Unlock Secrets to Scales the circle of 5ths is hiding from you

I'm going to help you learn all your major skills learn all the different keys and understand the cycle of fourths or fifths in the most clear way possible meet me over at my whiteboard okay now that we're at my whiteboard I want to I'm going to show you how easy this is going to be to understand because everything will be written in front of you every time someone shows you what a cycle of fifths is or fourths it's a little confusing because it goes in a circle and there's not all the information there here all the information will be here okay so I've taken the Liberty to start this off before I rolled the camera and I've got some numbers up there all that stuff I'm going to explain what that is that is going to be our formula for the major scale okay because we're going to do all major scales let's do go with color blue in order to create a major scale you have to have the right spacing between the nodes okay R stands for root so the first note of the scale the root the second the third the fourth fifth sixth seventh and back to the root again and it has to be this okay it has to be whole step whole step half step whole step whole step whole step half step just in case for those of you that don't know what a whole step is or a half step I'm going to quickly explain it okay on a guitar if you are on the this has to be the same string if you move two Frets in either direction from wherever fret you're on now that's a whole step so whole step as far as guitar goes is moving to fr on piano if you're going from one white key to another white key and it has a black key in between that is a whole step a half step is literally half of that okay so on guitar if a if a whole step is two Frets a half step is one fret and it has to be the same string remember you just slide up e up or down one fret that's a half step on piano a half step would be between one white key and the very next Black key in either direction okay there are some um notes that are inherently half steps but we'll we'll come to that okay so let's start off with C major scale so here we go here's our first half step the first half step that inherently occurs in music um naturally speaking using the notes of the our music alphabet is between E and F and also there's a half step between B and C so now you know what the half steps are E and F and B and C okay and what we're going to do in this column is we're going to put in the number of sharps or flats okay that's very important that's how we're going to keep track of everything and most people do it in fifths but let's start off going in fourths and there's going to be a reason for this so what do I mean by a fourth okay well what's the fourth note in the c major scale F right four so we're going to that's going to be our next key and this is why we say we're moving in fourths okay we're going to you go a fourth up from C now we have to write out a F major scale um if we just write out a C major scale starting from F you're going to quickly see that that's not going to work but let's keep going so we know that F to G is a whole step G to a is a whole step and here we go A to B is not a half step right we need a half step in order to create a major scale you have to follow this formula whole step whole step half step whole step whole step whole step half step okay so what do we do well we have to instead of raising this because then that would widen the Gap here we have to lower the B we have to bring the B closer to a and that's why Flats were invented okay so then that's B flat the next note would be C because we need a whole step it wouldn't be C flat because the distance between B flat and C flat is a half step we need a whole step okay we only moved this one note in between here and I I forgot to explain that's why I've got them spaced out so the any note that's got a space in between that's a whole step notes that are right beside each other that's a half step and the formula ref reflects that okay so let's keep going we know that between C and D is a whole step it's a whole step from D to e and then we're back at our root note F okay which is another half step we know that E and F is a half step already and we forgot to write in um how many flats or Sharps we have right the key of C there are zero Sharps and flats but when we get to the key of f we've got one flat so let's write that in one flat and if we keep moving in fourths what's the fourth node of B of F B flat right so that's going to be our next key key of B flat B flat C we already know that that's a whole step or whole step between B flat and C so we're good D that's a whole step and then we come to here we have a problem because e would be over here right we need to make it closer to D to make it a half step so it's going to be E flat same thing we did with B flat and then E flat to F is a whole step because e natural to F natural is a half step if we lowered one we're we creating a larger distance G A B flat okay let's count up the flats how many flats we got one two 3 no not three we don't count the B flat twice okay we only count the B flat once so we have two Flats and then fourth note of the next scale E flat okay E flat to F we already know is a whole step so a whole step from F to G we know that from doing our C major scale and I might add if you decide to write this out for yourself it's a good idea to remember that you have to use the next letter in the music alphabet D is always going to follow an a c e always comes after d do you see what I mean we don't have two FS or two G's or two A's or anything like that there's since there's seven notes in the scale there's seven letters we keep recycling those seven letters over and over again um so here we go we got G we know that g to a is a whole step so we're going to do that same thing we're going to bring a close closer to G by flattening it so here we go a flat now what would the next note B if you s if you're thinking it's B it can't be B Because if we lowered a to here now we've got a half step plus another whole step nowhere in this scale do we have a half a whole step plus a half step there are there is some scales that do that but not this scale every scale has its own unique formula okay so that means that B flat is our next note followed by C D E flat and you guessed it we have one two three Flats okay again we don't count the root twice so we got zero Flats One Flat Two Flats three Flats how many flats do you think the next key is going to have maybe it's pretty good gas but let's find out go to the fourth note of the scale A flat B flat c d flat we have to bring that D closer right because between C and D is a whole step we need a half step E flat F G A flat how many flats one two three four you guessed four before you were correct whoops that looks like a six by the way since I've got some extra space on the board do you know how to write a flat a proper flat this is how you write a proper flat okay a proper flat does not look like that that is not a flat that's a lowercase b okay think of it like this you have this half of a heart shape okay my heart shape is a little wonky there but we don't need that left half anyway okay and then a straight line down the middle that is what a flat is just so you know how to how to create an actual real looking flat even though I'm on an angle some of these Flats over here are wonky I admit that but that's what I'm trying to go for okay so we go to the fourth note of the scale d flat I don't know why I always try to do that with my finger and fail d flat E flat we know that that's a whole step um f we got to do that same thing Okay g flat G is the next letter in the alphabet but between f and g is a whole step but we need a half step so we got to bring G in we have to flatten it A flat B flat C back to d flat one two three four five we got five flats okay okay go to the fourth note of the scale we got G flat A flat B flat what's the fourth note going to be you guessed it C flat if you if you never knew that a C flat exists it does okay because we won't we don't call this fourth note B natural we're already using the letter B we have to we want to keep the letters consistent it actually makes sense if you do that it'll make more sense d flat E flat F G flat and we have six Flats okay now I think I've got enough room on my board we're going to start from the bottom and work our way up okay so excuse me if I like step in in front of the camera for a sec here now I hope you can see this down here I went I started back to C major scale and now we're going to go this direction okay and just as a reminder we moved in fourths when we went this direction okay now we're moving in this direction so that those are that's almost all our flat Keys okay but now we're going to do sharp Keys sharp Keys move in fifths that's where the cycle of fifths come from most people start off with the sharp keys I could have started off with the sharp Keys it doesn't really matter you could go Sharps this way flats that way it doesn't really matter okay but by doing this the cycle of fourths and fifths that people teach um how this works doesn't show you all the information this teaches you exactly what is in each scale all the notes you can see why and where all the flats come from and you're going to see the same thing down here where all the sharps are going to come from maybe let's pick red to do sharp Keys okay so just like we did before with the flat Keys We counted up found out what the fourth note was what we got to do is find out what the fifth note is okay so CDE e f g g is our fifth note so G is going to be our next key A B C D E and if we were to write in an F that would be wrong right because because between our sixth note and our seventh note has to be a whole step and F is in between right so what we have to do is widen that Gap we can't move the E it's that's already correct that's a whole step from d and e so what we got to do is widen the Gap by sharpening it capish that Mak sense I hope it does so flat means you're shifting everything over by a a half step this way sharp means you're shifting your a note over by a half step to the right now let's keep going fifth note of a G scale is is D that's going to be our next key I'm showing you not only just what the major scales are but I'm also teaching you what the key is okay because so when someone says you're in the key of C C that means it has no Sharps and no Flats if you're in the key of G it means it has one sharp and I guess I better write that in e one sharp okay so d e fshp g a b right we already know that between e and FP is a whole step that's why we had to get that F in there now if again if we write just write C in that's that's only a half step that's not a whole step so we have to sharpen the C we come back to a d and we count up how many sharps there are there's two F and C sharp let's keep going fifth note of D is a b c Shar d e FP and we know that between F Shar and G is a half step so we need to create a whole step remember between the sixth and seventh note so we have to stretch that over to a G sharp and then we end up back at a between G Shar and a is a half step count up the sharps one two 3 three shars fifth note of e because we have to move up a fifth or fifth note of a I mean is e moving up a fifth so our next key or our next major scale is going to be the key of E notice that every time I write the next key we we have our three Sharps that were in the last key and then we have to add in a new one so guess what's next guess what the next one is D sharp yeah okay you know dsharp it has to be dsh and we have four sharps so if if someone says let's play something in the key of E that means you have to um make sure to be aware that you're playing those sharps in a very general sense mind you now let's keep it going what's the fifth note of e b c Shar dsharp E F G sharp and the seventh letter is a but we already know between G Shar and a is a half step we have to make that a whole step so if you were guessing a sharp you are correct back to B okay and let's count them up the last one had four sharps this one's probably going to have five right 1 2 3 four five we got it five Sharps let's keep going what's the fifth note of of f of B is FP right so we're going to do F sharp major G sharp a sharp B AAR to B is our half step we know that already C sh not exactly keeping this in line but it's really hard when I have to reach over so C SH dsharp now what's the last one this might fool you some people might be confusing because you know the next letter has to be an e but we know from d B Shar to e is only a half step we need to create a a whole step so just do what we did before just move that e over like that so it's going to be e sharp back to F so just like the C flat if you didn't know that e Shar exists it does it's a real thing and we got six Sharps now even though we didn't meet in the middle we s or it doesn't look like we met in the middle we sort of did actually and I'm going to point out why okay it's because these two keys or scales are going to sound the same like what what do you mean they sound the same well there's a a big word called enharmonic okay enharmonic just means same thing same sound different name so every single note in these two scales are in harmonically the same F SHP is a g flat I don't know if that you find that confusing but if you were to look on a piano or a guitar and you were to find where the an F sharp is you'd realize that you could also call it a g flat okay well why do these two things exist well they just do um you might find a song written in the key of G flat and someone else might write something in the key of f it doesn't they're basically going to sound the same now in the classical World they might argue that it sounds different because there's a theory that because you're playing instruments like violins string instruments that don't have any Frets is is that when you play a g flat it is ever so psychologically when the player plays it they make they make it just a little bit tinier it's ink ink inkling flatter than they would if it an F SHP was written in where it tends to be just maybe a little bit sharper so in the classical World they would argue that those two SK those two keys would the outcome would sound probably a little bit different but on a guitar it makes no difference they sound exactly the same okay now what I'm going to do is continue because if we got seven notes in a scale why can't we have seven sharps or flats right well if you're thinking that you are correct okay so what's the if you let's see how many smart people are out there how do we come up with a CF flat scale okay or an E flat or a c Shar scale well literally just write it out and sharpen every note so I'm going to do these ones in blue now C is our next note in going up anyway right because we've got that's the fifth note so if we're going to continue in fifth it works out C whoops dsharp e FSH G sharp a sharp B Sharp C and you got seven Sharps make sense so far are you digging this is it all making starting to make sense now we're not done yet though cuz there's other things that I want to show you that's in buried inside here that you can't see yet okay so let's do the opposite now we can go C flat we can play all we can um take the notes of a C major scale and flatten every one of them and you'll get seven flats and C is our next C flat is our next key anyway right so I'm just B essentially just writing out a C major scale and flattening every note what you didn't know that an F flat exists yes it does and harmonically remember that word inharmonic and harm oops I forgot the AR inharmonic okay it's the same thing as e natural F flat and e natural are anharmonically the same if I played an F flat and you played an e natural they would sound the same it's just in a name g flat A flat B flat C flat we got our seven Flats now if this was you were here with me I would ask you any questions um hopefully you won't have any questions by the time this is done um hopefully you'll understand everything but give me one second I all this talking talking talking makes me drive my uh my doctor said I'm allowed to drink one glass of wine per day so I drink a bigger glass as I have just kidding that's not wine that's just a drink that I came up with that's mostly water actually a little bit of grape juice and some lemon juice sque squeezed in it's one of my favorite sort of drinks other than just drinking plain water okay what I'm going to do now is I want to point out something to you you know how if you maybe you don't know but if you've seen someone show you the cycle of fourths and fifths before unless someone shows you in this in the circle how to figure out what the flats and sharps are it's it's it's a little bit um confusing everything to do with flat Keys has to do with the number four flat Keys move and forths and what note of the scale every time did the new flat appear did you notice if you didn't it was the fourth note of the scale the new flat always appeared on the fourth note of the scale that was where our first flat appeared and we made it all the way to there all the flats are right there right in front of you you probably didn't even realize it but now you know that um Flats always appear on the fourth note of the scale so when we go to the next key which is the key of f first flat as always shows up on the on the on the fourth note go to the next key it's the fourth note see what I mean fourth note fourth note fourth note and it's the order of the flats so if you're trying to remember the order of the flats here you go 1 2 3 4 five 6 7 and here's a good way to remember the order of the flats the first four flots spell bead b e a d and then all you have to remember is GCF just even if you have to count on your fingers until you memorize it um just count up four right there you go there's all your Flats in order listed in order now sharp Keys work in a similar way they move a certain same amount every time and the the sharp always appears on the same note of the scale the same degree of the scale every single time but if you recall sharp Keys move in fifths and the new sharp does not appear on the fifth note of the scale everyone always guesses that because this moves in fourth so they think okay fourth note and then this is moves in fifth so it must be the fifth note but I don't see any Sharps until we get all the way get up to to the key of B the first sharp that ever appears is is right there fshp so the new sharp always appears on the seventh note on uh in a Sharp key and I'm going to point out all the sharps to you okay here we go and those are even in the correct order they just go up our list instead of going down the list like this one okay so since f is our first sharp there we go f one two 3 4 5 6 7 f is our first sharp C Shar is the second sharp right we got because in the key of D we have FP then we have the new sharp FP so our new sharp always appears in the seventh note of the scale and before I forget I should explain that every single one of these scales every single one of these Keys every time you move to the next key moving in fourths let's let's talk about flat keys so you're moving in Forth remember you keep the flat that was in that key and add in a new one that's why it keeps increasing by one flat every time so what was ever in the first key that remains plus one new flat sharp Keys work the same thing look work the same same way okay so you have if this one has one sharp in it the next one has two that's F and C sharp okay the next one's going to have three flat three Sharps FP is the one of them C sharp is the second one G sharp is the new one so in this case it was two sharps plus a new one the next one's going to have uh those same three Sharps f c Shar G Shar plus the new one and the new ones on the seventh note of the scale every single time is that cool okay so if you're going to practice these I would practice them in the order that I written in if you're going to practice your flat Keys one day do it move and forths and remember the order it's the always the fourth note of the scale B spells the first four plus G flat C C flat F flat you're moving into and the next day you want to practice your sharp Keys count up five the fifth note in the scale and keep adding one sharp in every time the new sharp is always the seventh note now what about Minor keys well if you go right here to the sixth note of the scale you you now know all your minor Keys okay so there's a thing there's this thing that you may or may not have heard of before called relative major and minor well if you're in the key of C major its relative minor is a minor so if we were to write out an an a minor scale it would be start with the letter a and end on the letter A but it contains the exactly the same notes that's why they call it relative it's related it's directly related so a minor shares the same key signature no Sharps no Flats now you understand what the key of A minor is and and the sixth note of every other key so the relative minor of F major is D minor shares the same key signature you're going to play something in D Minor you got to be aware that it has to have a B flat in there just like the key of F major so the sixth note of every one of these Keys is the minor version of the major key you just have to think of that as the first note that is the root no now I hope that this makes sense I know my whiteboard is a little bit small and it's a little bit cramped but hopefully you can see the logic as because I that's why I wanted to do it one at a time instead of write it all out and try to explain it because when you see me write it out one thing at a time building it together then it will hopefully make more sense join me back over in front of my computer at my desk okay if you found this lesson fascinating check out this video where I teach you how to figure out any chord containing four notes and how to effortlessly decode chord symbols a lot of people really loved this lesson click on the video here and I'll show you the quickest and easiest way to understand chords so they're not a mystery anymore

Channel: Jazz Rocks with Adam

Views: 25,289

Keywords: adam smale, Jazz Rocks, make music great again, jazz rocks with Adam, adam smale guitar, jazz guitar lessons, music theory for beginners, music theory, key singature, major scale in all keys, circle of 5ths explained, cycle of 4ths explained, circle of 5ths, cycle of 5ths, circle of 4ths explained guitar, sharps and flats, sharps and flats explained, all sharp keys, all flat keys, key signatures, what are key signatures in music

Id: CylCrvAnP14

Length: 37min 18sec (2238 seconds)

Published: Sat Feb 17 2024