Does a scale start at its root note???

I saw a C Major Scale where it started at the Open E and ended at the G note on the 3rd Fret High e string. I thought scales start at their key note and end at it, like C to C, or D to D.

Scales starting and ending at a root note are just written that way for ease of explanation and visualization. The "C" is the beginning and the end of the series of tones, but it doesn't have to be that way in a song. You can play the scale beginning on any note, and if the song is in the key of C (in other words, the harmony is in the key of C), then the scale will work just fine.

Originally Posted by: XaisoftI saw a C Major Scale where it started at the Open E and ended at the G note on the 3rd Fret High e string. I thought scales start at their key note and end at it, like C to C, or D to D.

any scale begins at a root note called the tonic from which the intervals are used to construct whichever form of scale you want to construct most common being the major and minor scales with each having it,s own tonic or root note and set of intervals starting at that note.This is only the scale being used and not where one begins to use it on the music staff.The c major scale if being written out would obviously go from c to c an octave higher but in its musical use would not necessarily start at c and end at c.Obviously one cannot practically play a guitar or any other instrument all the time and when not playing it is good to work on music theory in relation to a keyboard or piano as i find tabs are a sort of inbetween concept of relating a guitar to a not much easier way of reading music if you learn proper music theory you,ll be able to relate to any instrument.Having done so myself i find it a great assett and not at all difficult to learn but one really has to learn relating to a piano or keyboard to grasp it fully.Then the knowledge gained will only add to your music theory understanding.The internet is a goldmine of knowledge on music theory and much of it for free so spend some of that time when not actually playing learning scales,intervals,chords,inversions,progressions,circle of 5ths/4ths and much more.

In all actuality you don't even need an instrument to learn music theory, I learned what I know on guitar. I'm self taught, and it is true that you can apply what you know to any instrument.

I can play chords, and some melody on keys, and I do play several other stringed instuments.

I could figure out scales, and scale patterns on keys, if I wanted to put my guitar down long enough. I'm mostly an ear player so to speak, but I can sight read music also. Since I'm not as fast at it, I rely mostly on my ear, and the theory I do know.

I like the guitar better because you can play scales with open strings, or you can play them in other postions. Btw the major scales generally cover two octaves. In other words if you play a C major scale starting in the 8th fret on the 6th string, you have covered two octaves by the time you get to the last note in the 8th fret on the 1st string. If you want to go the 3rd octave, whole step is the distance of two frets, and half step is the distance of one fret.

From the C note in the 8th fret on the 1st string, go a whole step to the D note, a whole step to the E note, half step to the F, whole step to the G, whole step to the A, whole step to the B, and a half step to the C note in the 20th fret on the 1st string.

W W H W W W H, is the major scale pattern.

Learn the notes on the fretboard, which is actually much simpler than you think. You'll be playing scales in no time, the major scale is the same pattern no matter where you play it. The pattern only varies if you're using open strings to play the scales.

I don't think you need to learn on a keyboard to learn theory, and grasp the concept. As I said earlier you can apply it to any instrument, and even Sunfly will agree after learning to apply it to guitar.

You can play a major scale using only one string, but the majority of the time they are played using all the strings in succession.

This lesson has no video, and the scale is actually reversed, but it will show you the position for the A major scale. http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=7822

This lesson is the same scale, but using open strings. http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=7922

I hope this will help you figure out what you want to know, and then you'll realize how simple it is.

JD

Originally Posted by: sixpickerIn all actuality you don't even need an instrument to learn music theory, I learned what I know on guitar. I'm self taught, and it is true that you can apply what you know to any instrument.

I can play chords, and some melody on keys, and I do play several other stringed instuments.

I could figure out scales, and scale patterns on keys, if I wanted to put my guitar down long enough. I'm mostly an ear player so to speak, but I can sight read music also. Since I'm not as fast at it, I rely mostly on my ear, and the theory I do know.

I like the guitar better because you can play scales with open strings, or you can play them in other postions. Btw the major scales generally cover two octaves. In other words if you play a C major scale starting in the 8th fret on the 6th string, you have covered two octaves by the time you get to the last note in the 8th fret on the 1st string. If you want to go the 3rd octave, whole step is the distance of two frets, and half step is the distance of one fret.

From the C note in the 8th fret on the 1st string, go a whole step to the D note, a whole step to the E note, half step to the F, whole step to the G, whole step to the A, whole step to the B, and a half step to the C note in the 20th fret on the 1st string.

W W H W W W H, is the major scale pattern.

Learn the notes on the fretboard, which is actually much simpler than you think. You'll be playing scales in no time, the major scale is the same pattern no matter where you play it. The pattern only varies if you're using open strings to play the scales.

I don't think you need to learn on a keyboard to learn theory, and grasp the concept. As I said earlier you can apply it to any instrument, and even Sunfly will agree after learning to apply it to guitar.

You can play a major scale using only one string, but the majority of the time they are played using all the strings in succession.

This lesson has no video, and the scale is actually reversed, but it will show you the position for the A major scale. http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=7822

This lesson is the same scale, but using open strings. http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=7922

I hope this will help you figure out what you want to know, and then you'll realize how simple it is.

JD

yes i agree that music theory is possible to learn without the use of an instrument and it,s all a matter of getting your head round the terminology and concepts of scales, major, minor, modes, reading the bass and g clef staffs etc but rhythm must not be forgot and a keyboard helps an awful lot.If one finds theory difficult then you have to keep approaching it from different angles because sometimes your ahead of where you want to be at for your own specific train of thought in learning and it won,t make sense until you learn in the correct order and it falls into place and makes sense which of course requires patience and application but is easily done with the time and effort applied.