A scale type is defined by a semitone list of 5 to 12 notes in a block. It always includes note 0, called the tonic. When you use a scale type, you can use these notes in any block your instrument has.

Here are three different scales. Each has a unique list

• 0 2 4 5 7 9 11. It’s named the major scale.
• 0 2 3 5 7 8 10. It’s named the natural minor scale
• 0 3 5 7 10.? It’s named the minor pentatonic scale.

Later, we’ll use the note name for the tonic to fully name the scale, for example, E major or G major.

In this next exercise you’ll see the major scale and move it around. By using semitones, you’ll see how easy it is to find specific notes in the major scale.

You may not know note names yet. You didn’t need to for trying the above exercises.

On guitar, an identical sounding note can be located on more than one string.

• Drag the anchor to fret 5 on the 6th string
• Click fret 0 on the 5th string. That’s the identical note.
• Drag the anchor. Notice how that new note follows.

However, you only need to learn a handful of shapes, coming up soon.

The major scale type is defined by the unique semitone list 0 2 4 5 7 9 11 from the first note 0 of the block. All octaves can be used of these notes. Other scale types have their own unique lists.

Once the starting note is chosen, the notes required to make a major scale are nailed down. If the starting note is named E, the resulting notes belong to the scale of E major.