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Scales are a set of notes, in order, from which a melody is constructed. In western music, we have 12 pitches, and we generally pick seven of them to make a scale. The rules for how to pick the seven are called "modes". In the middle ages, there were a whole set of modes which seem very weird to us today, with names like the "lydian" mode or the "phrygian" mode. These are collectively called the "church modes", but they've hardly been used since the renaissance. The modes that *we* are used to hearing, at least in Western music, are "major" and "minor". So, for example, a C major scale is the set of notes: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C (which is really only seven notes because the C is repeated). An E major scale would be E-F#-G#-A-B-C#-D#-E. A song in the key of E major will generally use only those notes; you typically won't see any Bb's or F naturals in song in the key of E. Chords, on the other hand, are a set of three or more notes sounded simultaneously. Thus, if you play the notes C, E, and G simultaneously-- on a piano, on a guitar, or maybe with three Flute players-- that makes a C major chord. If you play the notes G-B-D-F together, you get a G7 chord. The more notes you add beyond the basic three, the more complicated the chord gets.

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15y ago
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14y ago

A scale is a convention for naming and communicating tones that can occur in music. When a song is played (on a piano or another instrument) or when it is sung, it is in some key, which is based on some scale.

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12y ago

The most common order is called the circle of 5ths, because each subsequent scale adds 1 sharp or subtracts 1 flat. Starting with C major, which has no flats or sharps, the order goes C, G, D, A, E, B/Cb, F#/Gb, C#/Db, Ab, Eb, Bb, F. There are a total of 12 major scales, but three of them can be spelled in two different ways, using either sharps or flats.

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Scales are the same for every pitched instrument. In music, a scale is a sequence of musical notes in ascending and descending order.

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Q: What are scales and chords?
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What are the chords in the key of f minor?

The chords in the key of F minor are the same as the chords in A-flat major, the chords are:Ab MajorBb MinorC MinorDb MajorEb MajorF MinorG Diminished &Ab MajorF Minor is in bold as that is the tonic key and minor scales are built from the sixth degree of any diatonic (major) scale.


How would you improvise with a guitar?

It would help alot if you learned some of the scales on the guitar and how they fit with the chords being played


What are chords used for?

How Electric Guitar Chords and Scales Are UsedWell, if you mean actually on the guitar, they are the building blocks of any song. The chords are the combinations of notes played in songs. Scales are mostly a practice routine, but you can build basic songs out of scales. On paper, scales and chords intstruct you where to put your hand on the guitar. For example 3----3-----3-2-------------3-------------though the notes are progressing to diffent frets you would keep your hand on the G chord.Scales can also be used to help write a guitar soloA great way to learn about using scales and chords together is by listening to and learning 'little wing' by jimi hendrix. In this song, he plays chords, and then uses notes from scales (that relate to those chords) to form nice melodic parts.scales can be used and improvised within to create scales and chords are chords, you just put them together in what ever way sounds good.


If you are playing bass with a vocal group and see guitar chords in the music then what should you play?

Try to play some scales to coincide with the guitar chords. Example: When the sheet music calls for a C chord, play a C scale.


What does minor mean in musical terms?

Minor chords, scales and pieces are normally more meloncholy to the positive major ones. Perhaps look up some minor and major scales, c for example, the difference is clear.

Related questions

How do you use scale chords?

See the Related Link answer for: What are scales and chords


Is the scales and chords for the acoustic guitar the same as a rock guitars scales and chords?

Chords and Scales are the same for both electric and acoustic assuming the same tuning is used. Each fret represents a 1/2 step up from the previous note, and that is true for both electric and acoustic.


What are other dark chords for the piano besides the minor scales?

The phrygian scales have a menacing ring to them.


What scales sound good with an Am pentatonic scale?

A Minor and a Major chords.


Why is it important to learn the CAGED method when beginning guitar?

It's important to learn because chords are the backbone of playing guitar, and all guitar chord fingerings are related to the 5 chords referenced in the CAGED method. Additionally, the 5 main scale fingerings are based from these same chords. Learning the barre chords that come from CAGED chords, along with their major scales and/or pentatonic scales allows the guitar student to play melodies and chords all the way up the neck, in any key.


Where can you find a website with all scales and chords for bass that is easy enough for a novice to understand?

www.chordie.com


Why are the primary chords so useful in the compositional process?

Primary chords are useful since it gives you well-known knowledge of keys & notes in scales with harmonic & melodic etc.


What are notes called when they are altered from the traditional scale?

Notes that are altered from the traditional scale are called altered chords. These chords are defined on different scales, such as the chromatic scale, as being a diatonic note.


What are the most important few chords for banjo and what is the one of the most important and simple scales?

The most important chords, and the ones that are taught first are the C, G, F, B flat, A seventh, E seventh, and D seventh chords. As for scales, they aren't used much in banjo playing, but as with most instruments, the simplest is the C major scale, as it is completely devoid of accidentals.


What tone scale or chords elicit strong apprehension sadness fright or tension?

This is somewhat different from culture to culture. In Western culture, dissonance and musical ideas based on minor scales and chords have been used to elicit all of the above-mentioned emotions. But there is more to the story than that, as dissonance and musical ideas based on minor scales and chords have been used to elicit romantic and even erotic feelings. Primarily, the emotional content of music comes from its overall form and the effect of any chords or scales take on different effects depending on the formal principals of the music.


What are the chords in the key of f minor?

The chords in the key of F minor are the same as the chords in A-flat major, the chords are:Ab MajorBb MinorC MinorDb MajorEb MajorF MinorG Diminished &Ab MajorF Minor is in bold as that is the tonic key and minor scales are built from the sixth degree of any diatonic (major) scale.


What are 4 languages for electric guitar?

I don't know about "languages", but there are "modes" in terms of scales used in different musical styles. It may be relevant to your answer.Dorian mode - scales played along major chords (pentatonic) with maybe 2 additional notes per octave added.Aeolian mode - scales played along minor chords.Locrian mode - scales played along major 7th chords.Mixolodian mode - scales played along dominant chords, more suited for a blues style that may use all other modes.