Scale Theory

Scale Theory is very simple to understand. I'll show you what a scale is and why it sounds the way it does.

A scale is a series of notes that starts on a Root (or Tonic) and ascends or descends to the next Root using a set of pre-defined steps.

Here are the pre-defined steps of the Major Diatonic Scale for any key:

Tone-Tone-Semitone-Tone-Tone-Tone-Semitone

See the Diatonic Scale for an explanation of Tones and Semitones.

If we start with C as the Root, this gives us these notes:

C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C

This is because:

C to D = Tone

D to E = Tone

E to F = Semitone

F to G = Tone

G to A = Tone

A to B = Tone

B to C = Semitone

See? No sharps or flats required for this key (C major).

If we use any other note as a Root, while still keeping the same order of Tones and Semitones, then we have to use sharps or flats. Eg:

Let's use F as the Root. This will give us the key of F major.

F-Tone-G-Tone-A-Semitone-Bb-Tone-C-Tone-D-Tone-E-Semitone-F

We had to flatten the B to maintain the order.

Now Let's use D as the Root. This will give us the key of D major.

D-Tone-E-Tone-F#-Semitone-G-Tone-A-Tone-B-Tone-C#-Semitone-D

We had to sharpen the F and C to maintain the order.

These altered notes make up the Key Signatures shown at the start of a piece of music (in notation, not tab) so that we know which notes to use.

So you can see that a diatonic scale sounds the way it does due to the order of Tones and Semitones.

Other Diatonic scale-types sound the way they do because they have a different order of Tones and Semitones. For example, the minor scale has this order:

Tone-Semitone-Tone-Tone-Semitone-Tone-Tone

Not all scale-types are Diatonic. The Pentatonic, for example, contains Intervals larger than a Tone and no Semitones at all.

I highly recommend learning the Major Diatonic Scale, thoroughly, all over the fretboard as almost everything in music relates to it!

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