--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A scale is just the notes that are in a…" description: "\"A scale is just the notes that are in a chord played one at a time instead of together. That's what has allowed me to go through the possible notes tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/paul-gilbert-4559_best_a-scale-is-just-the-notes-that-are-in-a_2223197.jpg" --- # A scale is just the notes that are in a chord played one… ![“A scale is just the notes that are in a chord played one at a time instead of together. That's what has allowed me to go through the possible notes that work with a chord and make choices about which ones I like best. I go through by ear; you can do it by theory too, but the best way is to learn…” quote by Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/paul-gilbert-4559_best_a-scale-is-just-the-notes-that-are-in-a_2223197.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/paul-gilbert-4559_best_a-scale-is-just-the-notes-that-are-in-a_2223197.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/paul-gilbert-4559_best_a-scale-is-just-the-notes-that-are-in-a_2223197.jpg) > “A scale is just the notes that are in a chord played one at a time instead of together. That's what has allowed me to go through the possible notes that work with a chord and make choices about which ones I like best. I go through by ear; you can do it by theory too, but the best way is to learn by ear.” [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A scale is a sequence of notes that belong to a chord, played sequentially, helping you explore compatible tones and choose favorites, especially by ear. **In simple terms:** Scales are chord notes played one after another, useful for ear training. Key Takeaway Use ear training to find notes that fit chords. Themes music theory ear training creativity improvisation Mood curious inspired Type educational practical When to use this quote - songwriting - soloing - improvisation - music education Key Concepts Scales chord tones melodic choice Questions to Reflect On - How does ear training change your improvisation? - What chords challenge your ear the most? A Different Perspective Learning by ear can be slower than theory for beginners. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [My dad is in the music business in Nashville. I was the third child born in my family, and there are three notes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/my-dad-is-in-the-music-business-in-nashville-i-was-the-third-child/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I was the third one in my family born, and there are three notes in a chord, so that's how they came up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-was-the-third-one-in-my-family-born-and-there-are-three-notes-in-a/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [There's a difference between the blues of the New Orleans guys and anyone else and the difference is in a chord, but I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-rushing/there-s-a-difference-between-the-blues-of-the-new-orleans-guys-and/) [Jimmy Rushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-rushing/) > [“Presently, I sense within me the slightest touch. The harmony of one chord lingers in my mind. It fuses, divides, searches--but for what? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/presently-i-sense-within-me-the-slightest-touch-the-harmony-of-one/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Playing inside the changes means playing enough of the important notes of the chord progression at important times. A good solo might be very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-israels/playing-inside-the-changes-means-playing-enough-of-the-important/) Chuck Israels > [There are certain choices you make as a songwriter, based on vowel sounds and melody and chord changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/there-are-certain-choices-you-make-as-a-songwriter-based-on-vowel/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [Using open strings is a great way to add texture and atmosphere to any chord progression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/using-open-strings-is-a-great-way-to-add-texture-and-atmosphere-to/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [It's tough to play the right chord on the instrument when there's someone out there who wants to kill you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/it-s-tough-to-play-the-right-chord-on-the-instrument-when-there-s/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [With Audioslave, it's all about melody and chord progressions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-commerford/with-audioslave-it-s-all-about-melody-and-chord-progressions/) [Tim Commerford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-commerford/) > [I like really sparse electronics, lush arrangements, and interesting chord structures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-klinghoffer/i-like-really-sparse-electronics-lush-arrangements-and-interesting/) [Josh Klinghoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-klinghoffer/) > [I studied chord theory and started playing the piano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flea/i-studied-chord-theory-and-started-playing-the-piano/) [Flea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flea/) > [I don't have musical theory or great chord knowledge, but what I have got me where I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-don-t-have-musical-theory-or-great-chord-knowledge-but-what-i-have/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Every action in our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-action-in-our-lives-touches-on-some-chord-that-will-vibrate-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like Kelela. I like Twigs. I love the more old school; I hate to say old school, but I love Peaches; I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/i-like-kelela-i-like-twigs-i-love-the-more-old-school-i-hate-to-say/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [We wanted to guide the musicians, so we could create our own sound. We would never let the band just go in and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamont-dozier/we-wanted-to-guide-the-musicians-so-we-could-create-our-own-sound-we/) Lamont Dozier ## More by Paul Gilbert > [I especially like the songs Hurry Up and The Curse Of Castle Dragon, and I often include them in my live show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/i-especially-like-the-songs-hurry-up-and-the-curse-of-castle-dragon/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [Everyone has to start somewhere! I certainly didn't sound great when I first started playing, and I remember all my guitar teachers, both good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/everyone-has-to-start-somewhere-i-certainly-didn-t-sound-great-when-i/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [I use the volume control on my guitar, both for dynamics and as a manual noise gate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/i-use-the-volume-control-on-my-guitar-both-for-dynamics-and-as-a/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [With Racer X, whenever we have time, we try to put a record together. And that's always fun because the guys in the band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/with-racer-x-whenever-we-have-time-we-try-to-put-a-record-together/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [It's so easy to practice out of context. For example, if you're learning a scale, you take that scale and you sit in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/it-s-so-easy-to-practice-out-of-context-for-example-if-you-re/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [Two words: Kasim Sulton. I've been a Utopia fan for a long, long time, and Kasim's a pop hero of mine. I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/two-words-kasim-sulton-i-ve-been-a-utopia-fan-for-a-long-long-time/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [While I was writing the songs for 'Fuzz Universe,' I was immersing myself in Bulgarian Female Choir music, Baroque lute and violin pieces, Johnny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/while-i-was-writing-the-songs-for-fuzz-universe-i-was-immersing/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [I've found that as I've learned to improvise melodically, it seems like I can come up with a bigger variety of stuff. I kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/i-ve-found-that-as-i-ve-learned-to-improvise-melodically-it-seems/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [Writing is a chore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/writing-is-a-chore/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [In my daily life, I tend to be very literal and unsuperstitious. But music gives me an outlet to be very emotional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/in-my-daily-life-i-tend-to-be-very-literal-and-unsuperstitious-but/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [I've realized that, as the years have gone on, I have become completely impatient with the demo process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/i-ve-realized-that-as-the-years-have-gone-on-i-have-become-completely/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [I've certainly enjoyed doing clinic tours for larger audiences, but the most valuable teaching experience has been the hundreds of lessons that I've given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/i-ve-certainly-enjoyed-doing-clinic-tours-for-larger-audiences-but/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [A rock band with vocals is what I always wanted to be a part of; in fact, it feels very natural for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/a-rock-band-with-vocals-is-what-i-always-wanted-to-be-a-part-of-in/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [To me, the secret of Eddie Van Halen was Alex Van Halen, because the way Alex played was so loose and the way the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/to-me-the-secret-of-eddie-van-halen-was-alex-van-halen-because-the/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [The first song on my first album is not a song - it's a guitar solo! It's called 'Frenzy,' and it's pretty much nonstop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/the-first-song-on-my-first-album-is-not-a-song-it-s-a-guitar-solo-it/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) [Explore all 109 Paul Gilbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) ## More Best quotes > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/) [Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [It's no wonder Pep is one of the best coaches in the world. When I knew I could work with him I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/it-s-no-wonder-pep-is-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-when-i/) [Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [Life is where you love people and use things not use people and love things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/life-is-where-you-love-people-and-use-things-not-use-people-and-love/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/) Gene Scott > [I'm looking to fight the best guys in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/i-m-looking-to-fight-the-best-guys-in-the-world/) [Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/) > [Batley and Spen has a high proportion of people working in manufacturing, and we can boast the full range of industries, including high-skilled, precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/batley-and-spen-has-a-high-proportion-of-people-working-in/) [Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/) > [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [Any position I was going to be in, I was going to make the best of it. I always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/any-position-i-was-going-to-be-in-i-was-going-to-make-the-best-of-it/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) Browse all 21,674 Best quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A scale is just the notes that are in a chord played one at a time instead of together. That's what has allowed me to go through the possible notes that work with a chord and make choices about which ones I like best. I go through by ear; you can do it by theory too, but the best way is to learn by ear.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Gilbert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/a-scale-is-just-the-notes-that-are-in-a-chord-played-one-at-a-time/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Best" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/a-scale-is-just-the-notes-that-are-in-a-chord-played-one-at-a-time/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/paul-gilbert-4559_best_a-scale-is-just-the-notes-that-are-in-a_2223197.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/paul-gilbert-4559_best_a-scale-is-just-the-notes-that-are-in-a_2223197.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/paul-gilbert-4559_best_a-scale-is-just-the-notes-that-are-in-a_2223197.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A scale is just the notes that are in a chord played one at a time instead of together. That's what has…” — Paul Gilbert", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paul Gilbert", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A scale is just the notes...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/a-scale-is-just-the-notes-that-are-in-a-chord-played-one-at-a-time/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/a-scale-is-just-the-notes-that-are-in-a-chord-played-one-at-a-time/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```