If beginning players learn the twelve major scales, twelve jazz melodic minor scales, two whole tone scales and three diminished scales, they will be able to negotiate more than 95% of the chords that will be coming their way. Many corresponding scales that fit chords are simply modes of one the above scales.

A major scale gives seven modes that fit seven different chords. Times that by twelve and 84 chords can be covered by simply knowing the twelve major scales. It can sound overwhelming, n...