What is the purpose of scales when learning an instrument?

Answer 1

It's everything. They give you dexterity and quickness. There essential. And if you plan on playing jazz, you must have a good knowledge of scales. It's a pain at first but once you conquer those scales it's all worth it.

Answer 2

Bottom line:

all music is made up of either scales or intervals. We learn all of the scales so that when we see them in the music, we already know them. We don't always recognize that "hey, that's the first 5 notes of Bb major scale" but our fingers do if we know the scale.

Then we learn all of the scales in intervals -- CC CD CE CF CG CA CB Cc (C major in alternating intervals); CE DF EG FA GB AC BDc (C major in 3rds) and when we've learned all of those in all of the intervals (2-8), we've covered all of the intervals we might see too.

This allows us to look at any piece of music and play it at sight fairly accurately with secure fingers. We can then worry about rhythm and interpretation.

Answer 3

After learning the basic technique and theory involved in playing an instrument, scales act to familiarize the student with the key system and they further develope technique. Learning scales is not hard: learn the key signature and keynote and then, it's like reciting the alphabet. ex. A minor: key signature- none, keynote- A, scale- A,B,C,D,E,F,G,A ; A major: key signature-F#C#G#, keynote-A, scale- A,B,C#,D,E,F#,G#,A; Ab major: key signature- BbEbAbDb, keynote- Ab, scale Ab,Bb,C,Db,Eb,F,G,Ab; C major: key signature- none, keynote- C, scale C,D,E,F,G,A,B,C Once the scales have been learned, the next step is to increase the tempo in which they are played.

Answer 4

U learn to count, and the alphabet. then U learn how to add subtract etc. and read&wright. so if U want to learn music
U have to learn scales like math, and keys like letters of the alphabet[a-g], to know the language of music.thats why...

Answer 5

If you can't play scales you can't play melodies

Answer 6

Memorizing where notes are, how to play them, and practicing transition between them. At least, that's what it taught me.