If you wanted to find the 9 of C major, it’s much easier to count up to the 2nd degree of the scale than it is to count up to the 9th degree – the same applies to the 11(4) and the 13(6). Does this make sense?Ĭheck out this lesson for more information:
So in C major, D is the 2nd note of the scale, but it is also the 9. This is important and will help you when you come to build chords. Start by learning them in 1 hand.Įach major and minor scale has 7 notes and you should try to learn these numerically. The numbers give you the formula to apply the chord, scale, voicing, lick or line to any key. In jazz, it's far more effective to think in terms of numbers than actual note names. When you're next at the piano, revisit that scale and learn the numbers. if it take you longer than a second or 2 to get the answer, then you don't know your scales numerically! Ask yourself: " what's the 4th of Ab Major" or " what's the 6th of D Major". Test yourself whilst away from the piano. Learning the scales numerically is essential for your study of more advanced harmony. One of our students created a major scale quiz tool - it tests you on your numeric understanding of scales and you can do this away from the piano. Learn the notes of each scale as 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 and back to 1. It’s very important to learn the major scales numerically. If you don’t have these 12 major scales completely memorized then you should be working on them every day until you do. Many interesting sounding modes can be derived from the major scale and so spending adequate time to memorise them will give you strong foundations for further scale study.
If you are just starting out with jazz piano scale study, the first step is to learn the 12 major scales. The circle of fifths is a handy diagram that shows which keys are most closely related to each other on the piano. The most effective way to learn the 12 major scales is through using the circle of fifths. However, you will also come across scales that contain 5, 6 and even 8 notes - more on these in other lessons. Downloadable Lesson Supplementĭownload this free PDF containing the major scales in all 12 keys.Īll of the major scales contain 7 notes. For example, if we are playing a piece of music using just the notes from the C major scale, we are playing in the key of C. When we play a piece of music using the notes of a particular scale, we say that we are playing in that key. Scales provide the foundation for understanding harmony and learning the 12 major scales is a fundamental step in learning jazz piano.
0 kommentar(er)
