What do the red dots mean?

The red dots signify the first note or degree in the scale. This is also the octave and marks the point where the scale begins to repeat its pattern. This is an important point in any scale to remember because it is often used as a resolution point when you are playing a melody. In other words, after you have played a bit of a solo, heightened the tension melodically and the chord changes back to the beginning of a new verse, it’s a perfect time to consider “resolving” back to the root note or the octave.

So use the red dots as markers along the road to give you a visual clue where to head when you want to bring your melody back home.