Ask Brendan is a monthly column where Guitar Educator, Brendan Burns, answers questions about music and the pursuit of Understanding and Mastering the guitar.

Q: Brendan, I’m having trouble with Key Singnatures. Is there any shortcut to learning the notes of different Key Singatures?

B: Well, There is a formula. This old online lesson of mine explains it and goes over a couple of ideas for soloing with the major scale. Enjoy

The Major Scale

The intervallic formula for a major scale is: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half or simply: w, w, h, w, w, w, h

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This formula can help you find major scale for any key.

Soloing: In the Pentatonic Lesson, we talk about using the 5 forms of the scale. Now, with the major scale, we’re going to use the same 5 forms from the Pentatonic, but add two notes to make it a major scale.

Below are 5 forms of the Major Scale.

The major scale is a big form to solo over. It’s helpful to understand arpeggios, and the pentatonic form first. They can give you a good foundation for using the major scale.

I recorded a two chord vamp (in the Key of C) to practice soloing with the major scale. The chords are C6 & G7. Together, the chords contain all the notes of the C Major Scale.

Listen: Real Audio MP3

Use the C Major Scale to solo over this vamp. Spend some time soloing with the arpeggio, then the pentatonic, and then the major scale. They are all connected. To understand how the arpeggio and the pentatonic are connected with the major scale is the way to full mastery.