Comments on: Top 10 Most Important Scales for Guitar

By: jelahpunks

jelahpunks — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 08:38:48 +0000

in summary for beginner’s always use a major scale name it in numbers (1-7) to make it easier and do the scale in every each degree then apply the name of modes to memories, in addition (1-4-5) major , (2-3-6)minor formula and to define what modes are major or minor thanks.

By: mark

mark — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 08:36:20 +0000

in summary for beginner’s always use a major scale name it in numbers (1-7) and do the scale in every each degree then apply the name of modes, in addition (1-4-5) major , (2-3-6)minor.

By: Peter Robertstad

Peter Robertstad — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 21:54:58 +0000

Jamie P, to answer your question:
Mixolydian and dorian are neither pure major or minor, they are what we call diatonic scales(Miles Davies loved them). To put it simple. With the key in C major (no #-s and b-s), scale C major will the be from 1st to 8th step in the key(straight major is also called ionic scale). If you however start on the second tone of C major and end on the ninth, you get a D dorian. 3rd to 10th is phrygian, 4th to 11th is lydian, 5th to 12th is mixolydian, 6th to 13th is straight minor (or eolian), and 7th to 14th is locrian scale. (9th to 15th, oh, we’re back at straight major again. If you study these cales you will recognize a pattern between the intervals of the tones that define what scale it is.

Summing up, we have 7 diatonic scales: major, dorian(ionic), phrygian, lydian, mixolydian, minor(eolic) and locrian. I hope this answer was helpful.

By: John Freeman

John Freeman — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 12:16:36 +0000

Good list. For me, add Phyrgian for the fun of flamenco sound.

By: Jamie P

Jamie P — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 18:22:38 +0000

Hi there, first time, long time. My question for you is.. is there a minor Dorian and Mixolydian or are the sharps and flats what defines the scale by name? Thanks, and love the blog brother.

By: Ron Montgomery

Ron Montgomery — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 14:56:09 +0000

Good morning Klaus,
My question to you is, why are all these scales starting in the key of A? Secondly, I have a long ways to go when it comes to music theory (I’m a beginner) but I have a few good books on the subject that helps explain cords and other related matters. I don’t what to waist time on theory and want to concentrate more on the playing aspect of the type of music I’m in to, smooth jazz and blues. Where should I start as far as scales and cords are concerned?

By: Joe Retsch

Joe Retsch — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 10:49:08 +0000

Good job, Klaus. A very good overview about different scales – and also moodes. Some students may it also find practicable to train different “Kirchentonarten” – I don´t know how it is called in English – by using your first example and go from the second tone to the ninth for dorian, from the third to the tenth for phrygian and so on. And to answere the question about my favourite scale to exam some new fields: in this case it´s number 9, melodic minor, but I do also like a lot the phrygian with a major third…
Like your site a lot, looking forward to interesting posts.

Best regards,
Joe

By: Klaus Crow

Klaus Crow — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 16:04:23 +0000

In reply to Jeff Blackwell.

Hi Jeff,
Yes all the scales are moveable. For example, if you move up the A major scale a half step (1 fret) you are playing A# major scale. Move up the scale another half step and you are playing B major scale and so on. The same applies to the other scales.

Best regards,
Klaus Crow

By: Jeff Blackwell

Jeff Blackwell — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 14:33:17 +0000

Are these scales moveable?
If we change the root note but keep the pattern the same, will that be correct?