Similar Scales

[playinpearls]

ok, so i'm starting to study scales and keys and stuff and i realized recently that C major and A natural minor is the same scale, just with a different root. Is there a list of all the scales that are the same like this somewhere, or a common name for this comparison?

[Beast]

That's because Natural minor scales are modes of the major scale. They always start on the "La" of a major scale.

There's tons of internet resource on modes, be sure to look them up.

[dunamis]

Here's a link to a cool resource that has a good discussion around the topic of modes:

http://wheatsbassbook.org/

Bon apetite!

[DocBop]

Remember though the notes are the same the chords they relate to and sound when applied are different, or should be. In other words the notes you emphasize are different in modes of a scale. Focus on the notes that give the scale/mode its sound and the chord family(s) can be used with.

[playinpearls]

Originally Posted by dunamis

Here's a link to a cool resource that has a good discussion around the topic of modes:

http://wheatsbassbook.org/

Bon apetite!

sweet-ness...thanks!


thanks everyone for the input!

[TheSpectorKid]

I forget the author but I have a book called the Bass Grimoire, its basically a list of almost every scale you can think of, from like natural majors to hungarian minor its awesome... you should check it out

[WhiteKnuckles]

Start here.

I've set this up for a 24 fret, 4 stringer, starting on E major. You can go through and get all the scales you could ever want.

[MarkTAW]

Originally Posted by DocBop

Remember though the notes are the same the chords they relate to and sound when applied are different, or should be. In other words the notes you emphasize are different in modes of a scale. Focus on the notes that give the scale/mode its sound and the chord family(s) can be used with.

+1. A minor is the "relative minor" of C major. It's an easy way to pivot between two different keys (C major being one, A minor being the other) and back again, allowing your music to take on a different character for a while, but without making the switch seem too artificial.

[mambo4]

A nat minor is the Sixth Mode of C Major.

Every major scale has 7 notes, and playing the scale by starting and ending on a different note will yield a different mode.

I : Ionian /Major
ii : Dorian/Minor -with a major 6th
iii: Phrygian /minor -flat2nd
IV:Lydian /Major -sharp 4th (also called Subdominant)
V: Mixolydian/Major with a Flat 7th (also called Domminant)
iv: Aeolian/Natural Minor
iiV:Locrian/ Diminished

Each mode also implies a certain chord (or the chord implies the mode...)

The link in my sig has extensive info on scales/modes/chords.

Modes can be fun for coming up with ideas, but for most rock/ pop songs, practically speaking you should probably focus on Major, Minor,and Mixolydian and then jump into studying chord construction, playing chord tones/arpeggios, and becoming familiar with common chord progressions.

[COOL AND DEADLY]

I also recommend th Bass Grimoire. It will help you understand chord / scale / mode construction. I didn't see anyone else say it, but C and Am are related by "The circle of fifths." I am learning it too.

[DudeistMonk]

I also recommend th Bass Grimoire. It will help you understand chord / scale / mode construction. I didn't see anyone else say it, but C and Am are related by "The circle of fifths." I am learning it too.

The bass grimoire is just a list...if you don't know what the modes are buying the bass grimiore is gonna confuse you more than help you...buy a theory book or take some lessons, or a college music theory 101 course.

Also.. The circle of 5ths is the chart used to determine key, it also corresponds to how your bass is tuned.

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by MarkTAW

+1. A minor is the "relative minor" of C major. It's an easy way to pivot between two different keys (C major being one, A minor being the other) and back again, allowing your music to take on a different character for a while, but without making the switch seem too artificial.

Autumn Leaves is a great song to work on this with. It has two key centers that are major and its relative minor. So all the notes are the same, the challenge is to make the key changes come thru in your solo lines.

[dunamis]

Originally Posted by DocBop

Autumn Leaves is a great song to work on this with. It has two key centers that are major and its relative minor. So all the notes are the same, the challenge is to make the key changes come thru in your solo lines.

+1

In Bass Musician Magazine, Todd Johnson recently did a really nice series of articles with exercises using Autumn Leaves.

[MarkTAW]

Originally Posted by dunamis

+1

In Bass Musician Magazine, Todd Johnson recently did a really nice series of articles with exercises using Autumn Leaves.

Never heard of that one. My favorite music magazine of all time: Not So Modern Drummer. Just for the title. Is it an American publication or do I have to go to a specialty store to find it? Is it any good? Worth picking up?

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by MarkTAW

Never heard of that one. My favorite music magazine of all time: Not So Modern Drummer. Just for the title. Is it an American publication or do I have to go to a specialty store to find it? Is it any good? Worth picking up?

Bass Musician Magazine is a online magazine.

http://www.bass-musician-magazine.com/

[251]

Consider buying a copy of http://www.edly.com/mtfpp.html

It is a simple, easy to follow explanation of scales & music theory.

http://wheatsbassbook.org/ is free & will have all the information you need to learn at your own pace.

[playinpearls]

Originally Posted by MarkTAW

Never heard of that one. My favorite music magazine of all time: Not So Modern Drummer. Just for the title. Is it an American publication or do I have to go to a specialty store to find it? Is it any good? Worth picking up?

yes, its owned by modern drummer...

although i dont think its readily available at normal bookstores, i've heard its more of a specialty catalog...

[JTE]

Another vote for Edley's Music Theory for Practical People, the book in 251's post. I like it because:

A. It does not assume you're playing a piano
B. You don't HAVE to read music to get it (of course, it helps to be able to read a language when you're studying the language).
C. He explains things in a neat and logical order
D. It's full of diagrams like I used to make for my students (except they're legible- I was doing mine by hand back in the dark ages before personal computers were around).
E. It's FUN

jte

[WarriorJoe7]

An easy way to remember is that the 6th of a major scale is the minor with the same notes (or go back 3 half steps)

Or the 3rd of a minor scale is the major.

C major sames notes as A minor (go back 3 half steps)
Dmaj Bmin
Emaj C#min
and so forth

It works in reverese for going from minor to major
C minor is the same notes as Eb major (add 3 half steps)
Dmin Fmaj
Emin Gmaj