Originally Posted by: ItsmesillyBy scale formula do you mean the "wwhwwwh" concept of the major scales?[/quote]
Yes, precisely.

Every type of scale has it's own unique formula. But that formula is what you apply to all 12 possible musical alphabet letter notes.

All major scales have this formula:
1 (WS) 2 (WS) 3 (HS) 4 (WS) 5 (WS) 6 (WS) 7 (HS) 1

All minor scales have this formula:
1 (WS) 2 (HS) 3 (WS) 4 (WS) 5 (HS) 6 (WS) 7 (WS) 1

Originally Posted by: Itsmesilly
I do understand that and how it applies to the scales....
[/quote]
Careful there! I am splitting hairs here, but this is an important point: The formula of intervals is not something you apply to a scale; rather, the scale is that formula of intervals applied to the guitar (or any musical instrument).

Conceptually, the formula IS the scale.

Originally Posted by: Itsmesilly
I have written down scales and have been learning how chords are constructed and where the roman numerals come in and all...

I definitly try to swallow more than I can chew...and I know it can trip me up at times

OK, fair enough. I want to offer a suggestion at this point though. Sometimes I've had students that want to understand more theory than they can actual use at a certain point. Some of them wound up knowing lots of great concepts and info.

But they never bothered to keep their playing and aural skills growing at the same pace!

As a result they knew lots of theory, but couldn't play anything. Worse, because they never played enough, they never built their aural skills. They could not hear the theory they "knew about" in their own playing or music they listened to. :(
[QUOTE=Itsmesilly]another question ( as I read I try to write my questions down ) ....what is a "related minor" I dont understand how for the Cmaj scale , Am is the related minor...

Minor scales are derived from major scales by reassigning scale degrees. The 6th major scale degree is reassigned as the 1st degree of the minor scale degree. The major 7th scale degree becomes the 2nd minor scale degree. And so on.

c - d - e - f - g - a - b - c
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 1

c - d - e - f - g - a - b - c - d - e - f - g - a - b - c
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 1

(c - d - e - f - g -) a - b - c - d - e - f - g - a
(3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 -) 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 1

The result is that the same set of intervals get "shifted over". This is the origin of the modes. The minor scale is aeolian; the sixth mode of the major scale.

Why do we do this? In order to get different sounds and then have a way of identifying them as unique, and have a way or conceptually organizing them.
[QUOTE=Itsmesilly]thanks for your patience

You are quite welcome. :)

I do sincerely love to discuss theory. And especially with GT subscribers that have a likewise sincere interest. Please just make sure your playing and aural skills keep up with your theory knowledge.