Week06
Happy Birthday
C Major Scale Degrees
| Scale Degree | Name | Note | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | C | Home note, point of resolution |
| 2 | Supertonic | D | Pre-dominant, leads to dominant |
| 3 | Mediant | E | Connects tonic and dominant |
| 4 | Subdominant | F | Prepares the dominant |
| 5 | Dominant | G | Strong tension, resolves to tonic |
| 6 | Submediant | A | Relative minor’s tonic |
| 7 | Leading Tone | B | Leads strongly to the tonic |
These scale degrees form the backbone of Western tonal music. For example:
The tonic (C) is your tonal center.
The dominant (G) strongly wants to resolve back to the tonic.
The leading tone (B) is one semitone below the tonic and “leads” to it melodically.
A major third = 4 semitones (or 2 whole steps).
It’s called a “third” because it spans three letter names (like C to E).
It’s called “major” because it’s the larger of the two commonly used thirds (major vs minor).
To play a major third interval:
From a note on the 6th string, move 4 frets up on the same string, or
Move 1 string down and 1 fret back (e.g., 5th fret 6th string to 4th fret 5th string)
In Chords:
A major chord is built from the root + major third + perfect fifth. Example: C major = C (root) + E (major third) + G (perfect fifth)
A minor chord uses a minor third (3 semitones) instead.
Roman Numeral Notation
Roman numerals represent chords based on scale degrees.
In C Major:
| Scale Degree | Note | Roman Numeral | Chord Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | I | Major |
| 2 | D | ii | Minor |
| 3 | E | iii | Minor |
| 4 | F | IV | Major |
| 5 | G | V | Major |
| 6 | A | vi | Minor |
| 7 | B | vii° | Diminished |
- Uppercase numerals = major chords
- Lowercase numerals = minor chords
- ° symbol = diminished chord
This system works in any key by applying it to that key’s scale degrees.
Picking Practice
Alternate picking, 2x each time, fingers 1-2-3-4, from E to e string, 2 min
Alternate picking, fingers 1-3-2-4, from E to e string, 2 min
Alternate picking, fingers 4-2-3-1, from E to e string, 2 min
Chromatic Scale
Write and say it out loud:
C C#Db D D#Eb E F F#Gb G G#Ab A A#Bb B
Cmaj Scale
C – D – E – F – G – A – B – CPlay full Cmaj scale up & down in the open position, 1 min
Improvise over backing track
Improvisation for Guitar
E|----------------0–1–3--
B|----------0–1–3-------
G|------0–2-------------
D|--0–2-----------------
A|--3-------------------
E|----------------------- Pick 3 notes from the C major scale.
- Improvise a melody using only those 3 notes.
- Focus on rhythm, feel, and phrasing.
- Add more notes as you get comfortable.
E|------0–3–0-------
B|--1–3-------3–1---
G|-----------------2B|--1–3-------------
G|-------0–2--------
D|-------------2–0--Chord Practice
Em Chord, 2 min
Am Chord, 2 min
Chord progression, Em → Am, 3 min.
Song Practice
Happy birthday.
e|------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------|-----------1----|-0--------------|-----------3----|-1--------------|
G|-0--0-|-2----0---------|-----------0--0-|-2----0---------|-----------0--0-|
D|------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
e|-3----0---------|----------------1--1-|-0--------------|-----------------|
B|-----------1----|-0-------------------|------1----3----|-1---------------|
G|----------------|------2--------------|----------------|-----------------|
D|----------------|---------------------|----------------|-----------------|
A|----------------|---------------------|----------------|-----------------|
E|----------------|---------------------|----------------|-----------------|Video Log
Fender Stratocaster
Pickup Position: Neck
Master Volume: 3
Master Tone: 5
Zoom G3Xn
Preset: OFF
Joyo Tremolo
Intensity: 25%
Rate: 25%
Fender Blues Jr. III
Volume: 3.5
Fat: OFF
Treble: 4.5
Bass: 7.0
Middle: 11.0
Master: 4.0
Reverb: 2.0
Blue Yeti
Gain: 10 o’clock
Mode: Stereo, on desk near plant