Scalesystem

 

Introduction

Guitar

Bass guitar

Ukulele

Bouzouki

Violin

Viola

Cello

Double bass

 

Introduction

Complete scale systems have been published as part of the Pénzes Methodology for many years now. A complete scale system means describing all the scale structures of a certain tonality, for a particular instrument, played on all twelve semitones.

  • Tonality - 3 + 1 tonality groups in European music: the major-minor tonal system (considered one common tonal system), the pentatonics, the harmonic minor, and the Phrygian dominant mode.

  • String instrument, different tunings, e.g. six-string guitar in standard tuning or all-fourths tuning; or even fretless instruments.

 

The below categories are based on the different instrument tunings.

 

Main category: string instrument

  • Sub-category 1: string instrument in non-standard tunings

    • Sub-category 2: tonality

      • Sub-category 3: the scale structures of the relevant tonality, described in different ways:

      • Normal mirror image

      • Mirror image for lefties

      • Static tabulature

      • Static tabulature for lefties

       

Let's make a quick calculation!

 

Take the seven basic scales and the twelve semitones, which makes 7 times 12 = 91. In addition to that, let's take the four different ways in sub-category 3, which makes 91 times 4, that is 364 scales.

It becomes obvious that all possible scale structures in a certain string instrument are covered. There is no tonality, i.e. music, outside of the scale system. Some other scales, like the sister basic scales described on the main website, may exist, but they also constitute a system.

 

Other remarks:

  • Bowed string instruments like violin, viola, cello are closely and almost exclusively related to classical music, therefore pentatonics, which classical music does not use apart from some American and Bartók pieces, are outside of focus concerning these instruments. Only the basic scales and the harmonic minor tonality are associated with them. The double bass, which is known to be a crucial instrument in jazz bands, is an exception to this rule.

  • As for bowed string instruments (violin, viola, cello, double bass), there are no static tabulatures and static tabulatures for lefties.

  • Folk intruments, such as ukulele and bouzouki, are not associated with the pentatonics and the harmonic minor; the people of the nations that created these istruments are not familiar with them, they typically use other tonalites.

 

Guitar

 

 

Bass guitar

 

 

Ukulele

 

 

Bouzouki

 

 

Violin

 

 

Viola

 

 

Cello

 

 

Doublebass

 

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