• Learning music scales will make harder pieces easier to play and understand.notes of music image by JoLin from Fotolia.com
  
  As noted by Professor Gary Hardegree of the University of Massachusetts, "It is quite difficult to give a simple definition of musical scale, but it is extremely simple to give an example." Most people are probably familiar with the famous song "Do Re Mi" in Rogers and Hammerstein's classic film "The Sound of Music," which provides a basic introduction to the major scale. However, the major scale is only one example of a scale, and prospective musicians will usually need to be very familiar with a variety of scales, including the twelve major scales, diminished scales, minor scales and augmented scales.
  
  

Understand Scales

• Understanding the composition of a scale can aid in playing scales. A scale is a series of notes played or sung in a certain relation of intervals or steps. For example, a major scale is composed of eight notes, and follows a pattern of whole steps and half steps. The C Major scale begins on C and ends on the C of the next octave, progressing with the pattern of 2 whole steps, 1 half step, 3 whole steps and 1 half step. All major scales have this same pattern. Other scales, such as diminished, minor or augmented, vary this pattern of whole steps and half steps. Knowing these patterns may help students to play scales faster and aid in memorization.
  
  

Repeat

• When playing scales, repetition is essential. Repeating scales will help the fingers to 'learn' the notes of the scale. Keyboard players should be sure to practice with both hands in order to work the muscles of both the right and left hand. Repeating scales with the help of a metronome will help musicians to keep in time. Once the musician has mastered a scale, he should increase the speed of the metronome and try again.
  
  

Memorize

• Essential-Music-Practice.com states, "When learning new scales get used to playing scales from memory as soon as possible." Memorizing scales will make them easier to play or sing. Memorization is especially helpful for musicians who play instruments with complex fingerings.
  
  

Listen

• It is important for musicians to be able to 'hear' scales in their head before they play and as they are playing. Musicians should listen to a recording before attempting a new scale in order to become familiar with it. Playing along with a recording may also be beneficial.