C MAJOR AND A MINOR SCALE

The C major, A minor, scales are now in 2 octave shapes. Notice how C major and A minor use the same notes but use a different root. This is called the relative major and minor.

Play the C major scale over this track.

Play the C major scale over Walk The Line or Let It Be and follow the chords

 

Play the A minor scale over this track.

Play the A minor scale over Spancil Hill and follow the chords

 

C MAJOR AND A MINOR PENTATONIC SCALE

If we remove the notes B and F out of our C major and A minor scale, we get a new 5 note (Pentatonic) scale. C major pentatonic sounds like the intro to the song “My Girl”. The scales are used quite a lot in styles like rock, blues, country and many more.

C major pentatonic scale

Once you learn the scale, now try to improvise over the track above.

A minor pentatonic scale

Once you learn the scale, now try to improvise over the track above.