Guitar theory lessons

The Ruler

Build the scale in two four-note pieces

Two matching halves reveal why a neighboring key changes only one note.

Take the guided lesson

Four notes, three gaps, then a bridge

C1
D1
E1
F1
G2
A2
B2
C2

C D E F and G A B C each use W W H. A whole step from F to G connects the two groups.

Carry the upper piece into the next key

A tetrachord is a four-note span. The major-scale tetrachord here uses W W H. Keep G A B C as the lower piece of G major, then build D E F# G above it.

The reused piece stays intact. Raising F to F# makes the new upper piece match the recipe. This is a construction reason behind the move from C major to G major.

Build the written notes

Complete the next major-scale pair

Keep G A B C. Complete D E F# in the second piece using one letter per degree and W W H in each four-note piece.

Hear each piece return to its whole scale

First hear the two pieces separately, then identify their place in the scale map.

Lower C-major tetrachord
CDEF
Upper C-major tetrachord
GABC
What to keep

Takeaways

  • Two W W H pieces plus a whole-step bridge reconstruct major.