale we need a ​major scale​ and a scale formula. We

use the major scale as groundwork and reference point for building all the
other scales and then apply the appropriate scale formula to fill in the notes.

What is a scale formula?

A scale formula shows you the notes of a scale compared to the notes of the
major scale.

Let’s explain:
The notes of the major scale are referred to as numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

See here the notes of a C major scale:

C D E F G A B
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
See image below, first two scale diagrams.

Then you choose a scale formula.

Building a Minor Pentatonic Scale

Let's take the C minor pentatonic scale for example.

The Major scale formula = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

C major scale = C D E F G A B

The Minor Pentatonic scale formula = 1 b3 4 5 b7

C Minor Pentatonic = C Eb F G Bb

So you play the first note of the major scale, then the
third note lowered by a half step, the fourth note, the
fifth note and the seventh note lowered by a half step.

b3 (flat three) means you take the third note of the

major scale only a half step down. The third note of the
C major scale is E, so if you go down a half step E
becomes Eb (E flat). b7 (flat seven) means you take the
seventh note of the major scale only a half step down.
The seventh note of the C major scale is B, so if you go
down a half step B becomes Bb (B flat).

The notes of the C minor Pentatonic scale consists of the

notes C Eb F G Bb (1 b3 4 5 b7)
See image below, diagrams three and four.

You can do this with any scale in any key.

Pick the appropriate major scale key and scale formula

below:

Major Scales in Every Key:

A major scale = A B C# D E F# G# A
Bb major scale = Bb C D Eb F G A Bb
B major scale = B C# D# E F# G# A# B
C major scale = C D E F G A B C
Db major scale = Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db
D major scale = D E F# G A B C# D
Eb major scale = Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb
E major scale = E F# G# A B C# D# E
F major scale = F G A Bb C D E F
Gb major scale = Gb Ab Bb Cb (=B) Db Eb F Gb
G major scale = G A B C D E F# G
Ab major scale = Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab
Common Scale Formulas:
Major scale =​ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7​ (C D E F G A B)
Minor scale =​ 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7​ (C D Eb F G Ab Bb)
Minor pentatonic scale =​ 1 b3 4 5 b7​ (C Eb F G Bb)
Blues scale =​ 1 b3 4 b5 5 b7​ (C Eb F Gb G Bb)
Major pentatonic scale =​ 1 2 3 5 6​ (C D E G A)
Harmonic minor scale =​ 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7​ (C D Eb F G Ab B)
Melodic minor scale =​ 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7​ (C D Eb F G A B)
Ionian scale =​ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7​ (C D E F G A B)
Dorian scale =​ 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7​ (C D Eb F G A Bb )
Phrygian scale =​ 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7​ (C Db Eb F G Ab Bb)
Lydian scale =​ 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7​ (C D E F# G A B)
Mixolydian scale =​ 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7​ (C D E F G A Bb)
Aeolian scale =​ 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7​ (C D Eb F G Ab Bb)
Locrian scale =​ 1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7​ (C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb)
Whole tone scale =​ 1 2 3 #4 #5 b7​ (C D E F# G# Bb)
Whole-Half Diminished =​ 1 2 b3 4 b5 b6 6 7​ (C D Eb F Gb
Ab A B)
Half-Whole Diminished =​ 1 b2 b3 3 b5 5 6 b7​ (C Db Eb E F#
G A Bb)

Assignments
1 - Create an​ ​A harmonic minor scale​:
* Look for the A major scale in the list above.
* Look for the "harmonic minor" scale formula and write
it down.
* Fill in the notes for the A harmonic minor scale.
* Look for the notes of the A harmonic minor scale on
your guitar neck.
* Play the A harmonic minor scale on your guitar.
* Now play it in different keys.

2 - Build an A major scale.

3 - Build an A minor scale.

4 - Build an A minor pentatonic scale.

5 - Build an A major pentatonic scale.

6 - Write down the difference between a major and a minor

scale formula?

7 - Memorize the major, minor and minor pentatonic scale

formulas.

8 - Learn to be aware of the note numbers whenever you

play a scale.

Have fun!