Music Basics

Our system of notes and keys has seven different note names, designated with the letters A through G. A C major scale is C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C. The only way to get any other major scale is to change one...

If you want to play thirds and sixths on the keyboard or piano, you should learn them together. There are two types of thirds and sixths, major and minor. If you learn both the theory and the feel...

Nearly everyone knows that music with no sharps or flats is in the key of C if it is major. But many people need to learn how to find the key in music in sharps. Every key signature represents...

Chord changes can be challenging to read. Although there are standards of how to notate the changes, there are multiple styles and some composers seem to invent their own from time to time. So...

The F Major Scale is fashioned from the Key of F Major – F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E, (F) and consists of the formula: tone-tone-tone-semitone-tone-tone-tone-semitone. Its relative minor is G Minor.

The Bb Major Scale is fashioned from the Key of Bb Major – Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A, (Bb) and consists of the formula: tone-tone-tone-semitone-tone-tone-tone-semitone. Its relative minor is G Minor.

The Ab Major Scale is fashioned from the Key of Ab Major – Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G, (Ab) and consists of the formula: tone-tone-tone-semitone-tone-tone-tone-semitone. Its relative minor is F Minor.

The G Major Scale is fashioned from the Key of G Major – G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, (G) and consists of the formula: tone-tone-tone-semitone-tone-tone-tone-semitone. Its relative minor is E Minor.

Mastering scales and chords on a keyboard instrument gives you a greater understanding of musical theory and harmony, and gives you a great advantage in achieving technical prowess. Scales and...

The blues is the basis for much of American music, especially jazz and rock. Essential to learning how to play any type of music is learning scales. Blues scales differ from the standard,...

The piano is one of the most common instruments played. In order to begin to understand, it is essential to know basic theory, such as chords.

This is the second in my series of articles on chord construction. Here, I've outlined the basics of the minor chords.

If the major chord is the sound of happy music, then the minor chord is the sound of sadness, angst, or anger. Think of the power of the organ, played by someone in a a state of inner turmoil...

The B harmonic minor scale gets its strength from the gap between the six and the seven, as well as the contrast between the minor 3rd and major 7th. Get a melody out of a B harmonic minor scale...

In jazz music, the B blues scale uses the minor third and minor seventh, although major chords can be used beneath it. Learn about the notes played in the B blues scale with help from a jazz...

Do you find yourself stumped when it comes to guitar scales? Read on to learn what they are, how to construct them, and why you need them. No matter what type of music you play, scales play an...

Key is an important guidepost in music; it tells you where the song's melodic center lies. Knowing the key of a song has many uses in writing, performing and recording. For musicians who play...

Every musical key on a harp has a major and a minor version assigned to it that either brightens or darkens the tone respectfully. Learn the difference between the major and minor keys on a harp...

In saxophone playing, the G minor scale is extracted from the B flat major scale. Play a G minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

On the saxophone, the D minor scale is extracted from the F major scale, and everything is natural except for B. Play a D minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this...

For an A minor scale on the saxophone, all of the notes are natural. Play an A minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

When playing an E minor scale on saxophone, remember that the E is not sharp or flat. Play an E minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind...

On the saxophone, the B minor scale is a very popular minor scale for concerts. Play a B minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

The F sharp minor scale on saxophone is like an inverted version of the A scale. Play an F sharp minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind...

On the saxophone, the C sharp minor scale has only four sharp notes. Play a C sharp minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

The natural F minor scale on saxophone finds the F as the sixth of a flat major. Play an F minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

When playing saxophone, think of the B flat minor scale as a C sharp scale. Play a B flat minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

The E flat minor scale on saxophone can be easily thought of as F sharp. Play an E flat minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

On saxophone, the A flat minor scale has an equivalent in G sharp minor. Play an A flat minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

When playing saxophone, minor triads are taken from minor scales. Play minor triads on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

A minor seventh chord on saxophone is extracted from the natural minor scale. Play minor seventh chords on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind...

Any type of saxophone plays in the treble clef. Play a natural minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

When playing saxophone, a C minor scale would normally have E, A and B natural as flats. Play a C minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind...

A minor scale can be played in several places on a guitar fret board by simply playing a major scale but lowering the third, the sixth and seventh notes by a half step. Form a minor scale in any...

A minor scale can be played in several places on a guitar fret board by simply playing a major scale but lowering the third note by a half step. Form a minor scale in any key anywhere on a guitar...

A minor scale can be played in several places on a guitar fret board by simply playing a major scale but lowering the third and sixth notes by a half step. Form a minor scale in any key anywhere...

Musical scales like the C melodic minor scale can be played on the violin at higher octaves to increase range. Play the C melodic minor scale at a higher octave with a violin instructor in this...

Reading music makes any musician more versatile, and the C melodic minor scale can teach reading and music theory. Learn to read the C melodic minor scale from staff paper with a violin instructor...

Playing musical scales on the violin like the C melodic minor scale at lower octaves helps teach music theory. Play the C melodic minor scale at a lower octave with a violin instructor in this...

Using musical scales like the C melodic minor scale as a base for violin improv is part of many musical traditions. Improv along the C melodic minor scale with a violin instructor in this free...

Practicing violin scales like the C melodic minor scale builds muscle memory, music theory knowledge and skill. Play the C melodic minor scale with a violin instructor in this free video violin...

The C melodic minor scale played on the violin uses multiple finger positions and strings. Play the constructive C minor melodic scale along with a violin instructor in this free video violin lesson.

Getting good tone and sound from a violin when playing the C melodic minor scale takes delicate hands. Play the C melodic minor scale with good sound alongside a violin instructor in this free...

The first note in the C melodic minor scale on violin is a C natural. Play the first note of the C melodic minor scale with a violin instructor in this free video violin lesson.

The second note in the C melodic minor scale on violin is a D natural. Play the first note of the C melodic minor scale with a violin instructor in this free video violin lesson.

The third note in the C melodic minor scale on violin is an E flat (Eb). Play the first note of the C melodic minor scale with a violin instructor in this free video violin lesson.

The fourth note in the C melodic minor scale on violin is an F natural. Play the first note of the C melodic minor scale with a violin instructor in this free video violin lesson.

The fifth note in the C melodic minor scale on violin is a G natural on the D string. Play the first note of the C melodic minor scale with a violin instructor in this free video violin lesson.

The sixth note in the C melodic minor scale on violin is an A natural with the fourth finger. Play the first note of the C melodic minor scale with a violin instructor in this free video violin...

The seventh note in the C melodic minor scale on violin is a B natural. Play the first note of the C melodic minor scale with a violin instructor in this free video violin lesson.