Exploring Different Scales to Improve Your Songwriting

When you learn about different musical scales from around the world, you can become a better songwriter. Let's break this down:

1. Different Types of Scales:

   • Most Western music sticks to major and minor scales. In fact, more than 80% of popular songs use these scales.
   • However, there are many interesting global scales you can try, like the Pentatonic scale, which is found in 80% of world music, and the Harmonic Minor scale, which many people don’t use enough.

2. How Scales Affect Melodies:

   • Scales are like the building blocks for melodies. They help create the feelings you want to express in your music.
   • For example, if you use the Dorian scale, your melody can sound jazzy. On the other hand, the Phrygian scale can make your song sound more exotic and unique.

3. Facts About Musical Keys:

   • Did you know that over 35% of the top songs are in the key of C major or A minor? This shows that many artists prefer these keys.
   • Sadly, some keys, like D# major, are really underused—less than 1% of songs are in that key!

By trying out different scales, you can create more unique and unforgettable melodies in your music.