D flat major scale degrees12/17/2023 Why use scale degrees instead of note names?īecause in many cases it makes things far simpler. For example, here’s the major scale for each of the 5 most common keys (on guitar), with the scale degrees shown on top: To be clear, scale degrees can be applied over any scale. Notice how the pattern of notes is the same - we’re simply changing the label: That is, two ways to show the same thing. For example, here’s two octaves of the C major scale (showed between the 7th and 10th frets) labeled with note names and scale degrees. How are Scale Degrees Used?Ī very common way these are used is on fretboard diagrams. note name, both get the job done - and it’ll often depend on context as to which you use when describing a note. “125 Elm Street” - which is more akin to giving the precise note name. Alternatively, you could give your exact address - e.g. You might say, it’s the third house on the left to someone who just arrived on your street… which is similar to using a scale degree. This allows us to refer to specific points in the scale using the scale degree of each note instead of the name of each note.Ī real-world analog is giving someone directions to your home. There’s a few different ways to approach this, but the most helpful to start with us using the numbers 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 for the notes in major scale:Īs the image above suggests, we’re simply applying these numbers to each of the ordered notes within the major scale. Quite simply, the term scale degrees refers to the number we give each note within a scale. To download the PDF, upgrade to premium or log in. You're free to download, print, and share the PDF across your devices. It includes all of my notes for this lesson, allowing you to follow along at your own pace. Follow along with the print-friendly PDF!
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