In our previous lesson we learned a five-note scale. The most common scales used in music are seven note scales, also known as diatonic scales.
Notice that the major scales written below resemble the pentatonic scales from our last lesson, but with two extra notes added. These scale degrees that have been added are 4 and 7, which are the most tense or suspenseful notes in the scale. The pentatonic scales remove these tense notes, resulting in a smoother more consonant sound.
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You may also read the scales in fretboard grid format. Notice the scale degree numbers; we now have continuous numbers, from 1 through 7, and then repeated from 1 again, and so on. Scales repeat infinitely above and below any given octave, so picture the top note of the scale seamlessly wrapping around to the bottom note, or think of scale degree 7 going to 1. When dealing with the upper octave of any scale, it is useful to refer to 1 as 8, but it is important to remember that scale degrees 1 and 8 are the same notes.
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Practice these scales frequently, focusing on memorization and playing through them quickly. Once you put in this effort, you will later encounter parts of these scale patterns in songs and melodies you are learning, and you’ll be glad you put in the work already!
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