+ The Major Scale & The Modes of the Major Scale

         The Major Scale & The Modes of the Major Scale

Let's start with some scales which are all derived from the major scale/   

Ionian mode is the name assigned by Heinrich Glarean in 1547 to his new authentic mode on C (mode 11 in his numbering scheme), which uses the diatonic octave species from C to the C an octave higher, divided at G (as its dominant, reciting note or tenor) into a fourth species of perfect fifth (tone–tone–semitone–tone) plus a third species of perfect fourth (tone–tone–semitone): C D E F G + G A B C (Powers 2001a). This octave species is essentially the same as the major mode of tonal music (Jones 1974, 42).Church music was previously explained by theorists as being organised in eight musical modes: the scales on D, E, F, and G in the "greater perfect system" of "musica recta" (Powers 2001b, §II: "Medieval Modal Theory"), each with their authentic and plagal counterparts.Glarean's twelfth mode was the plagal version of the Ionian mode, called Hypoionian (under Ionian), based on the same relative scale, but with the major third as its tenor, and having a melodic range from a perfect fourth below the tonic, to a perfect fifth above it (Powers 2001c).

The major scale is the "Do Re Mi..." scale you learned in grade school. It works over major chords and major 7 chords.It is great for guitar-based pop songs , and is used extensively in all forms of western music.

Dorian mode or Doric mode can refer to three very different but interrelated subjects: one of the Ancient Greek harmoniai (characteristic melodic behaviour, or the scale structure associated with it), one of the medieval musical modes, or, most commonly, one of the modern modal diatonic scales, corresponding to the white notes from D to D on the piano, or any transposition of this, for example the scale from C to C with both E and B flatted.

Dorian is preferred by many jazz players when playing over a minor chord or a minor seven chord (e.g. try this one over Dm or Dm7). Many rock guitarists like it as well. The -3 and -7 make give it a minor sound but its major 6 sets it apart from the pure minor scal.

The Phrygian mode (pronounced /ˈfrɪdʒiən/) can refer to three different musical modes: the ancient Greek tonos or harmonia sometimes called Phrygian, formed on a particular set of octave species or scales; the Medieval Phrygian mode, and the modern conception of the Phrygian mode as a diatonic scale, based on the latter.             

I wrote this one up to the -2 past the octave because I always play it when I play this scale. This is the perfect scale for a metal sound over a minor chord. The -2 gives it a sinister, diminished quality
(though it is not diminished). It is also great for speed licks using hammer-ons and pull-offs since there are three notes within easy reach on each string.

The modern Lydian musical scale is a rising pattern of pitches comprising three whole tones, a semitone, two more whole tones, and a final semitone. This sequence of pitches roughly describes the fifth of the eight Gregorian (church) modes, known as Mode V or the authentic mode on F, theoretically using B♮ but in practice more commonly featuring B♭ (Powers 2001). Because of the importance of the major scale in modern music, the Lydian mode is often described (or learned) as the scale that begins on the fourth scale degree of the major scale, or alternatively, as the major scale with the fourth scale degree raised half a step.

Lydian is the same as a major scale with a sharped 4th degree. This gives it a different sound, though you can still use it over major scales. This particular one fits over F or Fmaj7.

Mixolydian mode may refer to one of three things: the name applied to one of the ancient Greek harmoniai or tonoi, based on a particular octave species or scale; one of the medieval church modes; a modern musical mode or diatonic scale, related to the medieval mode

The Mixolydian mode can also be thought of as a major scale with a -7. It outlines the dominant 7 chord (R 3 5 -7) so it is useful over those chords. This one fits over G7.

The Aeolian mode is a musical mode or, in modern usage, a diatonic scale called the natural minor scale.
The word "Aeolian" in the music theory of ancient Greece was an alternative name for what Aristoxenus called the Low Lydian tonos , nine semitones higher than the lowest "position of the voice", which was called Hypodorian.In the mid-16th century, this name was given by Heinrich Glarean to his newly defined ninth mode, with the diatonic octave species of the natural notes extending one octave from A toA corresponding to the modern natural minor scale.Up until this time, chant theory recognized eight musical modes: the relative natural scales in D, E, F and G, each with their authentic and plagal counterparts, and with the option of B-flat instead of B-natural in several modes.

Aeolian minor is my favorite scale. It works perfectly over minor chords and minor 7 chords (though some players prefer Dorian for m7 chords). You can also use it over some major and dominant 7 chords (for a bluesier or more dissonant sound). This one fits over Am.

The Locrian mode is either a musical mode or simply a diatonic scale.In modern practice, the Locrian may be considered to be a minor scale with the second and fifth scale degrees lowered a semitone. The Locrian mode may also be considered to be a scale beginning on the seventh scale degree of any Ionian, or major scale. The Locrian mode has the formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, ♭5, ♭6, ♭7. Its tonic chord is a diminished triad (Bdim in the Locrian mode of the diatonic scale corresponding to C major).

 

I also like to practice this one up to the -2nd above the octave. Take a look at all of those flatted notes. This is a dark, dissonant scale. It works over m7b5 chords (also called half-diminished chords)and not much else.

There scales above are all in C.

Here's a chart containing neck diagrams of all of the modes we've discussed thus far. You might want to print this out and keep it near where you practice until you've committed the modes to memory. The number below each diagram indicates the begining fret. Roots are indicated by black circles. 

The major scale or Ionian scale is one of the most commonly used scales. It is one of the diatonic scales. Like many musical scales it is made up of seven notes: the eighth duplicates the first at double its frequency so that it is called a higher octave of the same note (from Latin "octavus", the eighth).The simplest major scale to write is C major, the only major scale not to require sharps or flats: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C

Ones again I made it ,I want you to pick up your Bass Guitar and start practice all the scales and modes that I talk about to day there's  more but just practice for now we'll talk about the others next time.

Your friend at BasS Guitar tips for beginners.
Ryno.Jacobs

+ Basic Scales

                                    Basic Scales

Here we'll cover some basic scales to get you started playing bass lines before we move on, to a more comprehensive study of scales, chords, and harmony.

The Minor Pentatonic Scale
The minor pentatonic scale is used extensively in blues and rock music. It's easy to learn and its a great first scale for soloing. The name "pentatonic" comes from its five notes. It contains the R, -3, 4, 5, and -7 degrees of the minor scale. The example below starts on the fifth fret of the E string (i.e. A), so it is the A minor pentatonic scale

|---|---|---|---|
|-0-|---|-X-|---|
|-0-|---|-0-|---|
|-X-|---|---|-0-|
  5

The Blues Scale
The blues scale is used extensively in blues and rock. It is very similar to the minor pentatonic scale. The only difference is the addition of the flat five (b5) also known as the "blue note." The example below is in A.

|---|---|---|---|
|-0-|---|-X-|---|
|-0-|-0-|-0-|---|
|-X-|---|---|-0-|
  5

You will probably instantly recognize the sound of this scale, as many blues walking bass lines make use of it extensively. Here's a little repeating riff you can play for hours while your guitarist friends go on extended solos. Play each note as a quarter note in 4/4 time. I've written out the count below the tab.

 Am                            Am            

|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
|--------5--6--|--7--6--5-----|--------5--6--|--7--6--5-----|
|--5--8--------|-----------8--|--5--8--------|-----------8--|  etc.

   1  2  3  4     1  2  3  4     1  2  3  4     1  2  3  4  

The Major Pentatonic Scale
This scale is used extensively in rockabily, country, and some sorts of blues. It contains the R, 2, 3, 5, and 6 degrees of the major scale. The scale is written starting on A, so it would be referred to as the A major pentatonic scale (and will work over an A major chord).

|-0-|---|-0-|---|
|-0-|---|---|-X-|
|-0-|---|---|-0-|
|---|-X-|---|-0-|
      5

You can play a hokey little rockabilly-ish walking line using the major pentatonic.If you keep messing with this one long enough, you'll come up with a bassline that you known very well.

|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
|-----------4--|--7--4--------|-----------4--|--7--4-----4--|
|-----4--7-----|--------7--4--|-----4--7-----|--------5-----|
|--5-----------|--------------|--5-----------|--------------|  etc.

   1  2  3  4     1  2  3  4     1  2  3  4     1  2  3  4 

Blues Bass 101
Now that you know a few basic scales, you can learn how to play a simple bass line to a blues progression. What follows is an expanded version of our minor pentatonic walking line. The chords are written in above the line.

  Am                    
|------------|------------|------------|------------|
|------------|------------|------------|------------|
|-------5--6-|-7--6--5----|-------5--6-|-7--6--5----|
|-5--8-------|----------8-|-5--8-------|----------8-|


  Dm                        Am
|------------|------------|------------|------------|
|-------5--6-|-7--6--5----|------------|------------|
|-5--8-------|----------8-|-------5--6-|-7--6--5----|
|------------|------------|-5--8-------|----------8-|


  Em           Dm           Am
|------------|------------|------------|------------|
|-------7--9-|-------5--7-|------------|----5--7--5-|
|-7--10------|-5--8-------|-------5--6-|-7----------|
|------------|------------|-5--8-------|------------|

Thank you guys keep on practice,there's alot off scales,chords out there. 

Ryno.Jacobs .....your friend at Bass Guitar tips for Beginners. 

+All about Meeeeee

My name is Ryno Jacobs lives in Malmesbury - South Africa married and has four children, I sit today and I think of the way which I come and I get so funny, it was a long and difficult road but I made it and I like to share it with my friends and all how visit my blog,because if you want to tackle something you must never give up on what you want in life, you will get it with just a little strength from the Lord because he will give you the desire of your heart. I was about 5 years old when my Dad learn me and my brother to play guitar but my brother was always the best and I have always struggled, it was so in 1985 when my Dad started a Gospel band where my brother play bass guitar and I have to play the drums in that year there was no time to go to music school,because we did not have money and music was all my father had in his head, from the other band members in the band must jump in and start learnning me and my brother , It was always heavy taught for me but my brother everything was fine.I always said I would never give up, I will be okay and I will then teach others, also difficult but I got it, I make it.One night my friends and I go to a show and I see how the bass guitaris play and he jumps and jump in the air with the bass ,I had the whole evening just kept tracking him, and sad to myself that I could and I'm going to have to do better.I started my research,because in that years we could not go to music school because the money was a problem. I started with books like, Progressive Bass Guitar, Music Theory Book and Funk Fusion Bass.I despite not to be the best Bass Guitar player,but I want every young boys to learn, I would like for all beginners and those off you that do not have money for music schools to log on to my blog , come and see, there will be everything from the beginning,I love to listen to Abe Laboriel, Nathan East and Victor Wooten and Roy Vogt.They sound great and I learn from them a lot, Do you want to play like your favourite Bass Guitar player, I know you say yes so why are you waiting then, I will sit daily tips on my Blog so do not wait, pick up your Bass Guitar and start loosen your fingers.

Your friend at Bass Guitar tips for beginners.

Ryno Jacobs.

+Welcome to all my readers

Hi Fellow Bass Guitarists,

I want to welcome you all for reading my blog, and I hope I can be helpfull to all who want to play bass guitar.First of all, we must forget everything we ve ever thought about how complicated playing music is.Many people fear music and think that it takes a genius to be a good musician. To be a master it might take a genius, but to play songs on the bass guitar, sound good and have a great time is only a lesson or two away! I have been playing and teaching music  for many years and was a child drum prodigy myself.I play and teach: piano, guitar, bass, and drums. I have taught many friends and family members how to get started playing songs on the guitar practically overnight.When you are dedicated enough and passionate about learning the bass guitar, it comes alot easier than you may think.My children is also playing the bass guitar, drums and the piano since I  ve shown them a few methods and tricks. I hope this gives you the kick start, you need to get started rockin  and rollin ! Enjoy.

To Your Bass Playing Success,

Ryno Jacobs