When I'm discussing scales, I sometimes need to use a music theory concept that I might not have previously defined. So, I made a place where those terms and concepts can be quickly defined without interrupting the flow of the discussion. So here are some key terms for scale study.
Key Terms
- Degree
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Also "Scale Degree," the interval--rather than letter name--of a note in a scale, relative to the scale's root. For example, here are the letter names of the C Major Scale, with the degree of each in parentheses. We use "R" as an abbreviation for "Root": C (R), D (2), E (3), F (4), G (5), A (6), B (7). In the A Minor Scale, the notes and their degrees would be these: A (R), B (2), C (b3), D (4), E (5), F (b6), G (b7).
See also: Wikipedia: Degree (music), Open Position
- Open Position
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Strings that are played but not fretted are said to be "open" or "played open." Thus, "open position" is the lowest position on the guitar, using all or most of the open strings, depending upon the scale. In addition to the open strings, open position includes frets 1-3, which are generally played with fingers 1-3 (i.e., index, middle, and ring).
See also: Extended Position, Position
- Position
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A fixed location on the fretboard where the left hand stays put, at least for a time. A postition typically covers four consecutive frets, one finger per fret. Positions are numbered by the fret the first finger covers. For example, "First Position" is frets 1-4. "Fifth Position" is frets 5-8.
See also: Extended Position, Open Position
- Relative Minor
- The minor key that shares the same key signature as a given major key, built on its 6th scale degree. C major and A minor are relative keys. They have the same notes but different tonal centers.
Last Update
This page was last updated on 07/10/2026.