Learning the twelve major and minor scales in a week

[lonestarwings]

I've been playing for about 1 month now, took my first lesson two weeks ago and had my second lesson yesterday. I've been playing through the Hal Leonard Bass Method book 1 by Ed Friedland and I can play most of the songs/exercises in there somewhat respectably, but for now I'm focusing on assignments from my teacher.

On lesson 1 I learned the C major scale, thirds, and fifths.

On lesson 2 my teacher handed me a sheet with twelve major scales and their minor equivalents (C major, A minor, F major, D minor, Bb major, G minor, Eb major, C minor, Ab major, F minor, Db major, Bb minor, Gb major, Eb minor, B major, G# minor, E major, C# minor, A major, F# minor, D major, B minor, G major, E minor) along with triads (first three notes of the arpeggios) for each scale.

My teacher told me to work on these by the next lesson, which is in 6 days. I didn't really get a chance to ask, but what kind of learning should i be doing? Should I memorize them to the point where if somebody says "play the Gb major scale" I can belt it out in eigth notes? Should I simply be able to read the scale off the sheet?

How many scales do you think I should try learn in a day? I tried to learn the first 6 today and I end up getting confused.....I try to think of what the key signature is when I hear the key now, for instance Eb major I think okay, start on Eb, E's, B's, and A's are flat. The problem is when I play the Gb major then try going to the Eb major I get the key signatures all confused.

Also:

To get the minor equivalent I have to do the math in my head, so for Eb, I have to think half a step....D, half a step C#, another half step C, so the equivalent is C minor and that seems to take too long. Is there an easier way to do this, or do you just need to memorize which minor goes with the major?

[hunta]

The key is learning the key signatures really well, and learning the circle of fifths. Typically if you were to play through all the major or minor keys you would do it in fifths. You seem to already have the proper order:

Sharp keys: C, G, D, A, E, B, F#, C#
Flat keys: F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb

You can play each scale using the same fingering pattern, and playing in fifths is easy enough to figure out. Being able to recite the scales is a little more difficult. If you know the notes on your neck and you can visualize your fingers it isn't too hard to "cheat" and figure it out. You can also think in terms of key signatures, or steps ie WWHWWWH for major and WHWWHWW for minor.

The problem is when I play the Gb major then try going to the Eb major I get the key signatures all confused.

Once you memorize the key signatures you'll be fine. Write out all the keys in order of fifths when you practice each day and write out the key signatures too. You'll memorize them quick.

To get the minor equivalent I have to do the math in my head, so for Eb, I have to think half a step....D, half a step C#, another half step C, so the equivalent is C minor and that seems to take too long. Is there an easier way to do this, or do you just need to memorize which minor goes with the major?

If you learn your intervals you can think of it as a m3 down. There are a number of mental shortcuts to figure that out, to start just think ok it's an Eb, a 3rd down has to be some kind of C, minor 3rd is a step and a half, C to E is 2 steps, so C to Eb is an m3. You do that for a while and eventually you just remember that a m3 down from Eb is C.

[lonestarwings]

Thanks so much for the reply. So you can play them using the same fingering pattern eh? I have been sticking to the first four frets only, which is probably the source of my difficulty.

I did learn the Fifths using the same fingering pattern on the A and D strings and simply sliding down the neck. Basing my scales off that pattern would probably help, I'll work on that.

[svenbass]

I wouldn't be concerned whether you have them memorized or not in a week - it is really a learning process that is unique to you, and however long it takes to get it down, so be it. This isn't a race to the finish! As a teacher (10+ years) and a player (20+ years) I've, at the very least, learned that figuring how to use the information contained in a scale is a lifelong endeavor. Enjoy the process!!!

[mutedeity]

Personally I think you are making it harder than it really is. There is really only one major scale. C major has the same intervals as G major and F# Major and D major and so on. It's the intervals and how they relate to each other and the tonic that makes a major scale a major scale. From there you can transpose to the different tonic notes or "keys". Same goes for the minor scale, natural minor, harmonic minor and so on. Whatever scale you are using it is best to learn the relative intervals than to try and memorise every note in every "key" for every scale.

[Funkbass796]

Muscle memory of the scale shapes and knowing your fret board makes it easier. Just practice the major and minor scale shapes for a couple of days, really trying to gain some muscle memory out of it. Then start doing an excercise where you play the major and as quickly as possible you play the relative minor.

An easy way to remember where the relative minor starts is 3 frets lower from the beginning of the major scale -or- one fret lower and two strings down.

[Freddels]

I've been playing for years and I usually work on one key per week.

The thing with music is that you can memorize this stuff and think you have it all down and then a few years go by and you have one of those "Aha!" moments when something becomes clear. Enough "Aha" moments and you're on your way.

[alexit]

Big +1 on the idea that it's the same pattern, all you have to do is change the root. To get a basic idea of it, you only need to learn two patterns, major and minor, octave to octave.

Then, start playing beyond the octaves and the pattern repeats itself. You'll find that the major and minor scales are the same pattern, they just

The basic pattern is illustrated a little ways into book two of the bass method under "the major scale". Or go to activebass.com -> bassics -> scale finder. Ionian is the major scale, Aeolian is the minor. The red dots are the root.

[Kwesi]

they really are all the same pattern but KNOWING them and PLAYING THEM are two different things. I can play all the major scales up, down, sideways, and follow the circle of 4ths but i don't KNOW them all yet. And by, know i mean know what notes each contains and be able to recite them accordingly. I say learn the ones that are closest to your taste in music first. If your into Classical, Metal, or non-blues older rock you'd want to go with the sharp keys, for damn near everything else (gospel, jazz, blues, funk, etc) you'd want to learn the flat keys. And if you dig world music i suggest you start looking at modes lol.

[jerm]

all the same pattern, all that matters is the note you start on bro. just figure out what note to start and you can be a caveman from there hehe...

[lonestarwings]

Well it's been about a week and I have the the Flat scales and their equivalent minors down pretty well. Still working on the sharps, hopefully I can get them presentable before my lesson tomorrow night. Unfortunately I haven't had much time to work on the triads since I had to spend 4 solid days at work, hopefully my teacher won't be too upset.

Thanks for all the advice.

[hunta]

Originally Posted by lonestarwings

Well it's been about a week and I have the the Flat scales and their equivalent minors down pretty well. Still working on the sharps, hopefully I can get them presentable before my lesson tomorrow night. Unfortunately I haven't had much time to work on the triads since I had to spend 4 solid days at work, hopefully my teacher won't be too upset.

Thanks for all the advice.

You're working on the material and that alone is more than most students It's a lot to digest in a week, I'm sure he knows that.

[DocBop]

If you're just learning fingering patterns you should be able to do it in a couple days only need a couple patterns. If you are trying to do it right and learn the note names, how major scale is constructed so you can make your own fingering as needed that will take time and a week is short.

[lonestarwings]

Well, my lesson has come and gone and I made it through most of the flat majors and their associated minors using "open strings" while staying first and second position for the most part.

Then my teacher taught me how to play the scales using closed strings and the same fingering pattern at which point they all became a whole lot easier. This will make the arpeggios much easier too.

I'm still trying to memorize the key signature for each scale, and consciously think about what note I'm playing, despite just using a finger pattern though.

[Wootsticks]

http://musictheory.net/trainers/html/id83_en.html

Go through that. Practice some scales, take a break and do this, practice a bit more, study, etc. You only need like six fingering patterns to do all the scales.

[lonestarwings]

Originally Posted by Wootsticks

http://musictheory.net/trainers/html/id83_en.html

Go through that. Practice some scales, take a break and do this, practice a bit more, study, etc. You only need like six fingering patterns to do all the scales.

Thanks. That's a great quizzing tool for the different keys.