Bass major scale construction

[Mina]

I am confused when it comes to constructing major scales. I understand the whole and half step parts, its the degrees that i don't understand. Where and how do they play in. In the article I was reading the author was not very clear in how they work...I'm sure the answer is staring me in the face but some clarification would be cool on these subjects.

[bluesking]

Whereas steps are small jumps across the scale (1/2 frets) scale degrees are larger jumps which exist between the root note and the other notes.

Hopefully the following diagram showing the C major scale should clarify:

Notes: c d e f g a b c
Steps: W W H W W W H
Degree: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1
Number of frets in degree: 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11

W/H stand for whole tone/half tone. A whole tone is 2 frets, a half tone is 1 fret. Degree is nothing to do with frets, it is simply an incremental numbering of the major scale notes. You can look at the number of frets line to see how to play each degree. I recommend for now that you practice the following note sequency to internalise the sound of the degrees:
c, d, c, e, c, f, c, g, c, a, c, b, c


If you were to do the same for the D major scale you would get:

Notes: d e f# g a b c# d
Steps: W W H W W W H
Degree: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1

Notice that the step pattern and the degrees do not change. Only the notes themselves change. This is why, on a guitar, you can move the entire fingering pattern and you are still playing the same scale but in a different key.

Scale degrees can be flattened/sharpened to create different scales. For example the minor scale. The A minor scale is actually the same set of notes as the C major scale shown above. The difference is that it is focused on the A note. This is the note which feels like "home". The following diagram shows the scale degrees in the minor scale:

Notes: a b c d e f g a
Steps: W H W W H W W
Degree: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1

As you can see the degrees in the minor scale differ from the major scale by 3 notes. The notes which differ are the 3rd, 6th & 7th which are all flattened. Also I have repeated the starting note at the end of each row so you get a picture of all of the steps present in the scale.

Any scale can be described by its degrees (commonly called its formula). Here are some other examples:
Minor pentatonic: 1, b3, 4, 5, b7
Major pentatonic: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Blues scale: 1, b3, 4, b5, 5, b7
Dorian: 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, b7
Mixolydian: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, b7
Harmonic minor: 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, 7
Melodic minor: 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, 7

I have written them out in what I believe to be order of usefulnes for rock/blues/funk.

[Malcolm]

I am confused when it comes to constructing major scales.
Bluesking's post should have you going on the right track with how to construct the Major and natural minor scale. You need to know how. Here is a gift.
Major Scale Chart
C D E F G A B...............Notice the C scale has no Sharps
G A B C D E F#.............and the G scale has one, the F#
D E F# G A B C#...........and the D scale keeps the F# and
A B C# D E F# G#.........adds the C#. Then the A scale keeps
E F# G# A B C# D#.......everything and adds the G#. See how
B C# D# E F# G# A#.....it builds on it's self.
F# G# A# B C# D# E#
C# D# E# F# G# A# B#
F G A Bb C D E.............Look what happens with the flat scales
Bb C D Eb F G A...........F has one the Bb, then the Bb scale keeps
Eb F G Ab Bb C D.........it's self and adds the the Eb. Same thing
Ab Bb C Db Eb F G.......the sharp scales did...
Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C
Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F
Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb

Memory pegs:
See God Destroy All Earth By F#irey C#haos. Is the scales that have sharps. C has none, G has one, D has two etc.
Fat cats go down alleys eating birds. Is the order of the sharps.
Farmer brown eats apple dumplings greasily cooked. is the scales that have flats in them. F has one, Bb has two, etc. Figure your own mesmeric for the order of the flats - that fish thing.


Natural Minor Scale Chart
A B C D E F G ................Notice how the 6th column of the
E F# G A B C D................Major scale becomes the 1st column
B C# D E F# G A..............in the minor scale and how the 7th
F# G# A B C# D E............column of the Major scale is now the
C# D# E F# G# A B..........2nd column in the minor scale. And
G# A# B C# D# E F#........yep, the 1st column in the Major scale
D# E# F# G# A# B C#......is now the 3rd column, etc. etc.
A# B# C# D# E# F# G#....Ask your self why? Hint, think relative minor.
D E F G A Bb C
G A Bb C D Eb F
C D Eb F G Ab Bb
F G Ab Bb C Db Eb
Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab
Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db
Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb
As scale charts are hard to find I recommend you print this off and keep it handy.

Quick, what are the notes in the E Major scale. You don't have your scale chart with you, no problem, work it out from what BluesKing gave you.

Good luck on your journey.

[Mina]

Thank you both very much! Now all is left is to practice and memorize! :p