SOME BASIC MUSIC THEORY

BEGINNING THEORY

Beginning music theory may not sound like a lot of fun or even something you are interested in. It is crucial that you learn the fundamentals of music so that you can start programming your brain to think in terms of music. Music theory will give you a greater understanding of what you are playing and why. This will probably take the longest to learn which is why I gave you some chords to work on first. Most people like to dig in and play and not sit down and study before they begin to play! While you practice the series of chords given, build on in theory.

MAJOR SCALES

Before I begin with how to construct a major scale, know this as a constant, there are only twelve notes in existence. C C#/Db, D, D#/ Eb, E, F, F#/Gb, G, G#/Ab, A, A#/Bb, B, C. This is called a chromatic scale which includes every note known. A chromatic scales consists entirely of half steps. Take special note that there isn't an E# or Fb, B# or Cb.

Example: In ascending order, C to C# is a half step, C# to D is a half step, D to D# is a half step, etc. In descending order, C to B is a half step (note that there isn't a Cb or B#), B to Bb is a half step, Bb to A is a half step, etc.

A scale is comprised of whole (w) and half (h) steps. The term scale comes from the Latin word scala which means ladder. An easy way to remember this is that a scale climbs like a ladder of notes. If we use a C major scale as an example while referencing the chromatic scale, the major scale construct will be easier to understand. A scale is comprised of 8 steps which can be either whole or half steps.

Example: C D E F G A B C. C to D is a whole step, D to E is a whole step, E to F is a half step, F to G is a whole step, G to A is a whole step, A to B is a whole step, B to C is a half step. Notice that the half steps occur where the notes don't exist (E#, Fb, B#, and Cb).
Our major scale formula is this: WWHWWWH. Memorize it!
What are the major scales?
C Major Scale: C D E F G A B C ( 0 sharp, 0 flat)
G Major Scale: G A B C D E F# G ( 1 sharp, f#)
D Major Scale: D E F# G A B C# D ( 2 sharp, f#, g#)
A Major Scale: A B C# D E F# G# A ( 3 sharp, f#, g#, c#)
E Major Scale: E F# G# A B C# D# E ( 4 sharp, f#, g#, c#, d#)
B Major Scale: B C# D# E F# G# A# B ( 5 sharp, f#, g#, c#, d#, a#)
F# Major Scale: F# G# A# B C# D# E# F# ( 6 sharp, f#, g#, c#, d#, a#, e#)
C# Major Scale: C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C#) ( All sharp)
F Major Scale: F G A Bb C D E F ( 1 flab, Bb)
Bb Major Scale: Bb C D Eb F G A Bb ( 2 flat, Bb, Eb)
Eb Major Scale: Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb ( 3 flat, Bb, Eb, Ab)
Ab Major Scale: Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab ( 4 flat, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db)
Db Major Scale: Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db ( 5 flat, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb)
Gb Major Scale: Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb ( 6 flat, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb)
Cb Major Scale: Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb ( All flat)

Below is something known as the circle of fifths. This is a wheel of information that will aid you in scale construction, key signatures, and note names. Helpful hints: When you are trying to figure out which note will be sharp, look to the previous note on the wheel beginning with F (F C G A E B). A Gmaj. Scale has 1 # which is F#, etc. When you are trying to figure out which note will be flatted next, look to the next note beginning with B (B E A D G Cb). An F maj. Scale has 1 b which is Bb, etc.