Scales; use with Circle of Fifths

Scales and Keys

Scales are used in all music and use a basic theory to derive certain qualities. Let’s discuss how a Major scale is made. There is a basic theory that uses whole steps and half steps to derive at a scale in a certain key. The Major scale is made up using:

     Whole     Whole     Half     Whole     Whole     Whole     Half    

Do            Re            Mi       Fa           Sol              La            Ti          Do

Using this concept lets look at the C scale

     Whole     Whole     Half     Whole     Whole     Whole     Half    

C               D             E            F              G               A             B            C

The C scale uses no sharps or flats. Please refer to the “Circle of Fifths” chart I provided you. In the beginning of every song on the Staff lines there is a Key Signature, noted by showing sharps and flats or none. This tells you what key you are in. Let’s look at the key of G; a bluegrass favorite.

     Whole     Whole     Half     Whole     Whole     Whole     Half    

G              A               B          C              D              E               F#         G

Note that there is 1 sharp, F. Look at your “Circle of Fifths” What Key signature shows 1 sharp? Yes, G. It also shows which note is sharped, F. This also means that any F(low F) is sharped unless otherwise noted.

Now for Pentatonics we don’t use the 4^th or the 7th, so in the Key of G we throw out the C and the F# leaving five notes(tones) or “Penta(tonic)” You can also see this on your Circle of Fifths chart. Find G and go clockwise 5 positions including G. Also note the 2 notes you threw out C and F#; the C is the note counterclockwise to G and the F# is the note after your fifth note. This works for every scale. Another handy way to use the “Circle of fifths”.