Scales (skélz) are a set of notes that can be strung together. In the western music scale, there are 8 notes. Each note, represented by a letter of the alphabet, climbs until it reaches the same note that it started with. There are typically three major types of scales: The major scale, the minor scale and the harmonic minor scale. However, there are also certain scales for the various modes, which are scales that are built off of the tones from another key.

There is a specific formula for each type of scale that can be applied to any key. These formulas help players determine exactly what notes are in each key. Here is the formula for the major scale: W | W | H | W | W | W | H – where “W” stands for “whole-step” and the “H” stands for “half-step.” A whole step means players must skip a fret. Alternatively, half steps are frets that are right next to each other.