.. .

Lesson 2

The Major Scale Formula
Download this lesson here:

This lesson will focus on The Major Scale Formula. During this lesson, we will focus on the Diatonic Major Scale. Dia=8 Tonic=Notes, therefore, meaning that Diatonic is an 8 note scale.
Tablature: If your new at reading tablature, a quick explanation would be there are 6 lines. Each line represents a string on the guitar.The smallest string(high e, or small e) is represented by the line on top, and the largest string ( Low E , or large E ) is represented by the line on bottom. The numbers on the lines are telling you which fret to play.

THE MAJOR SCALE FORMULA
All scales have a formula, which are measured by the distance between frets. 1 fret is a half step, and if you move 2 frets, this is known as a whole step.The first note of a scale is known as the tonic note, which gives the scale it's letter name. For example, if you start with the note C, C note will be the tonic note, naming the scale C scale. Or in this instance, C major diatonic major scale.The Diatonic Major Scale Formula, is :
Tonic Note(C), whole step, whole step , half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step.The notes and the scale are shown in the tablature below.W = whole step,H = half step. The steps from the scale formula are shown above the tablature staff, and the notes are shown below.

.......W .W .H .W ...W... W... H
e :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A :--3---5---7---8---10---12---14---15-------------------------------------------------------------------
E :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
....---.
C.. D -.E.. F..- G...-- A...-. B ...C

Now that you have learned this formula, you can start on any string, at any fret, and by using these steps, play the major diatonic scale.I will offer some future lessons that teach the major scale finger tapping technique I used during my solo performance at the end of You Can Play Guitar Video Lesson, Volume 4.

Here are some alternate methods for playing this same scale.

.....#1 ...........................................#2
e :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G :-------------------2--4--5--------------------------------4--5---------------------------------------------
D :--------2--3--5--------------------------------3--5--7----------------------------------------------------
A :--3--5--------------------------------3--5--7--------------------------------------------------------------
E :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
....--..C.D E F G -A--B -C ---------C D -E F -G -A -B -C

....#3 ............................................#4
e :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D :----------------------7--9--10-----------------------------------9--10------------------------------------
A :----------7--8--10---------------------------------8--10--12--------------------------------------------
E :--8--10-------------------------------8--10--12----------------------------------------------------------
....-
-.C.. D. E .F G- .A -.B.. C-- .....-C.. D ..-E .F.-.G.. -A -.B. C

Now that you learned the major scale formula, and a few alternate positions for playing it, let's try a couple of classic riffs, that were created by using the major diatonic scale. First we'll take a look at walking bass. As lessons progress, I will show you alternate forms of walking bass, which are derived from the Mixolydian Mode.

Walking Bass

#1 Alternate position
e :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G :-----------2--5--2-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D :-----2--5-----------5---2-------------7--10--7-----------------------------------------------------------
A :--3-----------------------------7--10-------------10--7---------------------------------------------------
E :------------------------------8--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: There is so much more information on scales and theory, that I truely feel I could have made a book with at least 100 pages plus. You can however, find all the detailed infromation on scales and theory in my video lesson You Can Play Guitar Volume 3 "Scales & Theory" which you can purchase online at www.guitartabbooks.com Or enter the FREE video giveaway contest, at Online Rock.
Many times when a student request information on a song or lick, my reply is " If you knew scales and theory, you could probally answer these questions yourself" Before we end this lesson, should you run into questions, feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]

Ok, one last fun tablature peice.This is another demonstration of a Very Famous Riff that was used for a Very Famous Movie. I'll show you the riff in Tab, and if you still aren't sure of what this Trivia lick may be, you can unscramble the puzzle below to find the answer.My guitar instructor, the late Warren Grove, used to give me these little riddles from time to time, which not only made me think, but upon discovering the correct answer, gave me a sense of accomplishment.

Can You Name This Riff?
e :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G :----------------5---------------5------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D :----5--3--2------5--3----2------5--3----2--3------------------------------------------------------------
A :--3----------5-----------5----------------5------------------------------------------------------------------
E :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Unscramble The Answer : tasr swar

Well, that's going to end this lesson.I have many great lessons planned for future release, and normally announce what the contents of the next lesson will be. However, we are looking for feedback from students and viewers, and would like to know what you'd like to see offered for future lessons. So feel free to e-mail myself [email protected] Or e-mail [email protected] And tell us what you would like to see offered for the next guitar lesson.
Sincerley,
Your Instructor
Scott Morris
www.guitartabbooks.com


CLICK HERE for more info on Guitartabbooks.com products!!
.