Re: help with scales
nooklear said:
so after a few years of just bs'ing around, im finally learning some theory. i have a question about the relative minor keys...
lets say i have a g major scale...
G A B C D E F# G (is that even right?)
the relative minor would be E minor?
E F# G A B C D E ?
the relative minor is always the minor key of whatever the 6th note or "la" is in that scale right?
sorry if i sound like a total noob, but with this stuff, i am.
Always ask questions! Only way to learn. And yes, the realative minor to any major is always the 6th degree. And if you want to get into modes its easy:
1 G Ionian (Major)
2 A Dorian (Minor)
3 B Phrygian (Minor)
4 C Lydian (Major)
5 D Mixolydian (Major)
6 E Aeolian (Minor)
7 F# Locrian (Diminished)
All you have to do is be able to count to 8, and you can apply that to any key. The notes change, but the degrees do not. I.e. 2nd degree of the major scale is always Dorian (and a minor mode meaning it would go, in the case of G Major, with an A minor type chord), third is Phyrgian etc.
To play the modes, you just play the notes in the G Major scale but start and end at a different degree. Meaning to play C Lydian, just play C, D, E, F#, G,A, B, C. And there you go! Again this can be applied to any key.
One more neat fact about scales is this. (and I know a lot of folks don't like to teach or learn like this but it works as long as you know your notes) The actual scale/fingering patterns for each scale mode/whatever, stay exactly the same no matter what key your in. They just shift position. For instance, if I was going to play an A Minor scale I would play this, starting at the 5th fret on your low E: (1, being your index finger, 2, middle, etc.)
1 (A), 3(B), 4(C)
1 (D), 3(E), 4(F)
1 (G), 3(A)
Whether you play A minor, E minor, G Minor, C#minor this pattern does not change, only your starting position does. (anywhere on the finger board) If I could find a good tab program I'd write them all out for you in E Minor/G Major which is the key I orginally learned everything in. (its used so much..TOO much) Hope that helps!
