Hi,
Just learning scales without thinking about them will help with technique but very little else.
Here are some suggestions to get the most out of learning scales.
1. As you learn a new scale , learn the key signature along with it.In other words F scale has one flat(b) which is Bb, also the key of F has one flat which is Bb. The G scale has one sharp which is F# and the key of G has one sharp which is F#. Every scale has a corresponding key signature like this with a corresponding set of sharps or flats (The C scale and the key of C is the one exception because it has no sharps and no flats). The set of #'s and b's which go with any key/scale is ALWAYS the same.
2. Knowing how to play scales is the key to figuring out which key a song is in.
3.If you assign a number to the notes in a scale it will give it something in common with every other scale and this is how you transpose(it is also handy for communicating with other musicians). like this -->
The first note in a C scale is C..we will call it one, The second note is D so we will call it 2. Now if we have a melody in C which goes (C,D,C,D,C ){I kept it simple to avoid confusion}
and we want to transpose it to Ab we think...hmmmm in the key of c , (C,D,C,D,C) is (1,2,1,2,1). In Ab it will be( 1,2,1,2,1). In Ab, the first note or 1 is the note Ab and the second note or 2 is Bb. So to play our melody (1,2,1,2,1) in Ab it would be (Ab, Bb, Ab, Bb, Ab). The same thing also works for transposing chords.
The other thing I would Suggest is that as you learn new scales (and therefore new keys), that you also learn some simple chord progression in that key. The simplist and most useful is probably I-V-I which in the key of C would be C chord, G chord, C chord. Like this CEG BDG CEG.
God Bless and I hope some of this helps.
Frank
