Categories: Scales
All theory articlesMajor and Minor Pentatonic Scales
Learn the difference between major and minor pentatonic scales: their formulas, characteristic degrees, parallel and relative relationships, chord choices, and guitar applications.
Reader level: ArrangerWhat Is a Pentatonic Scale?
A clear explanation of the pentatonic scale: the formulas for major and minor pentatonic scales, how they are related, how to use them in improvisation, and how to find them on the fretboard.
Reader level: ArrangerHow to Build a Major Scale
A simple explanation of the major scale: how the whole-step and half-step formula works, how to build a major scale from any note, and how to see it on the guitar fretboard.
Reader level: MusicianHow to Build a Natural Minor Scale
A simple explanation of the natural minor scale: its whole-step and half-step formula, the example of A minor, how it differs from major, and how to see it on the guitar fretboard.
Reader level: MusicianWhat Is a Scale Degree
A simple explanation of scale degrees: how to count notes inside a scale, why the tonic matters, how a scale degree differs from a note name, and how to see scale degrees on the guitar fretboard.
Reader level: MusicianWhat Is a Scale in Music
A simple explanation of musical scales: what a scale is, how notes are ordered, why scale degrees matter, and how to see a scale on the guitar fretboard.
Reader level: Musician