Here's one that has me stumped! I downloaded a .pdf file from a site that has all the acales in all positions for all keys. The included three sets of scales; the major, minor and universal scale.
I've never heard of a "universal" scale and it looks like a combination of lots of other scales. But what am I dealing with?
Anyone ever heard of the Universal Scale?
Universal Scale
The universal key or universal scale is a concept employed in music theory in which specific notes or chord symbols in a key signature are replaced with numbers or Roman numerals.
For example, in the key of E-flat major, the notes of the scale would be replaced like so:
* E becomes scale degree 1
* F becomes scale degree 2
* G becomes scale degree 3
* A becomes scale degree 4
* B becomes scale degree 5
* C becomes scale degree 6
* D becomes scale degree 7
When used with chord symbols, the Roman numerals representing the roots are often written in upper case for chords in the major family, and in lower case for chords in the minor family, with the usual "m" or "—" minor chord delineator omitted outright:
* E becomes I
* Fm7 becomes ii7
* Gm7 becomes iii7
* Amaj7 becomes IVmaj7
* B7 becomes V7
* Cm7 becomes vi7
* Dø7 becomes viiø7
I had found this on wikipedia ages ago and copied it for reference thinking I might use it for my guitar group, but never have so far.
For example, in the key of E-flat major, the notes of the scale would be replaced like so:
* E becomes scale degree 1
* F becomes scale degree 2
* G becomes scale degree 3
* A becomes scale degree 4
* B becomes scale degree 5
* C becomes scale degree 6
* D becomes scale degree 7
When used with chord symbols, the Roman numerals representing the roots are often written in upper case for chords in the major family, and in lower case for chords in the minor family, with the usual "m" or "—" minor chord delineator omitted outright:
* E becomes I
* Fm7 becomes ii7
* Gm7 becomes iii7
* Amaj7 becomes IVmaj7
* B7 becomes V7
* Cm7 becomes vi7
* Dø7 becomes viiø7
I had found this on wikipedia ages ago and copied it for reference thinking I might use it for my guitar group, but never have so far.
HA! I knew that! I just never knew it was called that.
Its actually an easier way to help you know what to do within a key.
Lets say we are in the key of G.
G . . . is 1 or I
A . . . is 2 or II
Bm. . is 3 or III
C . . . is 4 or IV
D . . . is 5 or V
E . . . is 6 or VI
Fm. . is 7 or VII
G . . . is 8 or VIII
So, your playing in G and strumming along and I play a chord your not familiar with. "Whats that?" you ask. Oh, Its a E7 I tell you. Since you know the above, you know that you make an E chord and add the 7th to it which is F. So you make the E chord and add another F note to it and you have an E7.
If we were in the key of E then;
E . . . 1 I
F . . . 2 II
Gm. . 3 III
A . . . 4 IV
B . . . 5 V
C . . . 6 VI
Dm. . 7 VII
E . . . 8 VIII
So, in this case if we are playing along and I make the same E7, it now is an E chord with an added D note, because D is now the 7th note in the key.
Get it?
And this is one reason you really need to know the "Natural Note Scale" as Neil calls it, and also your other scales.
At least I think this is correct.... :unsure:
Its actually an easier way to help you know what to do within a key.
Lets say we are in the key of G.
G . . . is 1 or I
A . . . is 2 or II
Bm. . is 3 or III
C . . . is 4 or IV
D . . . is 5 or V
E . . . is 6 or VI
Fm. . is 7 or VII
G . . . is 8 or VIII
So, your playing in G and strumming along and I play a chord your not familiar with. "Whats that?" you ask. Oh, Its a E7 I tell you. Since you know the above, you know that you make an E chord and add the 7th to it which is F. So you make the E chord and add another F note to it and you have an E7.
If we were in the key of E then;
E . . . 1 I
F . . . 2 II
Gm. . 3 III
A . . . 4 IV
B . . . 5 V
C . . . 6 VI
Dm. . 7 VII
E . . . 8 VIII
So, in this case if we are playing along and I make the same E7, it now is an E chord with an added D note, because D is now the 7th note in the key.
Get it?
And this is one reason you really need to know the "Natural Note Scale" as Neil calls it, and also your other scales.
At least I think this is correct.... :unsure: