What is the C major scale?
A scale is a very specific pattern of notes that is used to create the basic building blocks of music: melody and harmony. In order to build a scale from the intervals of the octave we need a formula. The major scale formula is derived from the nature of the overtone series and is:
1st note, whole step, 2nd note, whole step, 3rd note, half step, 4th note, whole step, 5th note, whole step, 6th note, whole step, 7th note, half step, 8th note (which is one octave higher than the first note).
This formula produces the very familiar sound we associate with the solfege syllables: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, Do. Let's use this idea to play a C major scale. We start with the note C on the A string, 3rd fret. Therefore the note C is the 1st note of the scale (the "1st scale degree"). We move up a whole step (or two half steps) to the 5th fret and this will be the 2nd note of the C major scale (the "2nd scale degree"). This note happens to be a D. Follow the scale formula and we wind up with this pattern of notes:
C - whole step - D - whole step - E - half step - F - whole step - G - whole step - A - whole step - B - half step - C
On a guitar this can be played as such (see image below):
Difficulty:
Key:
C Major
focus:
Scales
style:
Any Style
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1: Introduction to Music Theory
Intervals for Beginners
- Intervals for Beginners: Lesson 1
- Intervals for Beginners: Lesson 2
- Intervals for Beginners: Lesson 3
Scale Exercise
- Picking for Beginners Exercise: Lesson 1
- Picking for Beginners Exercise: Lesson 2
- Picking for Beginners Exercise: Lesson 3
- Picking for Beginners Exercise: Lesson 4
C Major Scale for Beginners
- C Major Scale for Beginners: Lesson 1
- C Major Scale for Beginners: Lesson 2
- C Major Scale for Beginners: Lesson 3
C Major Scale Exercises For Beginner Guitarists
- C Major Scale Exercises: Lesson 1
- C Major Scale Exercises: Lesson 2
- C Major Scale Exercises: Lesson 3
- C Major Scale Exercises: Lesson 4
A Minor Scale for Beginners
- A Minor Scale for Beginners: Lesson 1
- A Minor Scale for Beginners: Lesson 2
- A Minor Scale for Beginners: Lesson 3
A Minor Scale Exercises For Beginner Guitarists
- A Minor Scale Exercises Lesson 1
- A Minor Scale Exercises Lesson 2
- A Minor Scale Exercises Lesson 3
- A Minor Scale Exercises Lesson 4
C Minor Scale for Beginners
- C Minor Scale for Beginners Lesson 1
- C Minor Scale for Beginners Lesson 2
- C Minor Scale for Beginners Lesson 3
- C Minor Scale for Beginners Lesson 4
C Minor Scale Exercises for Beginners
2: Introduction to Minor Chords
A, D, and E Minor
A, D, and E Minor
G, E minor, C, D
- Mixing Major and Minor: G, E min, C, & D
- Practicing G, E min, C, & D Slow: 80BPM
- Practicing G, E min, C & D Faster: 120BPM
C, A minor, F, G
- Mixing Major and Minor: C, A min, F & G
- Practicing C, A min, F & G Slow: 80BPM
- Practicing C, A min, F & G Faster: 120BPM
A min, C, D min, E
- Mixing Major and Minor: A min, C, D min & E
- Practicing A min, C, D min & E Slow: 80BPM
- Practicing A min, C, D min & E Faster: 120BPM
Seamless Chord Changes For Beginners
3: Scales and Chords and Triads
Scales And Chords Relationships
- Scale And Chord Relationships: Lesson 1
- Scale And Chord Relationships: Lesson 2
- Scale And Chord Relationships: Lesson 3
- Scale And Chord Relationships: Lesson 4
- Scale And Chord Relationships: Lesson 5
- Scale And Chord Relationships: Lesson 6
- Scale And Chord Relationships: Lesson 7
- Scale And Chord Relationships: Lesson 8
- Scale And Chord Relationships: Lesson 9
Using Scales to Connect Chords Exercise 1
Using Scales to Connect Chords Exercise 2
Introduction to Triads & Chord Inversions
- Intro to Triads & Inversions: Lesson 1
- Intro to Triads & Inversions: Lesson 2
- Intro to Triads & Inversions: Lesson 3
- Intro to Triads & Inversions: Lesson 4
- Intro to Triads & Inversions: Lesson 5
- Intro to Triads & Inversions: Lesson 6
- Intro to Triads & Inversions: Lesson 7
- Intro to Triads & Inversions: Lesson 8
- Intro to Triads & Inversions: Lesson 9
- Intro to Triads & Inversions: Lesson 10
- Intro to Triads & Inversions: Lesson 11
4: Introduction to Reading Music Notation
Learning To Read Music Tutorial 1
- Learning to Read Music 1: Lesson 1
- Learning to Read Music 1: Lesson 2
- Learning to Read Music 1: Lesson 3
- Learning to Read Music 1: Lesson 4
- Learning to Read Music 1: Lesson 5
- Learning to Read Music 1: Lesson 6
- Learning to Read Music 1: Lesson 7
- Learning to Read Music 1: Lesson 8
- Learning to Read Music 1: Lesson 9
- Learning to Read Music 1: Lesson 10
Learning To Read Music Tutorial 2
- Learning to Read Music 2: Lesson 1
- Learning to Read Music 2: Lesson 2
- Learning to Read Music 2: Lesson 3
- Learning to Read Music 2: Lesson 4
- Learning to Read Music 2: Lesson 5
- Learning to Read Music 2: Lesson 6
A Quick Reference
5: Simple Songs Using Chords and Scale Notes
12 Bar Blues in A
- 12 Bar Blues in A: Lesson 1
- 12 Bar Blues in A: Lesson 2
- 12 Bar Blues in A: Lesson 3
- 12 Bar Blues in A: Lesson 4
- 12 Bar Blues in A: Lesson 5
- 12 Bar Blues in A: Lesson 6
More 12 Bar Blues in A
- More 12 Bar Blues in A: Lesson 1
- More 12 Bar Blues in A: Lesson 2
- More 12 Bar Blues in A: Lesson 3
- More 12 Bar Blues in A: Lesson 4
- More 12 Bar Blues in A: Lesson 5
- More 12 Bar Blues in A: Lesson 6
- More 12 Bar Blues in A: Lesson 7
- More 12 Bar Blues in A: Lesson 8
- More 12 Bar Blues in A: Lesson 9
- More 12 Bar Blues in A: Lesson 10
The House of the Rising Sun (old GF1)
6: Learn and Practice More Chord Groups
B, C, F, and G Minor
- Introducing the B Minor Chord
- Introducing the C Minor Chord
- Introducing the F Minor Chord
- Introducing the G Minor Chord
Practicing A, D, E Major Chords
- Practicing A, D, E Major Chords
- A, D, E Maj: Slow Speed 80 BPM
- A, D, E Maj: Faster Speed 120 BPM
- A, D, E Major Chords Summary
Practicing A, D, E Minor Chords
- Practicing A, D, and E Minor Chords
- A, D, E Min: Slow Speed 80 BPM
- A, D, E Min: Faster Speed 120 BPM
Practicing C, F, G Major Chords
Practicing C, F, G Minor Chords
Practicing E, A, B Major Chords
Practicing E, A, B Minor Chords
7: Practicing Major and Minor Scales
Practicing Scales for Beginners
- Introduction
- The Guitar Tricks Metronome
- Using the Guitar Tricks Metronome
- C Major Straight Up and Down
- C Major In 3's Up and Down
- C Major In 4's Up and Down
- C Major In Pedal Point Up and Down
- C Minor Straight Up and Down
- C Minor In 3's Up and Down
- C Minor In 4's Up and Down
- C Minor In Pedal Point Up and Down
- Practicing Scales Summary
8: Introduction to Barre Chords
Introduction to Barre Chords for Beginners
- Introduction to Barre Chords: Lesson 1
- Introduction to Barre Chords: Lesson 2
- Introduction to Barre Chords: Lesson 3
- Introduction to Barre Chords: Lesson 4
- Introduction to Barre Chords: Lesson 5
- Introduction to Barre Chords: Lesson 6
Practicing Barre Chords
- The Mechanics
- Shifting Positions in Time
- Prepare for E Major Shaped Barre Chords
- Play with E Major Shaped Barre Chords
- Play with E Minor Shaped Barre Chords
- Play with A Major Shaped Barre Chords
- Play with A Minor Shaped Barre Chords
- Switching Between Shapes and Positions
- Switch Between E & A Shaped Barre Chords
- Playing in A, D, and E Major
- Playing in A, D, and E Minor
- Play with All Four Barre Chord Shapes
- Play with All Four Barre Chord Shapes 2
- Advice and Encouragement
Congrats on a WONDERFUL site!
-Sue
More ReviewsI find it quite easy (so far!) to navigate, and found the "where do I start" to be very helpful! I'm getting there!!
I LOVE the forum, too. I've never been one to use forums, but the GT forum is full of great people and helpful information at ALL levels! Congrats on a WONDERFUL site!!
Good job!
