SCALES ARE STUPID

[canshaker]

I think its funny how a LOT of people post: "I don't understand your question, but..."

Caleb, a major scale is a major scale is a major scale, no matter where it's played. I believe you are seeing things in patterns rather than actual notes. (Which is cool for now. It's how I learned. Just start trying to learn what actual notes you're playing, as well.)
That being said, (and for simplicity's sake) a major scale is played on 3 strings, covering 4 frets. (I said "for simplicity's sake". I KNOW you can play them all over the fret board.)

So, pick ANY 4 frets, and going low to high, think of them as 1-2-3-4.
A major scale has the pattern of 2-4, (next string, also low to high) 1-2-4, (next string) 1-3-4.

it should look like this:

6-x-7-8 (1-3-4)
3-4-x-5 (1-2-4)
x-1-x-2 (2-4)

got it?

do it.

Hope that helped.

[Dbassmon]

I agree the best thing you can do for yourself is find a teacher.

Also, do not think in terms of frets, think in terms of scale tones. There is no scale called the 7th fret scale.

Because music is a language, you need someone to explain some basic rules. Getting a mentor will cut down the learning curve exponentially it will also help you communicate with other musicians.

Major scale, do re me fa sol la ti do or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, Octave, which correspond to this combination of whole and half steps 1, 1, 1/2, 1, 1, 1, 1/2 (whole step = 2 frets) This relation is constant so by following this formula you figure out every major scale starting in any position.

[caleb5991]

just postin to let you guys no i am reading what ya tell me. and thank you. also if you have aim/yahoo/msn messanger please pm me and give me your screen name so we can talk :P

[PocketGroove82]

One of the confusing things about our instrument is that you can play the same pitch up to 4 (or more) different places on the fretboard.

For instance, G written a perfect 4th below middle C:
Open G String/5th Fret D String/10th Fret A String/15th Fret E String (do you see a pattern evolving there?...you should.)

On the piano, trumpet, or saxophone that same G can only produced one way, but our instrument allows us to choose which position works best for a particular passage of music. It can be confusing to learn that a major scale can be fingered hundreds of different ways, and certain fingerings work their way up the neck, while others run the opposite direction yet the same pitches are produced.

You should at least learn the major scale starting on your 1st, 2nd, and 4th fingers, in all keys and then have someone explain the major scale modes to you...something magical will be revealed.

Good Journey!

[caleb5991]

well i was looking up something and it said C, G, D, and A major scales. They were tabs for it. on the C scale it begins on C... on the G it begins on G... etc. I didnt know they were called C major, G major, D major, etc. I thought it was just major scale, and didnt know how you determin where to play. Now I kinda know....

[Bassist4Life]

Originally Posted by peterpalmieri

you can play it on a Kazo if you want.

True.