Revision as of 21:50, 12 February 2009

SI Lesson: Mastering The Major Scale By: -Zion- aka. David

Introduction

My name is David. This is my first Student Instructor lesson, and the current assignment in my MTP.

I am 29 years old, and have been living just outside Copenhagen, Denmark all my life. Last year the girlfriend and I decided to move to Sweden, so this is now our country of residence.

My guitar history began when I was 15 years old, where I first decided to pick it up and learn how to play. Later, my friend and I started a band called V.O.K. (corny, I know). We were less than adequate, but we were having fun, and we even managed to do some recording. Then our drummer decided to quit, and the band died out. Instead of continuing onwards with my guitar career I decided to put it away.

Ten years passed and then something happened. I have no idea what, but I wanted to play again, so I started all over, playing in a new band, and learning loads of new stuff with the help of GMC and my own dedication. This was back in may, 9 months ago.

Enough talk. Let’s get on with the lesson.

I might as well say it right now. This lesson will be an exercise, and exercises aren’t always fun. In fact, most of the time it’s so boring we tend to do everything we can to try to skip it. However, exercises needs to be done when learning new scales, and in the end, I believe that it will benefit you in ways you cannot even begin to understand right now. So, hang on, do the exercise, and you will not regret it.

The lesson consists of five exercises (or steps), which will help you get to learn the Major scale. We will be doing it in the Key of G, and the “formula” for the Major Scale is: 2-2-1-2-2-2-1, which, for the Key of G will give us the notes: G-A-B-C-D-E-F#-G.

I will not go into much theory but the formula cannot be told enough times.

Below are the five different “box” shapes for the Major Scale (borrowed with permission from Andrew Cockburn)