Major
is minor, and minor is major
Here is a basic C major scale with the root
C indicated in blue. To the right of that you see the same
scale fingering, only with A indicated in blue. As you have
learned, a C major scale and an A minor scale contain the
same notes. That means that a basic C major scale fingering,
is in reality also a fingering for an A minor scale, if you
are thinking of A as the root of the scale. Though this fingering
does not neatly go from A to A, you are playing the full range
of the notes in an A minor scale in that position.
C
Major Scale
|
A
Minor Scale
|
This means that the basic A minor scale fingering,
is also another position of a C major scale, if you are thinking
of C as that root of the scale instead of A.
A
Minor Scale
|
C
Major Scale
|
So you now have a 2 position area of the neck
that can either be considered all C major, or all A minor.
The trick is to know where all of the A and C notes are. These
will be your guides.
Two
positions of either A minor or C major
There are a lot ways to play major and minor
scales on the neck of the electric bass. The previous scale
positions are the most basic, and are the best ones to learn
first.
Relative major, relative minor
The relationship between C major and A minor
is relative. A is the relative minor of C major, and
C major is the relative major of A minor. Just think...relative...same
blood, same notes.
The 3 fret rule
If you are playing a major scale, and want to
know what the relative minor scale would be, go down 3 frets
from the root of the scale. (down in sound)
If you are playing a minor scale and want to
know what the relative major scale would be, go up 3 frets
from the root of the scale. (up in sound)
|
Down
3 frets = relative minor
Up
3 frets = relative major
|
Page 2, Natural minor on the neck of the guitar
