Practicing the Major scale – tips and tetrachords
Add to favorites In this lesson I talk about practicing scales in a musical way using different intervals, arpeggios and fingerings. Im also introducing a new way (for me) to look at the Major scale formula which we normally view as 7 different steps (8 if you count the octave):
G A B C D E F# (G)
Whole step (G to A), whole step (A to B), half step (B to C), whole step (C to D), whole step (D to E), whole step (E to F#) and half step (F# to G)
Instead we divide it into 2 parts – so we get two four note scales (called tetrachords) – identical patterns where the first (called the lower Major tetrachord) G A B C:
Whole step (G to A), whole step (A to B), half step (B to C)
And the second (called the upper Major tetrachord) D E F# G
Whole step (D to E), whole step (E to F#) and half step (F# to G).
The beauty of it is that it is easier to remember 2 x 4 notes than 8 notes in a sequence, its easier to get an overview of the fretboard when you condense the scale into smaller scale units.
More info on tetrachords HERE and on www.notreble.com there are some good articles too, HERE
And you can download the Major tetrachord shape with 4 different fingering options below
Throbbin Bob said,
November 5, 2010 @ 7:45 pm
Great lesson!
JanJan said,
September 17, 2010 @ 3:48 pm
Much thanks for this..:)
Haze said,
June 30, 2010 @ 5:32 pm
A great help! Thank you 
The Bucket said,
June 9, 2010 @ 9:38 pm
More top stuff!!!
JBakk said,
June 5, 2010 @ 8:01 pm
These videos are unique. And so helpfull ’cause I got a bit stuck with improvisation. Thanks a lot for doing this.
hank said,
June 4, 2010 @ 3:32 pm
Marlowe! These theory lessons have been awesome. They help make things so much easier. Keep them coming, they are truly helping us who are striving to learn every possible combination of scales, modes, etc. Thanks a ton!
Once again your love for the bass and the willingness to share your knowledge with us shines through!
Hank
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dirac said,
October 29, 2011 @ 1:27 pm
Thanks for this, it is really helping me build on the basic knowledge I have and improve my knowledge of the fretboard.
P.s. your fretboard is insanely shiny: nice!