Essential Scales

Essential Scales for ALL Musicians

Published: 19 Sep 2018 Updated: 24 Sep 2021Visits: 33Code: ML15

INSTRUMENTS: Scales Main: Ukulele Others: Ukulele Guitar Music ANY
Subjects: Scales

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Essential Scales


Each note of a scale is called a scale degree or scale tone and uses one of the seven letters of the musical alphabet: A B C D E F G and can also have the addition of a sharp (#) or flat (b). The distance between each scale degree can be expresses in steps. The distance from the root or 1st note of the scale to one of the other notes of the scale is called an intervals and has a name and distance. For the purposes of this lesson that can be expressed as a number, degree representing it’s position in the scale relative to the root or 1.

Scale can be organized as: Traditional, Modal, Contemporary, Altered and Exotic.

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Ukulele Eamples - C Tuning

A few of the scales on Ukulele using C Major in C Tuning, Open Position.

C Ionian (Major) C D E F G A B C`

Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.

C Dorian (Minor) C D Eb F G A Bb C`

Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.

C Phrygian C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C`

Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.

C Lydian C D E F# G A B C`

Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.

C Mixolydian C D E F G A Bb C`

Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.

C Aeolian (Natural Minor) C D Eb F G Ab Bb C`

Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.

C Locrian C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C`

Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.

A mode is when the characteristic scale tone is stressed.

A scale is when all tones are equal.

This is a test

Once you master the open position for any given scale the hard work is navigating the many possibilies along the fingerboard. Here is a lesson on Navigating the Major Scale using the Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering of that can be applied to any scale or mode.

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End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!

Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.

Videos

Related Videos for Essential Scales.

Open Position, C Major Scale on Ukulele - C Tuning

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

Video example for the Ukulele Lesson on the Major Scale.

Related Lessons

Related Lessons for Essential Scales.

UL04-C-BLUES

Essential C Blues Scale Patterns for Ukulele

Updated: 27 Jan 2014

Essential C Blues/Minor Pentatonic scale patterns for ukulele.

UL04-C-ION

Essential C Major Scale Patterns for `Ukulele

Updated: 24 Feb 2014

Essential C Major scale patterns for ukulele. Learning scales typically starts with learning a position or pattern by shape. For a lot of players that‘s where it stops. With the many possible shapes between chords and scales to learn - there has to be a better way - There is!!!

UL04j

Essential Jazz Scales for `Ukulele

Updated: 06 Apr 2020

After you mastering the six essentials scales below and start to explore more advanced styles of music, especially jazz. There are a few more scales that are needed to cover the broader harmonic palette that a typical jazz tune draws from.

ML15

Essential Scales

Updated: 24 Sep 2021

A scale is a collection of pitches a.k.a. notes, used for creating melodies, either pre composed or improvised on the spot. A scale is also used for the harmony – the chords. The melodies and chords create a tonality. The most common source for these melodies and chords is the Major scale. Also known as the Ionian scale or mode.

UL04

Six Essential Scales for `Ukulele

Updated: 09 Nov 2021

The six essential scales are: Blues Major Pentatonic Mixolydian Dorian Aeolian and Ionian From the six essential scales, you can get through a wide variety of traditional and contemporary music. A scale is simply a collection of pitches or notes, not really a "this is a Jazz scale", "this is a Blues" or "this is a Rock scale". It's how a scale is used that really matters not its name.

PL01

Major Scale Fingering - Piano

Updated: 20 Jul 2023

Scale fingerings for the 15 Major Scales: C, G, D, A, E, B, F#, C#, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb.

Related Lesson Series

Related Lessons Series for Essential Scales.

Six Essential Ukulele Scales

Updated: 08 Jun 2023

The "Six Essential Ukulele Scales" series is based on the fingering principles from my series of books in the "QuickStart Scale and Arpeggio Fingerings" series.

The Seven Modes of the Major Scale

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

Pythagoras (569BC- 475BC) - discovered the numerical ratios which determine the intervals of the musical scale. Theses are the seven tones of the C Ionian or C Major scale.

Related Songs

Related Songs for Essential Scales.

ANYSONG

Any Song Will Do

Updated: 07 Dec 2015

This is not really a song, but simply saying that for the purposes of a lot of the lessons and lesson series on this site ANY song will do for exploring the lesson's material and concepts presented in the lesson.

Related Books & Charts

Related Books for Essential Scales.

QS1CDB

QuickStart - Chord Progressions for Lead Guitar - Vol I Book and CD

Updated: 10 Dec 2019

24 play-along tracks for QUICKSTART Scale Fingerings for Lead Guitar. Four tracks each for the six essential scales for exploring improvisation in a variety of contemporary styles.

QS1UKES

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, Volume I, C Tuning

Updated: 01 Apr 2024

Learn to create exciting solos in a variety of contemporary styles! Scales are used to improvise, create melodies and riffs. With broad knowledge of the essential scales that are used in contemporary music and a mastery of the ukulele's fingerboard and fingering principles, you're well on your way.

A Selection of Books & Reference Charts that are recommended for creating a solid foundation with your chosen instrument and music in general.

Books

Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard – C Tuning

Finally, learn the names of the notes of the fingerboard.

Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering

Learn the six fingering principles to navigating the ukulele fingerboard. Fingering is one of the most universal topics.

Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution

Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition.

Ukulele – Reading Music Series – Primer

Learn to read single note melodies in the first/open position is a lot easier than you might think.

Daily Practice Material for the Contemporary Ukulele

An organized collection of daily practice and reference material for the contemporary ukulele player for developing the vocabulary and knowledge necessary for single note playing.

Checkout the Books for ALL available books.

Reference Charts

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G - G C E A

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G – G C E A

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High A – D G B E

Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High A – D G B E

Key Signatures — Circle of Fourths and Fifths – ANSI A & A4 sizes

A handy reference chart of all 15 major and relative minor key signatures. US Letter 8.5 x 11 sized (ANSI-A) , A4

Checkout the Books for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.

Related Lesson Files, Resources and Assets

Related Assets for Essential Scales.

WEB_CONTENT_ONLY

Open Position, C Major Scale on Ukulele - C Tuning [video]

Updated: 31 Dec 2016

Open position C Major scale for C tuned ukulele.

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