Scale Generator

[maxholman]

Hi Guys!

First Post

I have written a Scale Generation program that I though some people here might find useful.

I was getting frustrated not being able to visually see the scales I was learning easily on the fretboard all at once.

Try it out and let me know what you think (and let me know if there are any bugs)!

http://www.dobbie-holman.com/scales.php

Max

[Der Bluten Kat]

that's cool man.. but you should make it so that instead of it being in all flats or sharps, it's in the correct amount of sharps and flats so that it doesn't confuse sight readers

[maxholman]

Thanks for the suggestion

I'm still learning bass/music theory, so I'm not sure how I'd be able to do that - could you explain?

(I also just noticed I've only got sharps in the note dropdown - will have to fix that)

Max

[Der Bluten Kat]

like if you had E aeolian (minor).. instead of it being E Gb G, it would ALWAYS be E F# G, in the minor scale of course... you always use every letter consecutively, even if that means using something crazy like a Bbb.. hope that makes sense.. it's just so that you can use the staff easier and find 3rds and 5ths and what not quicker

[maxholman]

Wow, I don't think I'll be able to write that in until I fully understand what the theory is behind it.

Thanks though, I'll look into it

I hope it's still of some use without it!

[dlloyd]

The rules are fairly straight forward...

Cycle of fifths...

...,Bbb,Fb,Cb,Gb,Db,Ab,Eb,Bb,F,C,G,D,A,E,B,F#,C#,G #,D#,A#,E#,B#,F##, etc...

Cycle of fourths is the same as above, but reversed.

Sharp keys follow the cycle of fifths, starting at C...

C major = 0 sharps
G major = 1 sharp (F#)
D major = 2 sharps (F#, C#)
A major = 3 sharps (F#, C#, G#)
etc.

(Notice that the sharps that are added each time also follows the cycle of fifths)

Flat keys follow the cycle of fourths...

C major = 0 flats
F major = 1 flat (Bb)
Bb major = 2 flats (Bb, Eb)
Eb major = 3 flats (Bb, Eb, Db) edit: (of course, I meant Bb, Eb, Ab)
etc.

(The flat notes added each time also follow the cycle of fourths.)

Minor keys follow the convention of their relative major (which have a tonic a minor third above the minor key tonic).

[frailtyofwords]

wow nice work

[adisu]

nice one mate.

Only two things:
1.The first thing the guys said...follow the circle of fifths You can't repeat the same note at the scale ,meaning some scales have No sharps and some have flats and you can't turn it aroun (if you follow the rules) for example G major have one sharp note in it and it's F# you can't use Gb instead although it's actually the same note , if you use it you'll get 2 notes from the same value G and Gb.
Learn the Idea of the circle of and you will be able to easily fix the generator.

2. I was very happy when i saw that you consider 6 strings bass players in your generator but unfortuneatly you used a wierd 6 strings bass tuning (at least for me) because as far as i know most 6 strings bass player (including me) use the typical tuning which is : BEADGC (lowest to highest).
That could be more useful for me.

Anyway great initiative . two thums up!!!

Salute
Adi.

[maxholman]

Hi Guys, thanks for all the feedback and info.

I have added 5 and 6 String Bass for anyone who is interested.

(Adi, just FYI - the Open D 6 String was for a friend who is using a slide with his Acoustic Guitar - hence the strange tuning)

I'll try to add the scales with reference to the Circle/Cycle - unfortunately I didnt program it particularly well in that regard, it may be a bit harder than just understanding the theory.

Anyway, enjoy

Max

[adisu]

my bad, I didn't see you wrote it's for acoustic.
Thanks for adding the 6 strings generator.

salute
Adi.

[slackerdefined]

Originally Posted by maxholman

Thanks for the suggestion

I'm still learning bass/music theory, so I'm not sure how I'd be able to do that - could you explain?

(I also just noticed I've only got sharps in the note dropdown - will have to fix that)

Max

All it would take, I think, is to get rid of the "with all sharps/flats" dropdown, and instead make the sharps and flats change with the scale option selected. You wouldn't need to get too deep into theory since you can probably find a list of the scales with correct sharps and flats on some webpage, if not find them out for yourself. I'm not too much into programming, so I can't say for sure, but I think you should be able to do this pretty easily, especially if you managed to make this prog and figured out the notes.

Anyways, nice job.

[mkettner]

That is awesome, and extremely powerful. Thank you.

[tbone0813]

Originally Posted by Der Bluten Kat

that's cool man.. but you should make it so that instead of it being in all flats or sharps, it's in the correct amount of sharps and flats so that it doesn't confuse sight readers

+1, though it's still cool.

[lateralus423]

I have one that i got from some site if anyone wants it, sorta like that but its in some microsoft format i think excel.

[tbone0813]

The Lydian mode appears to be flatting the 7th. It should only have a sharp 4th.

Also the F Locrian is showing Bb & B when it should show Bb & Cb.

[maxholman]

Thanks Tommy - I've removed the Flat 7 from Lydian.

I think the problem with the Locrian is related to the fact I'm not drawing the fretboard using the Cycles/Circles - I'll see what I can do there.

Cheers,
Max

[RoMeRz]

That thing is bloody fantastic.

Vote this for a sticky tbh + added to the faqs.

[WillPlay4Food]

If you have a Mac running OS X you can download the program in my link. The source code is also included in a .zip file inside the .dmg if you want to see how I handled building the correct sharps/flats for each scale.

I'd be interested in the .php code if you wouldn't mind sharing it. Maybe I could help you add the proper sharp/flat determination as well. Shoot me a PM if you're interested.

[Petary791]

You even got the modes in there too!

Kudos.

[All_¥our_Bass]

Pretty cool but you should add things like harmonic minor, and other scales besides just the "regular ones".

Nice GUI too!!