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Is knowing as many scales as you can important?

by PRD
(California)

I know that all scales come from the major scale, so in reading sheet music would knowing the scale before hand be helpful or could I just pick up on the differences? Also what is the connection between scales and key signatures if any?

Hi PRD,

I think knowing the scale beforehand offers a distinct but basic advantage in that you know just where the notes are going to be located.

Key signatures are what tell you what key you're in and hence what scale you will use or what the notes of chords and melody are made of.

For instance if you're in A major then the key signature would have three sharps (F# C# G#) because the actual scale is: A B C# D E F# G# A.

If you wrote a basic song that had three chords in it say, chord 1, 4 & 5 (which is how many basic 3 chord songs are created) then you'd use chords A major, D major & E major or some variation of order. Many Bob Dylan songs, even though they're great songs consist of just 3 basic chords.

Hope this helps,
Trevor M.