number system

[Lady of Note]

I am confused about the "number system" referred to in the guitar grid mastery video.  I cannot find the companion video to which level 2 refers that would clear this up.  This should be a simple answer.  I concluded at first that the numbers referred to the notes in order by half step in any given major scale.  However, this doesn't seem to make sense when he says that notes 4, 8, and 12 sound "right".  If I follow my assumption, those notes in the key of G would be A#, D, and F# (or Bb, D, and Gb enharmonically spelled).  These notes spell out an augmented triad that does not sound "right" in anybody's book, leading me to think that my assumption regarding the numbering system is incorrect.  At the very least, could someone please tell me where to find the video that talks about the numbering system? Please help.  Thanks 

Edited July 3, 2022 by Lady of Note
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[Delbert Moke]

I will try to explain it.  The major scale only has notes 1 through 7 then it starts over again 1 octave higher.  I think what you are referring to is G major scale GABCDEF# and back to G that would be 1-7 and back to 1 one octave higher.  Now to a short lesson in music theory which may help you with the notes.  The major scale is a whole step, a whole step, a half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step and that takes you back to the root note which in this case would be G.  So that would be G whole step A whole step B half step C whole step D whole step E whole step F# half step G.  The major scale in any key is always WWHWWWH the W is a whole step and the H stands for half step.  That would be 1W2W3H4W5W6W7H1.  I hope that will help sorry I do not know exactly where what you are looking for is located.

[Austin Carter]

Hey @Lady of Note I believe what will help is the "What A Scale Really Is" video found in Module 2, Step 4 of Guitar Grid Mastery. From that video until the Freedom Key System in Module 6, should clear that up.

To try and add the quick context here that I can for you and others looking at this question, the "numbers" refer to the notes in the scale. These are called scale degrees. In any key, the "pitch distance" (called an interval) between each of the 7 notes is always the same. Therefore, each key contains the same 7 intervals. Yet the names of the notes themselves change, for each key.

I think that stretch of Guitar Grid Mastery will clear that up for you. Let us know!

[Lady of Note]

Thanks, Austin.  Right after I posted my query, I went back and listened again to Jonathan's video where he mentions the number system.  Apparently, my original assumption was correct.  What through me was his random selection of numbers for examples of a "scale".  Since I am well versed in theory, his example of a three-note "scale" made me think I was missing something.  Turns out, his example was simply a bad one.  No worries.  I read too much into what he was actually trying to say.  And on we go...

 

 

[Lady of Note]

On 7/3/2022 at 8:25 PM, Delbert Moke said:

I will try to explain it.  The major scale only has notes 1 through 7 then it starts over again 1 octave higher.  I think what you are referring to is G major scale GABCDEF# and back to G that would be 1-7 and back to 1 one octave higher.  Now to a short lesson in music theory which may help you with the notes.  The major scale is a whole step, a whole step, a half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step and that takes you back to the root note which in this case would be G.  So that would be G whole step A whole step B half step C whole step D whole step E whole step F# half step G.  The major scale in any key is always WWHWWWH the W is a whole step and the H stands for half step.  That would be 1W2W3H4W5W6W7H1.  I hope that will help sorry I do not know exactly where what you are looking for is located.

Thanks, Delbert.  Turns out I simply misunderstood the point that Jonathan was trying to make in his video.  It wasn't about the notes, it was about the concept of a "scale".  Throwing out three notes at random and calling it a scale is a stretch in anyone's book.  That's what threw me.  My original assumption regarding the numbers was correct.  Thanks for the feedback. :)