REWIRE MUSIC THEORY
Learn
3.4 The 12 Major Scales
Most songs that you listen to are written using the major scale. Having major scale mastery unlocks your ability to play these songs in any key without having to think about it. Working with the major scale in this way takes time, but the end result is worth the wait!
Watch the walkthrough video.
Learn how to spell scales using the methods below.
Circle of fourths
Get a piece of paper and write out the twelve major scales using the circle of fourths method.
Check your work with this Chart →
The C# and Cb scales can be easily spelled enharmonically: Spell the key of C and flat every note for the key of Cb and sharp every note for the key of C#.
key signatures
Once you have an understanding of how scales are constructed using intervals and the circle of fourths, learn how to use mnemonic devices to spell them faster.
Is it a sharp key or a flat key?
How many notes are sharped or flatted?
Which notes are sharped or flatted?
Spell the scale!
Step 1: Is it a sharp or flat key?
The key of C has no sharps or flats.
All Flat keys have a flat after their letter name except for the key of F.
Every key without a flat next to its name and that is not C or F is a sharp key.
step 2: how many notes are sharped and flatted?
FLAT KEYS. Every key moving clockwise from C has a flat added to the key signature. The key of Db, for example, is five keys away from C and therefore has five flats. The key of F is one key away from C and has one flat.
SHARP KEYS. Every key moving counterclockwise from C has a sharp added to the key signature. The key of A, for example, is three keys away from C and has three sharps. The key of F# is six keys away from C and has six sharps.
STEP 3: which notes are sharped or flatted?
The notes that are raised or lowered in a major scale follow a specific order. Flat keys start on B and go up in fourths. B E A D G C F
Example: The key of Db has five flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, and Gb.
Sharp keys start on F and go backwards through the circle of fourths. F C G D A E B
Example: The key of B has five sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, and A#.
It is useful to memorize the order B E A D G C F to know which notes are raised or lowered in different keys. Notes in flat keys go from left to right and notes in sharp keys go from right to left.
Step 4: spell the scale!
Follow the musical alphabet to fill in the letters of the scale without accidentals.
EX. A B C D E F G
Apply the accidentals from the key.
The key of A has three sharps: F#, C#, G# | A B C# D E F# G#
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A mirror key has the same letter name but uses the opposite accidentals.
ex. Db is the mirror key of DTo quickly find how many accidentals are in a mirror key, subtract the number of sharps or flats in the known key from seven.
ex. Db has 5 flats | 7 - 5 = 2 | So, the key of D has 2 sharps.
Memorize
LEARNING SCALES
Knowing how to spell your major scales is one step in the process. Being able to recall the scales using mental muscle memory is when this knowledge can be useful in practical music situations.
Use the methods below to memorize your scales.
WRITE IT DOWN
Write down the scales with paper and pencil until you have them memorized.
Use a reference at first to make sure the scales are spelled correctly. Then, slowly take the references away.
Try spelling all of the scales using different orders. Write the scales down in these orders going forwards and backwards 10x each.
Whole Step | C, D, E, Gb/F#, Ab, Bb, Db/C#, Eb, F, G, A, B/Cb |
Half Step | C, C#/Db, D, Eb, E, F, F#/Gb, G, Ab, A, Bb, B/Cb |
Tritone Halfstep | C, Gb/F#, G, Db/C#, D, Ab, A, Eb, E, Bb, B/Cb, F, Gb/F#, C |
KEY SIGNATURE HAND SIGNS
Silently communicate different scales using key signature hand signs.
Show the number of sharps in a key by holding the corresponding amount of fingers UP.
Ex. Three fingers help UP represents the key of A major (three sharps).
Show the number of flats in a key by pointing the corresponding amount of fingers DOWN.
Ex. Five fingers pointing DOWN represents the key of Db major (five flats).
Quiz other musicians on their major keys using these hand signs.
Practice
ASCENDING PENTASCALES
One way to work on the application of your major scale knowledge is to apply them to the piano keyboard by playing pentascales (the first five notes of a scale) in your left hand.
Play ascending pentascales through the circle of fourths.
Place your left hand on the C major pentascale.
Say the letter name of the note while playing the ascending pentascales.
Move to the next key in the last three beats.
Repeat for all twelve keys.
CHALLENGE
Play the pentascales with both hands.
Play the notes as eighth notes and ascend and descend the pentascale.
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Place all your fingers in the correct position before playing.
Move your hand farther up the keyboard for scales that use more black keys.
Don’t listen to the notes: Use a keyboard that is not turned on. The goal is to play the theory, not use your ear.
Pay close attention to the half step between scale degrees three and four.
Start by using the major scale sheet you created as a reference.
Play only flat keys in one practice session and sharp keys in another.
Apply
BASS POSITION WORKOUT
Apply your major scales by playing bass lines to songs in different keys. The chords for the pop song progression page and for the bass position workout are given in Roman Numerals.
The songs that are bolded open a Noteflight score that allows you to play along with the original recording with a MIDI keyboard.
Pick a progression from the Pop Song Progression Page →
Place your hand in the pentascale grip for the given key, think about the correct number of the scale and play the harmonic rhythm for the chord progressions.
Play through the Noteflight Bass Position Workout using the same technique.
Listen
EAR TRAINING
Practice hearing the roots of the I, IV, V, and vi chords with this Drum + Drone Video. Try to hear these progression in the music that you listen to.