MAJOR SCALES FOR GUITAR THROUGH THE CIRCLE OF FIFTHS
C Major Scale: 1 octave in 1st position - 2 octaves in 7th position.
SHARP KEYS
G Major Scale: 2 octaves in 1st position - 2 octaves 9th to 12th positions.
D Major Scale: 1 octave in 1st position - 2 octaves 4th to 7th positions.
A Major Scale: 1 octave in 1st position - 2 octaves in 4th position.
E Major Scale: 2 octaves in 1st position - 2 octaves 6th to 9th positions.
B Major Scale: 2 octaves 1st to 4th positions - 2 octaves 6th position.
F# Major Scale: 2 octaves 1st position - 2 octaves 8th to 11th positions.
C# Major Scale: 2 octaves 3rd to 6th positions - 2 octaves 8th position.
FLAT KEYS
F Major Scale: 2 octaves 1st position - 2 octaves 12th position.
B flat Major Scale: 2 octaves 1st to 3rd positions - 2 octaves 5th position.
E flat Major Scale: 1 octave 1st position - 2 octaves 5th to 8th positions.
A flat Major Scale: 2 octaves 3rd position - 1 octave 8th position.
D flat Major Scale: 1 octave 1st position - 2 octaves 8th position.
G flat Major Scale: 2 octaves 1st position - 2 octaves 8th to 11th position.
C flat Major Scale: 2 octaves 1st to 4th position - 2 octaves 6th position.
SHARP KEYS
G Major Scale: 2 octaves in 1st position - 2 octaves 9th to 12th positions.
D Major Scale: 1 octave in 1st position - 2 octaves 4th to 7th positions.
A Major Scale: 1 octave in 1st position - 2 octaves in 4th position.
E Major Scale: 2 octaves in 1st position - 2 octaves 6th to 9th positions.
B Major Scale: 2 octaves 1st to 4th positions - 2 octaves 6th position.
F# Major Scale: 2 octaves 1st position - 2 octaves 8th to 11th positions.
C# Major Scale: 2 octaves 3rd to 6th positions - 2 octaves 8th position.
FLAT KEYS
F Major Scale: 2 octaves 1st position - 2 octaves 12th position.
B flat Major Scale: 2 octaves 1st to 3rd positions - 2 octaves 5th position.
E flat Major Scale: 1 octave 1st position - 2 octaves 5th to 8th positions.
A flat Major Scale: 2 octaves 3rd position - 1 octave 8th position.
D flat Major Scale: 1 octave 1st position - 2 octaves 8th position.
G flat Major Scale: 2 octaves 1st position - 2 octaves 8th to 11th position.
C flat Major Scale: 2 octaves 1st to 4th position - 2 octaves 6th position.
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The Major Scale or (Ionian Mode) is by far the most common scale used in all "Western" music. It is
"built" using a sequence of tones and semi-tones as follows: Tone, Tone, Semi-tone, Tone, Tone, Tone,
Semi-tone. Committing this sequence to memory is useful for figuring out all the major scales anywhere
on the fret-board.
"built" using a sequence of tones and semi-tones as follows: Tone, Tone, Semi-tone, Tone, Tone, Tone,
Semi-tone. Committing this sequence to memory is useful for figuring out all the major scales anywhere
on the fret-board.
There are seven different notes in the major scale, with the octave tonic totaling eight. These can be
divided into two groups of four, called tetrachords. A tetrachord is a 4 note scale spanning the interval of
a perfect 4th. There are four basic tetrachord types: Major, Minor, Phrygian, and Harmonic. The major
scale (Ionian Mode) is the only scale to use two "Major" tetrachords, one starting on the tonic, the other
on the dominant.
divided into two groups of four, called tetrachords. A tetrachord is a 4 note scale spanning the interval of
a perfect 4th. There are four basic tetrachord types: Major, Minor, Phrygian, and Harmonic. The major
scale (Ionian Mode) is the only scale to use two "Major" tetrachords, one starting on the tonic, the other
on the dominant.
THE TRITONE: Is used to refer to two things:
1: A four note scale consisting of 3 WHOLE TONES, covering an AUGMENTED 4th.
1: A four note scale consisting of 3 WHOLE TONES, covering an AUGMENTED 4th.
2: The INTERVAL (or its inversion), formed by the outside notes of this 4 note scale.
The tritone is characterized by a marked instability (or "dissonance"), and it tends to "resolve", that is, it
tends to move to other notes which will release its instability. This resolution is by "step" and a tritone in
natural key signature will show a tendency as follows:
tends to move to other notes which will release its instability. This resolution is by "step" and a tritone in
natural key signature will show a tendency as follows:
There is a tritone found in the Ionian mode formed by a combination of the 4th and 7th scale degrees
(subdominant and leading tone). This tritone shows a tendencey to resolve to the TONIC and the
MEDIANT, which happen to outline the TONIC CHORD (1st, 3rd, and 5th degrees of the scale).
(subdominant and leading tone). This tritone shows a tendencey to resolve to the TONIC and the
MEDIANT, which happen to outline the TONIC CHORD (1st, 3rd, and 5th degrees of the scale).
This tritone plays an important part in the outlining and establishing of the "key" because, only in the
Ionian mode, it is so positioned that its "dissonance" is directed at, and comes to rest on the tonic
chord. Therefore, when a tritone occurs between the 4th and 7th scale degrees, as it does in the Ionian
mode, it is called a TONAL TRITONE. It is for this reason that the Major Scale (Ionian Mode) is the most
"stable" of the modes, and accounts for its emergence as the main scale of "Western" music.
Ionian mode, it is so positioned that its "dissonance" is directed at, and comes to rest on the tonic
chord. Therefore, when a tritone occurs between the 4th and 7th scale degrees, as it does in the Ionian
mode, it is called a TONAL TRITONE. It is for this reason that the Major Scale (Ionian Mode) is the most
"stable" of the modes, and accounts for its emergence as the main scale of "Western" music.