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So far, the only method we've had to find all the notes of a scale was to play a scale shape on the fretboard and name each note.
There is a science to it!
Let's look again at The Circle of 5ths.
We can use it to help visualize our scales.
In truth - on most other instruments this topic would be introduced much earlier on! Guitar's ability to move scale shapes around lets us get away with blissful ignorance a little longer than usual.
As you can see in the diagram, as we move clockwise around the circle from C, we gradually introduce more sharps into the scale.
Moving counterclockwise from C, we introduce more flats into the scale.
But what you may not already know, is that we use the same sharps and flats every time.
That is, once a sharp (or flat) note is introduced to a scale, for example, F# in the G scale, all further scales moving clockwise will still contain that F#.
Obviously, that example stops at Db, once all notes of the scale are sharp.
Still confused? I don't blame you.
Here I've highlighted what's called the "Order of Sharps". It's also the "Order of Flats", because they're the same thing, in reverse order.
When adding sharps or flats to a scale, we always add them in the same order.
There is a handy two-way mnemonic for keeping track of this.
Order of Sharps:
F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B#
Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
Order of Flats:
Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb, Fb
Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles' Father
If you can remember that mnemonic then we're well on our way to understanding this concept.
Now let's try it out.Â
For example, let's take the scale of A Major. Now, we can see that A Major has 3 sharps. According to the mnemonic, that's:
Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
F#, C#, and G#.
So, to find the notes of A Major, we first lay out the natural notes starting from A:
A - B - C - D - E - F -G
Then, we apply the sharps according to the Order of Sharps:
A - B - C# - D - E - F# -G#
Let's try an example on the flat side, as well.
Let's use Db Major. According to The Circle of 5ths, it has 5 flats. Now we use our mnemonic flipped around and count off the first 5:
Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles' Father
Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, and Gb.
Now we again lay out the natural notes, this time starting from our root on D:
D - E - F - G - A - B - C
Then, we apply the flats according to the Order of Flats:
Db - Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - C
I hope it's making a little more sense now.
The application of this knowledge is that we can determine the full notes of a scale with only a moment's thought. All we need to know is the number of sharps or flats in the scale.
Now, that too can be memorized. It's a little tougher to keep all twelve scales straight in your head, but remember that from C, we can move to the 5th to move clockwise around the wheel, or to the 4th to move counterclockwise. Repeat the jump to 4th or 5th from your new root to take another step.
I like to start at C, our natural scale, and practice movement in both directions. If you can start to build out a mental map of the scales as they relate to each other, you'll soon be able to keep track of the number of sharps or flats in each scale.
And this will have a positive effect on your understanding of the scales in general, as well!
Now, nothing's stopping you from continuing to work scales out a note at a time. But this method, while slower initially, will in the long run allow you a more rapid approach to accessing scales, and will likely lead to total memorization after enough practice.
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