Arabic Numeral Scale Formula Derivations

October 29th, 2005 Print Tip E-mail Tip

To make life simpler, we'll dispense with the whole-step / half-step pattern and look at all subsequent scales as they relate to the ubiquitous major scale. The C Major Scale contains no sharps or flats, so we'll start with it as our basic template.

Note the Arabic numerals below each scale note name---these numbers represent the different scale "degrees" of the major scale. By adding sharps or flats to those numbers we can derive many other scales from our master major scale template (that is, the numbers 1 to 7).

For example, a scale that is very near-and-dear to guitarists' hearts is the pentatonic minor scale, which is a scale which has 5 notes, not 7. You can noodle around for hours with this scale and not hit a bad note or clunker. Here is its scale formula:

The notes in the brackets indicate the notes of the C Pentatonic Minor Scale. You can see how some notes have been altered sharp or flat to conform with the requirements of the scale formula above it.

Another article will give you a comprehensive list of scale formulas that will allow you to play all kinds of exotic music in any key you wish. Check also the article The 12 Major Scale Spellings.