Relative Major And Minor Scales on the Guitar

Each scale uses a different numbers of sharps or flats. The number of sharps or flats a scale uses is called its Key Signature. Key signatures are used to identify each scale or Key. There are fifteen major scale key signatures and fifteen minor scale key signatures. Scales with key signatures that use 5, 6 and 7 flats are enharmonic with scales that use 7, 6 and 5 sharps respectively. List each scale by how many notes are sharped or flatted starting with those with the fewest first.

Key Signatures And The Circle of Fourths and Fifths

Major and minor scales are arranged beginning with the scales that use flats in a clockwise circle of perfect fourths and the scales that use sharps in a counterclockwise circle of perfect fifths.

Major and Minor Scales and Key Signatures

Major and minor scales share key signatures. For example G major and E minor use the same key signature one sharp. And F major and D minor share the same key signature one flat. Every major scale shares a key signature with a minor scale. They are called Relative Major and Minor Scales. G major is relative to E minor, and F major is relative to D minor. Practice in unison with the computer and learn relative. Click any measure to display relative major and minor scales for that key with guitar fingerings and tablature.

Remember, the goal is memorization. Not only will your fingers memorize the positions of the major and minor scales, your ears will also memorize the sounds on the guitar called Ear Training, so make sure your guitar is in tune. You can tune your guitar by ear to the midi player by clicking the tune logo or tune by eye using an electronic guitar tuner. It is recommended that you learn both methods.