Originally Posted by: ChristopherSchlegelHey & welcome to GT!
Originally Posted by: ccrider19632I’m in the process of trying to teach myself basic music theory. My question is with the major open scales. It looks to me that there are generally 5 major open scales.
A/C/D/E and G. Is this correct? What about B and F and if not, why?
Often beginners learn to play major scales based on the open strings. But most scales can & do use open strings. I encourage you to work through one of the Fundamentals courses in order to get the appropriate amount of theory along with practical physical playing skills at the same time.
[br]I cover intervals, scales & basic theory starting here.
[br]https://www.guitartricks.com/course.php?input=fundamentals2(discontinued)
[br]To answer your question more directly, there are 12 possible musical alphabet notes: 7 letters A through G & the 5 accidentals (sharps & flats) between them. I cover that in this series of lessons.
[br]https://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=11078&s_id=1138
[br]You can build a scale on every one of them. So, there are 12 possible major scales. But this is way beyond what a beginner needs to know or practice! The best place to start is to learn one major scale & really work it out. Get used to playing it, hearing it, using it. That's where the courses are valuable.
[br]Hope this helps. Please ask more if necessary & best of success!
Thanks very much for that information.