Why Scales Matter

Whole Step —– Whole Step —– ½ Step Up —– Whole Step —– Whole Step —— Whole Step —– ½ Step 

Importance

   Seeing and being able to play all 12 major scales is critical in order to: play melodies by ear along the notes of the respective scale, improvise within the notes of the major scale and fill space with scalar runs. Also, intervals are named based on the notes of the major scale as well as the fact that chords are built by playing every other note of the scale. 

   I wish my teachers when I was in my teens showed me the myriad of ways that scales can be employed to make songs more interesting. I certainly would have practiced them more diligently. Unfortunately the only reason I was told to play the scales was for finger dexterity: that’s all fine and good but only the tip of the iceberg and very boring.

Try playing “I Remember You” with some scalar fills! (2.7 S.F. v.2)