Scales and Arpeggios for Guitarists (Primer)

Sungmin Shin

Scale Theory Basics

Major Scale Formula

Tone - Tone - Semitone - Tone - Tone - Tone - Semitone (T-T-S-T-T-T-S)

Whole - Whole - Half - Whole - Whole - Whole - Half (W-W-H-W-W-W-H)

Scale Degrees

1st = Tonic = Do 2nd = Supertonic = Re 3rd = Mediant = Mi4th = Subdominant = Fa5th = Dominant = Sol6th = Submediant = La7th = Leading Tone = Ti8th = Tonic = Do

C Major Scale

Major Scale Along a Single String

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WW H W W W H

DoTiLaSolFaMiReDo

Scale Degrees

Solfège

2^

3^

1^

4^

5^

6^

7^

8^

& œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

&2 ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑

&19 ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑

&28 ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑

[Title][Composer]

©

[Arranger][Subtitle]

DoTiLaSolFaMiReDo

Scale Degrees

Solfège

2^

3^

1^

4^

5^

6^

7^

8^

IIFret Numbers IV V VII IX XI XII

Key Signatures

Order of Sharps - F# - C# - G# - D# - A# - E# - B#

Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

Order of Flats - Bb - Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Cb - Fb

Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles Father

C major/A minor - no sharps or flats!

G major/E minor - 1 sharp (F#)

F major/D minor - 1 flat (Bb)

D major/B minor - 2 sharps (F# - C#)

Bb major/G minor - 2 flats (Bb - Eb)

A major/F# minor - 3 sharps (F# - C# - G#)

Eb major/C minor - 3 flats (Bb - Eb - Ab)

E major/C# minor - 4 sharps (F# - C# - G# - D#)

Ab major/F minor - 4 flats (Bb - Eb - Ab - Db)

B major/G# minor - 5 sharps (F# - C# - G# - D# - A#)

Db major/Bb minor - 5 flats (Bb - Eb - Ab - Db - Gb)

F# major/D# minor - 6 sharps (F# - C# - G# - D# - A# - E#)

Gb major/Eb minor - 6 flats (Bb - Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Cb)

C# major/A# minor - 7 sharps (F# - C# - G# - D# - A# - E# - B#)

Cb major/Ab minor - 7 flats (Bb - Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Cb - Fb)

• These have been arranged in the order of increasing number of accidentals (sharps and flats)• Notice that three pairs overlap (B/Cb, Db/C#, and F#/Gb)• Sharp Keys - Go half step above the final sharp in the key signature• Flat Keys - The 2nd to last flat in the key signature• Exceptions - C major and F major

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Mode Theory Basics - Relative vs. Parallel

Relative Modes of C major

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1 - C Ionian

2 - D Dorian

3 - E Phrygian

4 - F Lydian

5 - G Mixolydian

6 - A Aeolian

7 - B Locrian

1        2        3        4        5        6        7 8

1        2       b3       4        5        6       b7 8

1      b2      b3       4        5        b6      b7 8

1        2        3       #4       5         6        7 8

1        2        3       4       5        6      b7 8

1      b2      b3        4      b5        b6      b7 8

1       2      b3      4        5        b6      b7 8

Parallel Modes with C as Tonic

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1 - C IonianMajor Scale

2 - C DorianMinor Scale with #6

3 - C PhrygianMinor Scale with b2

4 - C LydianMajor Scale with #4

5 - C MixolydianMajor Scale with b7

6 - C AeolianMinor Scale

7 - C LocrianMinor Scale with b2 b5

1        2        3        4        5        6        7 8

1        2       b3       4        5        6       b7 8

1      b2      b3       4        5        b6      b7 8

1        2        3       #4       5         6        7 8

1        2        3        4        5         6       b7 8

1      b2      b3        4      b5        b6      b7 8

1       2      b3       4        5        b6      b7 8

Basic Scales for Improvisation

Major

*Ionian  1    -    2    -    3    -    4    -    5    -    6    -    7

*Pentatonic (Major)  1    -    2    -    3          -         5    -    6

*Blues (Major)  1    -    2 - #2 - 3         -         5    -    6

Dominant

*Mixolydian  1    -    2    -    3    -    4    -    5    -    6    -   b7

**Pentatonic (Major), Blues (Major), Pentatonic (Minor), and Blues (Minor)

Minor

*Dorian  1    -    2   -   b3    -    4    -    5    -    6    -   b7

*Pentatonic (Minor) 1         -        b3    -    4    -    5           -       b7

*Blues (Minor) 1         -        b3    -    4 - #4 - 5          -       b7

Practice Sequence (for 7 note scales)

*play scales up and down single strings

*then create scales shape by filling in the octave shapes on the following page

*play scale up & down + down & up

*try jumping back and forth from tonic to each of the scale degrees

1) Scale - 5 notes (1-2-3-4-5)

2) Arpeggio - Triad (1-3-5)

3) Scale - 8ve (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8)

4) Arpeggio - Triad (8ve) (1-3-5-8)

5) Arpeggio - 7th (1-3-5-7)

6) Arpeggio - 7th (8ve) (1-3-5-7-8)

7) Scale - 9th (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9)

8) Arpeggio - 9th (1-3-5-7-9)

9) Up Scale + Down Arpeggio - 9th

10) Up Arpeggio + Down Scale - 9th

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Octave Groupings by String Sets

6 - 4

6 - 3

5 - 3

5 - 2

4 - 2

4 - 1

s

3 - 1

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