Hey guys! Wanted to start a thread regarding scales so im gonna start by showing some of the basics that I know.


Scales

  Scales actually have a basic formula. You just need to count Whole steps and half steps. Once you memorize this you can get any basic scale just by knowing the tonic.

 Here are the formulas for the basic scales:

  (R meaning root/tonic/first note in scale , W meaning whole step, H meaning half step)

 Major Scale: R, W, W, H, W, W, W, H
 Natural Minor Scale: R, W, H, W, W, H, W, W
 Harmonic Minor Scale: R, W, H, W, W, H, 1 1/2, H   (notice the step and a half)
 Melodic Minor Scale: going up is: R, W, H, W, W, W, W, H
 going down is: R, W, W, H, W, W, H, W

      Examples:
     
      C MAJOR


       


     
      A MINOR (Natural)


     



       If we use harmonic minor on A minor the only difference would be the raised G to G# because we needed to add an extra half step up.

       If we used melodic minor on A Minor the difference would be F being F# and G being G# because instead of going a half step we go a whole step then from F# a whole step would be to G#. Going back down the scale results in a natural or basic A minor scale.

If this helped you let me know! would really like to expound on this topic and maybe add chords and modes into the thread!


EDIT: Feel free to message or comment if you have questions!
                 EDIT: Some people might get confused with the term Root so added Tonic/first note of scale

To add to this, there are a ton of different modes, which no one really uses except like classical musicians and stuff. I think they're useful, though, because you can shift between modes in a song to add character. Here's a resource on other modes: http://www.classicfm.com/discover/music/guide-to-musical-modes

Yes modes will really help alot! It can expand your creativity in many ways!

Modes and scales are fine, but music that just stays in one scale or mode isn't very interesting (IMO). The best melodies change scales or modes halfway through, or meander through many different ones--but still remain catchy enough to get stuck in my head and hum later. (Again, IMO) Some good examples of this are the vocal part to "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden, the Carmen Suite by Georges Bizet, or even the Star Spangled Banner (which introduces a sharp 4th part of the way through).

Then if you really want to get crazy, introduce dissonance or semitones. For example, Arabic scales use a quarter-flat 2nd, and Indian music often will use quarter-tones to accent parts of a melody or throw it "off-balance" for a second.