Practical Theory Part 2: Scales (Guitar Lesson)
What are you waiting for? Get your membership now!
Practical Theory Part 2: Scales
Orville Johnson takes a look at scales in part 2 of his practical theory mini-series.
Taught by Orville Johnson in Beginner Acoustic with Orville seriesLength: 18:40Difficulty: 2.0 of 5
Scene 1: Introduction
Being a beginner guitar player, the huge number of different scales that can be played might be overwhelming. In this lesson Orville Johnson explains how to memorize scales in an easy, manageable way.
The chromatic scale is made up of all twelve notes that are in an octave. Every other scale is just a pattern of different kinds of intervals in this twelve note range. A scale’s pattern remains the same in any key, so the number of scales you need to memorize is already much smaller than it may initially seem.
Half Step (H) – A musical interval equivalent to one fret on the guitar.
Whole Step (W) – A musical interval equivalent to two frets on the guitar.
The most important scale to know in western music is the major scale.
The pattern of half/whole steps for the major scale is: W W H W W W H.
This can be observed in the C Major scale as : C (W) D (W) E (H) F (W) G (W) A (W) B (H) C.
Now you can play a major scale in any key, even if you don’t know the name of the note you are starting on.
Scene 2: Naming NotesYou can easily find the name of any note on the fretboard of your guitar by counting up from the letter name of the open string. Just count up fret by fret remembering these rules:
- When you go up one fret, it is a half step.
- A half step up from a natural note (not sharp or flat) is an “in-between note” that has the same letter name but is sharp (#). Alternatively, it has the next note’s letter name but is flat (b).
- A half step up from an in-between note is another natural note.
- There is no note between B and C or E and F.
You will notice that for most notes on a guitar, there are several different frets that make the exact same note across different strings. A good exercise to help you learn your way around the fretboard is to pick a note and then find the same note on a different string.
You can think of any other scale in western music relative to the major scale by changing the intervals.
A minor scale can be made from the major scale by lowering the 3rd note one half step (minor 3rd).
Here are two different minor scales that Orville demonstrates, relative to the major scale:1 2 b3 4 5 6 7
1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7
Video Subtitles / Captions
Supplemental Learning Material
Beginner Acoustic with Orville
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsDiscover the essentials with Orville Johnson by learning some of the most popular topics and techniques in beginner guitar.
Lesson 1
Overcoming Beginner Challenges
Orville talks about some challenges you will likely face as a beginner and offers some advice that will help you overcome them.
Length: 13:05 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 2
Flatpick and Strumming
Orville talks about flatpicks, how to hold them, and how to strum with them.
Length: 13:29 Difficulty: 1.0 FREE
Fingerpicking and Patterns
Orville Johnson introduces some basic fingerpicking patterns.
Length: 6:58 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Metronome and Practicing
Orville Johnson explains why it is important to practice with a metronome. He also covers some practice strategies that will help minimize your frustration.
Length: 21:35 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Practical Theory Part 1: Intervals
Orville dives into part 1 of his beginners' guide to practical theory. In this lesson, you will learn the basics of intervals.
Length: 17:30 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Practical Theory Part 2: Scales
Orville Johnson takes a look at scales in part 2 of his practical theory mini-series.
Length: 18:40 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Practical Theory Part 3: Chords and Construction
Orville Johnson jumps into part 3 of his practical theory mini-series. This lesson is about chords and their construction.
Length: 21:08 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Practical Theory Pt. 4: Modes
It's now time to tap back into the practical music theory portion of this series. Continuing on with part 4, Orville now discusses what modes are and how they are really just scales with Greek names.
Length: 19:50 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Basic Blues Shuffle
Orville Johnson demonstrates a basic blues shuffle. This incredibly easy rhythm piece will have you sounding like a blues great in no time!
Length: 12:38 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Connecting Chords with Bass Runs
Orville Johnson demonstrates how simple chord progressions can be spruced up with bass runs. The classic song "Oh! Susanna" is used as an example.
Length: 12:04 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Voice Leading
Orville Johnson talks about the concept of voice leading. This concept will help you play chord progressions that flow better and sound more harmonious.
Length: 10:20 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Major Chords
Orville Johnson teaches the basic major chords in this lesson. He also explains the best way to change from chord to chord, a challenge for many beginners.
Length: 19:23 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Note Values
Orville Johnson jumps into some light theory with a lesson on note values.
Length: 7:51 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
The CAGED System
Orville Johnson takes a beginner's look at the CAGED system.
Length: 8:14 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Open D Tuning
Orville Johnson introduces open D tuning and encourages exploration of its possibilities. This tuning is great for a broad range of playing styles.
Length: 24:04 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Open G Tuning
This time, Orville Johnson introduces open G tuning. This tuning is great for a broad range of playing styles and sounds pretty without even fingering a chord.
Length: 21:28 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Beginner Fingerstyle Techniques
This lesson is perfect for the beginner looking to develop dexterity and independence in the right hand fingers. Orville guides you step by step through basic rhythm concepts and fingerstyle exercises.
Length: 26:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
How Does a Capo Work?
This lesson presents any beginner with the information needed to understand how a capo works. This tool enables you to change the key of a song without learning any new chord voicings.
Length: 22:07 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Beginner Lead Techniques
Orville introduces basic techniques that can be used to play lead guitar. This lesson includes a primer on hammer-ons, pull-offs, bends and harmonics.
Length: 22:14 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Orville's Guide to Practicing
Orville dispenses a lifetime of accrued wisdom on the subject of practicing and learning. This lesson is only 16 minutes long, and it will not only change how you learn the guitar, but can also be applied...
Length: 16:38 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Creating New Chords
This lesson is all about creating different types of chords. This does steer the lesson towards music theory, but the information is invaluable and infinitely applicable.
Length: 23:05 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
About Orville Johnson
View Full Biography
Orville Johnson was born in 1953 in Edwardsville, Illinois and came up on the St. Louis, Missouri music scene, where he was exposed to and participated in a variety of blues, bluegrass and American roots music. He began singing in his Pentecostal church as a young boy, in rock bands in middle school, then took up the guitar at 17,with early influences from Doc Watson, Rev. Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, and Chuck Berry. In the early 1970's, Orville spent several seasons playing bluegrass on the SS Julia Belle Swain, a period-piece Mississippi river steamboat plying the inland waterways, with his group the Steamboat Ramblers.
Orville moved to Seattle, Washington in 1978, where he was a founding member of the much-loved and well-remembered folk/rock group, the Dynamic Logs. Other musical associates include Laura Love, Ranch Romance, File' Gumbo Zydeco Band, Scott Law, and the Twirling Mickeys. Johnson, known for his dobro and slide guitar stylings and vocal acrobatics, has played on over 100 albums. He has appeared on Garrison Keilor's Prairie Home Companion, Jay Leno's Tonight Show and was featured in the 1997 film Georgia with Mare Winningham. His musical expertise can also be heard on the Microsoft CD-ROMs, Musical Instruments of the World and the Complete Encyclopedia of Baseball. He teaches as well at the International Guitar Seminar, Pt. Townsend Country Blues Week and Puget Sound Guitar Workshop.
Orville released 4 recordings in the 1990's: The World According to Orville (1990) Blueprint for the Blues (1998) Slide & Joy (1999) an all-instrumental dobro tour de force and Kings of Mongrel Folk (1997) with Mark Graham. He also appeared on 4 discs with the File' Gumbo Zydeco Band and produced Whose World Is This (1997) for Jim Page and Inner Life (1999) for Mark Graham. In the 21st century, he has released Freehand, a new Kings of Mongrel Folk disc, Still Goin' Strong, and been featured in the soundtracks of PBS' Frontier House and the Peter Fonda flick The Wooly Boys as well as the compilation cd Legends of the Incredible Lap Steel Guitar.
Acoustic Guitar Lessons
Our acoustic guitar lessons are taught by qualified instructors with various backgrounds with the instrument.
Amber Russell
Playing fingerstyle requires the ability to play different techniques at the same time. This of course, is not always an...
Free LessonSeries Details
Trace Bundy
Trace Bundy talks about the different ways you can use multiple capos to enhance your playing.
Free LessonSeries Details
Hawkeye Herman
Hawkeye teaches several Robert Johnson licks in this lesson. These licks are played with a slide in open G tuning.
Free LessonSeries Details
Calum Graham
Award winning, Canadian fingerstyle guitarist Calum Graham introduces his Jamplay Artist Series, which aims to transform...
Free LessonSeries Details
Tyler Grant
Tyler Grant is back with an introduction to his new series "Classic Country Chops." In this series, Tyler goes in-depth...
Free LessonSeries Details
Robbie Merrill
JamPlay welcomes bassist and founding member of Godsmack, Robbie Merrill. In this short introduction lesson, Robbie showcases...
Free LessonSeries Details
Jim Deeming
Jim discusses the importance of setting goals. He provides some tips that will help steer your practicing in the right direction.
Free LessonSeries Details
Steve Eulberg
Steve Eulberg does a quick review of this lesson series and talks about moving on.
Free LessonSeries Details
Randall Williams
In this lesson Randall introduces the partial capo (using a short-cut capo by Kyser) and talks about how it can make the...
Free LessonSeries Details
Justin Roth
In this lesson Justin introduces his series on playing with a capo and dishes out some basic tips, including how to properly...
Free LessonSeries DetailsElectric Guitar Lesson Samples
Our electric guitar lessons are taught by instructors with an incredible amount of teaching experience.
Paul Musso
JamPlay is proud to welcome senior professor and Coordinator of Guitar Studies at the University of Colorado at Denver,...
Free LessonSeries Details
Billy Sheehan
Billy starts his artist series off with a lesson on something he gets asked the most to explain: right hand 3 finger technique.
Free LessonSeries Details
Yvette Young
Welcome to Yvette Young's series! Join Yvette as she gets creative with open tunings.
Free LessonSeries Details
Steve McKinley
Steve McKinley talks about evaluating your bass and keeping it in top shape. He covers neck relief, adjusting the truss rod,...
Free LessonSeries Details
Steve Stevens
Steve Stevens shows some of his go-to licks and ideas while improvising over a backing track he made.
Free LessonSeries Details
Bryan Beller
Bryan Beller of the Aristocrats, Dethklok, and Steve Vai takes you inside his six step method to learning any song by ear....
Free LessonSeries Details
Jane Miller
Jane Miller talks about chord solos in part one of this fascinating mini-series.
Free LessonSeries Details
Brad Henecke
Free LessonSeries Details
Lisa Pursell
Lisa breaks into the very basics of the electric guitar. She starts by explaining the parts of the guitar. Then, she dives...
Free LessonSeries DetailsJoin over 512147 guitarists who have learned how to play in weeks... not years!
Signup today to enjoy access to our entire database of video lessons, along with our exclusive set of learning tools and features.
Unlimited Lesson Viewing
A JamPlay membership gives you access to every lesson, from every teacher on our staff. Additionally, there is no restriction on how many times you watch a lesson. Watch as many times as you need.Live Lessons
Exclusive only to JamPlay, we currently broadcast 8-10 hours of steaming lesson services directly to you! Enjoy the benefits of in-person instructors and the conveniences of our community.Interactive Community
Create your own profile, manage your friends list, and contact users with your own JamPlay Mailbox. JamPlay also features live chat with teachers and members, and an active Forum.Chord Library
Each chord in our library contains a full chart, related tablature, and a photograph of how the chord is played. A comprehensive learning resource for any guitarist.Scale Library
Our software allows you to document your progress for any lesson, including notes and percent of the lesson completed. This gives you the ability to document what you need to work on, and where you left off.Custom Chord Sheets
At JamPlay, not only can you reference our Chord Library, but you can also select any variety of chords you need to work on, and generate your own printable chord sheet.Backing Tracks
Jam-along backing tracks give the guitarist a platform for improvising and soloing. Our backing tracks provide a wide variety of tracks from different genres of music, and serves as a great learning tool.Interactive Games
We have teachers covering beginner lessons, rock, classic rock, jazz, bluegrass, fingerstyle, slack key and more. Learn how to play the guitar from experienced players, in a casual environment.Beginners Welcome.. and Up
Unlike a lot of guitar websites and DVDs, we start our Beginner Lessons at the VERY start of the learning process, as if you just picked up a guitar for the first time.Our teaching is structured for all players.Take a minute to compare JamPlay to other traditional and new methods of learning guitar. Our estimates for "In-Person" lessons below are based on a weekly face-to-face lesson for $40 per hour.
 |
||||
| Price Per Lesson | < $0.01 | $4 - $5 | $30 - $50 | Free |
| Money Back Guarantee | Sometimes | n/a | ||
| Number of Instructors | 126 | 1 – 3 | 1 | Zillions |
| Interaction with Instructors | Daily Webcam Sessions | Weekly | ||
| Professional Instructors | Luck of the Draw | Luck of the Draw | ||
| New Lessons | Daily | Weekly | Minutely | |
| Structured Lessons | ||||
| Learn Any Style | Sorta | |||
| Track Progress | ||||
| HD Video | - | Sometimes | ||
| Multiple Camera Angles | Sometimes | - | Sometimes | |
| Accurate Tabs | Maybe | Maybe | ||
| Scale/Chord Libraries | ||||
| Custom JamTracks | ||||
| Interactive Games | ||||
| Community | ||||
| Learn in Sweatpants | Socially Unacceptable | |||
| Gasoline Needed | $0.00 | $0.00 | ~$4 / gallon! | $0.00 |
Mike H.
"I feel like a 12 year old kid with a new guitar!"
I am 66 years young and I still got it! I would have never known this if it had not been for Jamplay! I feel like a 12 year old kid with a new guitar! Ha! I cannot express enough how great you're website is! It is for beginners and advanced pickers! I am an advanced picker and thought I had lost it but thanks to you all, I found it again! Even though I only play by ear, I have been a member a whopping whole two weeks now and have already got Brent's country shuffle and country blues down and of course with embellishments. Thank you all for your wonderful program!
Greg J.
"With Jamplay I can fit in a random session when I have time and I can go at my own pace"
I'm a fifty eight year old newbie who owns a guitar which has been sitting untouched in a corner for about seven years now. Last weekend I got inspired to pick it up and finally learn how to play after watching an amazing Spanish guitarist on TV. So, here I am. I'm starting at the beginning with Steve Eulberg and I couldn't be happier (except for the sore fingers :) Some day I'm going to play like Steve! I'm self employed with a hectic schedule. With Jamplay I can fit in a random session when I have time and I can go at my own pace, rewinding and replaying the videos until I get it. This is a very enjoyable diversion from my work yet I still feel like I'm accomplishing something worthwhile. Thanks a lot, Greg
Bill
"I believe this is the absolute best site for guitar students."
I am commenting here to tell you and everyone at JamPlay that I believe this is the absolute best site for guitar students. I truly enjoy learning to play the guitar on JamPlay.com. Yes, I said the words, ""enjoy learning."" It is by far the best deal for the money.
Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Amazing explanation. Very clear. Congrats for your professionalism and expertise.
Thanks Orville, Awesome way to look at scales. Better than trying to memorize a bunch of box positions all over the neck. I like how you relate them all to the major scale. Eye opening for me. Thanks again,
Wow...again Orville you are great at visual and audio instruction. The scale(s) information was clear and concise. I though about using the fret tags for the notes. I believe I'll try to practice the way you explained it. Thanks once again.
You are a terrific instructor! As a kid that was early diagnosed ADHD, I really struggled to remain attentive in structured learning environments. I really have to drink through the firehouse to remain engaged. However, I find your patient and controlled pace very effective. You teach the guitar the same way I hope to learn and play it, efficient and smooth! Thank you!
Love your videos, easy to follow and simple to understand. I am fairly new to theory and I am confused. I thought a half-step was the space between each fret? For example from the 1st fret to the 2nd fret is 1 half-step and 2 (1st fret to 3rd fret) frets is a whole-step. On both your theory lessons you state that there is no half-step between E &F and B & C. Am I wrong?
Another very good lesson. I also like the written summaries that appear below the video. A helpful primer.
Enter your comment here.
Good stuff!
So tremendously helpful Orville. Thank you very much! :-)
I would just practice major scales for awhile. And remember, there is just one formula for all major scales- whole step-whole step-half step- whole-whole-whole-half. If you start on any note and follow that pattern you'll be playing a major scale. The name of the scale will be the note you start on.
Hello Orville- So still a beginner but up to lesson 50 over on Eve Goldberg's lessons. I came across your beginning theory lessons- - is it worth my time learning the major scales now and if so which ones? Or keep on looking at your overviews? I want to learn more theory and play notes and such -Just not sure how far to go in the scale thing right now...Is there a place where you prescribe some specific homework?
I just had a quirky thought: Perhaps it might help someone in trying to visualize, and memorize the "Scale" pattern(s). Imagine running up and down a large set of stairs!....then imagine only stepping on every other step when needing to make a "Whole Step", ....and that means when you step on any two adjacent stairsteps, that That is a "Halfstep"!!! This might take a few seconds of careful visual thinking to get the image into One's "mind's eye", but it might be a useful visual/memory trick to literally imagine running up and down along these steps, until One really 'knows' (memorizes) the "Scale Patterns" well, going UP, or Down!
When writing out the Scale pattern, I like to write/type it as if it were broken into smaller more comprehensible blocks. For instance, the Major Scale could be better written/typed out like this: |W|W|H| W |W|W|H| ...So, One can see that these letters represent the 'relative amount of space', or 'distance between' the actual notes, not the notes themselves directly. It IS a "Pattern" for the Spaces Between the actual notes, of the "Scale" (in this case, it is a "Major" scale. So, I like to use the "slash" mark, or a vertical bar, to show the position of each 'note'. One could use the asterisk *, too. => *W*W*H* W * W*W*H*
I've been wondering if it might not be much more useful to the student, if your second camera viewpoint could be moved, to be in a 'better position', such that it is 'looking downward', = at/toward the fretboard from above!, = closer(more similar) to the position in which the guitar player, and instructor would be looking at/viewing their fretboard, (rather that as it is usually set up as if One was sitting at eye level, in front of and reversed position/opposite to the instructor). [ => Perhaps you should try this and see if it doesn't allow the student to more closely view, and understand more precisely where each fret position, and finger is being located. ] I think that this would be better for all of the JAMPLAY videos (to have that second camera oriented 'from on high', as if from the player's visual perspective)!
oakcliffboy- I said the major scale (not chord) follows the WWHWWWH pattern. If you play the pattern you've notated (WHWWWHW) you will not be playing a major scale. If you follow WWHWWWH you can start on any note and that note will be the root of a major scale. hope that helps and sorry for the long delay in replying...oj
I don't understand you saying that the major chord follows the pattern WWHWWWH. If I start with D major it is WHWWWHW. Do you mean just the key if C major follows the pattern. Thanks
You are an amazing teacher. thank you so much for this lessons. Great tips!!!
Great lesson! I am having a great time with the major scale, and you have made it so easy to grasp the other scales as they relate to the major scale. Thanks a lot bro.
Hi, Orville, Started, watching your theory lessons this evening.Took notes what you taught.I will practice to locate notes on fretboard as you adviced.Six strings mean,each note exists 6 times all over the fretbard.No difficulty in understanding two theory lessons.Will watch the rest gradually.Thanks for these lessons.
Me too, Orville. Your teaching style and easy manner make learning and thinking about basic music theory quite enjoyable. I'll be back for more. Thank U.
WOW!! So excited. I have learned more in the 40 minutes I am watching your lessons than I have in 6 months of playing. Literally. You are a fantastic instructor!!! thank you , thank you!!!
Enter your comment here.
not sure of purpose or function of scales
thank u very very much i been playing guitar my whole life but did not have knowledge about what you taught today. Hope to learn more from you and thanks again..
thank u very very much i been playing guitar my whole life but did not have knowledge about what you taught today. Hope to learn more from you and thanks again..
I'm learning a lot here. You make it simple to understand. Thank You Orville.
Nice...I love the Musical theory set...I can play by memorizing chords and tabs but its great understanding more the technical aspects of guitar!!!!
Thank you very much for this lesson, it makes so much more sense now!
Orville, you always offer a unique perspective to a topic. I am never able to skip one of your lessons, even if I think I already know the topic. Looking forward to more! Thanks !!!