Learning your Scales....

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Iceberg-Slim

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Ok I am in the process of learning my 12 Major Scales, and I know it takes time, but I was just looking for any words of wisdom from people who may have developed some logical ways to remember them easier, I have went as far as to buy a Casio and put stickers all over it

Then knowing I have to learn the Natural Minor, Harmonic. and Melodic, just kinda depresses me, cause I dont have the best memory in the world, and this will take some time :(

Then the 5 extra modes :(

Any words of wisdom, inspiration, advice, or just sharing how you learnt would be greatly appreciated

Thank you in advance
 
think of scales simple as sharps and flats, it make it alot easier. for example in the c major scale there are no sharps and flats, it's just C D E F G A B. the next scale of the circle of 5ths woudl be G major scale which has one sharp (the F#) G A B C D E F#. continuing up the circle of 5th's you'd have D major which has 2 sharps (F# and C#) D E F# G A B C#. As you can see each time you go up the cirlce of 5th's you add a sharp. Additionally the sharp that is added is up a fifth i know that sounds confusing but knowing that u'll know A major has 3 sharps which build off D major's adding the 5th of C# as a sharp. knowing this, you'll know the next shapr is G# (so the sharps in A major are F#, C#, and G#) conintuing on to E major your'd have (F#, C#, G#, and D#) and so on. sorry kno it's kinda confusing but the same is true for going down the circle of 5ths (or down a 4th rather). hope that helps a bit
 
Something that helped me out was first (after learning the circle of fiths) was knowing what the notes on the keys were (learing the white ones first). Then to memorize how many (if any) sharps or flats the key has (ex. A has 3 #s). And then to notice the pattern of adding the sharps or flats (what the sequence of adding the black keys is). Also there will never be a white key before a black key if the key is a sharp key and there will always be one before the black key if it is a flat key. Hope this helps and keep practicing!

Justin
 
remembering how many flats or sharps are in a scale is a good idea. but also remember that regardless of what you do there is always more to learn and if your truly intrested in learning the piano to the degree of knowing all those scales along with application you're talking about a life long hobby in which you'll always learn new things. alot of people who can wail on the piano don't even know how to read a note but can play. focus on one thing @ a time and you'll be alright. when you look @ everything you don't know, it's just overwhelming and discouraging. keep practicing consistently and you'll get it
 
thanks BReaKaBReaKa and kattar, I appreciate it

Im going to start on remembering my circle of fifths first
 
Try singing the notes as you play. It will help develop your ear and your memory. When you're not practicing, recite the scales to yourself.

I foung it helpful to learn major, minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales at the same time. For example, C major, minor, har min, mel min all at once. It helped me see/hear the differences right away. But most would probably advise not to do it that way.
 
kattar said:
Then to memorize how many (if any) sharps or flats the key has (ex. A has 3 #s).

Justin
Click to expand...

how does an A have 3 sharps?
every note can only have 1 sharp and 1 flat.
 
A has 3 sharps as in the key signature has 3 sharps within it (the actual sharps are F#, C#, G#).
 
For me it depends on what instrument your learning scales for. When I had to learn major scales for piano for a highschool class I took I paid extra close attention to the patterns each scale used. I could remember C because there was no sharps or flats in that scale. What you have to remember more-so than any pattern is what notes your using and how they go together. Only then can you apply that knowledge to say the guitar. Like it was mentioned in other posts in this thread, its good to know how many sharps and, or flats are in each scale (if any). Once you start to make that connection between notes and patterns theroy becomes easier.
 
Sorry man, I have no easy answers.

Practice
Practice
Practice

that's all it is and the best way to burn them to memory!

I think I was lucky learning them, or rather having to learn them, when I was 11 - I cannot remember where I leave anything around the house, let alone a plethora of scales now!!!

Good luck!

Best

Pauly
 
so, in fact what the exact thing is to memorise the scale?

I sux at these.

Or rather, is there any site which I can understand more on the circle of fifth? Thanks.
 
What I found helpful, was to memorize the pattern of intervals, rather then the particular scale.

For example. Major scale has this pattern:
Step-Step-HalfStep-Step-Step-Step-Halfstep.

And there you have it, you can figure all the major scales based on that pattern.

ie. Start at any root.
let's say d#.
one step up from d# goes to f
one step from f goes to g,
one halfstep goes to g#
one step goes to a#,
one step goes to c
one step goes to d,
one half step goes back to d#.

and there you have it..
d#, f, g, g#, a#, c, d, d#
 
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