Recognising Major and Minor Scale

So you listen to your favorite song and want to figure out whether the song is in minor or major scale. This is a continued a step forward from Recognizing Notes.

Now since you know the key note i.e. the tonic note (the base note) by listening or figuring out on guitar.You can tell even by listening that the song is in major or minor scale.

Okay, now first you must be knowing chord structure of major and minor chords.

Major Chord : 1 3 5
this means it has a pure 3rd note or shuddha gandhar(ga) note.
For Cmaj : 1st note - C
                   3rd note - E
                   5th note - G
Minor Chord : 1 b3 5
likewise it has flat 3rd i.e. a half step down to a pure 3rd.
For Cmin : 1st note - C
                   3rd note - D#
                   5th note - G

 Thus , recognising 3rd note can determine a major or minor scale.

 You just need to follow these steps:


1) Listen to the carefully and hum the sound of first line of song so that it matches the song sound.

2) Now concentrate and mute the song and try to sing up the scale to 3 steps.

3) Now as you have the song sound in your head and as you reach the 3rd pure note if it matches with the song sound the scale is major or else minor.

practice makes a man perfect.................