Understanding Scales

How to learn major scales

1. Memorize the order of Sharps/Flats in the key signatures.
Sharps=F, C, G, D, A, E, B
Flats=B, E, A, D, G, C, F
Hint: The order of sharps and flats are exactly opposite, (palindrome).
2. Fill out the chart using letter names only. For example for Eb, write Eb, F, G, A,
B, C, D, Eb
3. Add the sharps/flats to the letter names that you wrote. You can figure this out by
knowing the order of flats/sharps in the key signature and how many sharps/flats
are in the key signature. For example, Eb major has 3 flats, and the first 3 flats in
any key signature are Bb, Eb, and Ab. Knowing this, the scale would be Eb, F, G,
Ab, Bb, C , D, Eb

4. Memorize the number of sharps or flats in each key signature.

Hint: You can learn the number of flats and sharps by following the circle of
4ths/5ths. If you go clockwise around the circle, you are moving by the interval of
a 5th (count up 5 notes from C including C and you end on G). If you move in this
order, you will add a sharp (or subtract a flat) to the key signature. The opposite
is true if you go counter-clockwise.

Hint: Keys with the same letter name are related. If you take a pair of keys, the total
number of sharps and flats always adds up to 7. For example, F major has 1 flat, and
F# major has 6 sharps1+6=7.
5. To learn to play and memorize your scales, sing the letter names while
fingering the notes on your instrument. Do this MANY times. This is
extremely important!
6. Start very slowly playing each scale in one octave. I recommend slow quarter
notes or half notes.
7. Once you are comfortable with a scale slowly in one octave, gradually increase
the tempo and try for extra octaves.
8. If you want to figure out what major key (scale) you are playing in, based on the
key signature:
Flat keys: The second to last flat in the key signature tells you what key
you are in.
Sharp keys: Count up one line or space from last sharp in the key signature.
The Major Scale Formula
The space between notes is called an interval. Scales are made up of patterns of whole
step and half step intervals. If you know the formula for a major scale, you can figure out
the notes of any major scale. The formula is:

Fun with Scales

Patterns: To really know your scales, you should practice them using many different
patterns of notes. Here are a few to try:
Three up: 1 2 3 2 3 4 3 4 5 etc
Four up: 1 2 3 4 2 3 4 5 3 4 5 6 etc
In thirds: 1 3 2 4 3 5 4 6 etc
In fourths: 1 4 2 5 3 6 4 7
Expanding intervals: 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 etc
Try to think up more variations. Remember to sing and finger the notes before you try to
play it.

Major arpeggios in all keys. If you play the 1 3 5 3 1 pattern in all 12 keys, you can learn
the major arpeggios (chords) based on those scales.

You may have noticed the line above the sheet labeled modes. There are scales, called
modes, built on the same notes of a major scale, but starting in a different place. For
example, if you play the notes of a C major scale starting on D, you are actually playing
the D Dorian scale. The most common use of this is if you start playing on the 6th note of
a major scale you are actually playing the relative minor scale.

If you learn all your major scales in a variety of patterns, your musicianship will improve
dramatically. Have fun and dont be afraid to try different things when you practice.
Vary the rhythm, articulation, dynamics etc. Good luck!
Transposition

We all know that not all instruments in the band are tuned to the same key. We can still figure
out how to play the same sounding note if we learn to transpose. When I call out a scale, I will
always refer to concert pitch. By simply referring to this chart, anyone can know what note I am
talking about.
Concert Key
(C instruments)

B-flat
Instruments

Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, Bassoon,

Trombone, Baritone B.C. Tuba,
Mallets

Clarinet, Bass Clarinet

Trumpet, Tenor Sax,
Baritone T.C.

C
C#/Db
D
D#/Eb
E
F
F#/Gb
G
G#/Ab
A
A#/Bb
B

D
D#/Eb
E
F
F#/Gb
G
G#/Ab
A
A#/Bb
B
C
C#/Db

E-flat Instruments

F Instruments

Eb Clarinet, Alto Sax, Alto

Clarinet, Bari Sax

French Horn, English Horn

A
A#/Bb
B
C
C#/Db
D
D#/Eb
E
F
F#/Gb
G
G#/Ab

G
G#/Ab
A
A#/Bb
B
C
C#/Db
D
D#/Eb
E
F
F#/Gb