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.
There are six fundamental scales that are highly versatile and useful across a range of traditional and contemporary music styles. These scales include the Blues, Major Pentatonic, Mixolydian (also known as the Dominant scale), Dorian , Aeolian (also known as the Natural Minor scale), and Ionian scale (also known as the Major scale). By familiarizing yourself with these six scales, you can navigate through a wide variety of musical genres.
It's important to understand that a scale is essentially a collection of pitches or notes. It's not inherently labeled as a Jazz scale
, Blues scale
, or Rock scale
. What truly matters is how a scale is utilized and applied in music.
In most musical compositions, the foundation begins with a scale. The melody, chords, licks, and riffs all trace back to a particular scale or combination of scales. Understanding the relationship between these musical elements and their corresponding scales can enhance your musical comprehension and allow for creative exploration within various musical contexts.