song in a particular scale?

[naikvin]

I have many a times heard people saying that a particular song is in A minor pentamonic or A major scale. Now I know to play an A major scale but what does it mean when a particular song or a riff is in a particular scale.
I am pretty much confused with it

please help in simple words (i am not so hot in theory)

[Smitty]

There is a good chance I would screw this up trying to explain it so I am going to list some links that helped me figure this out.

Chords are designed from scales. Knowing how this works would enalbe you to know what chords are played in a song that is in Am. This link explains it well:

http://www.cyberfret.com/theory/chord-construction/basic/index.php

This next link explains how major scales are formed. Also good information to know:

http://www.cyberfret.com/theory/major-scales/index.htm

Not much of an explanation but this will put you in the right direction. Hope it helps and I am sure someone will follow this post with more elaborate info.

Smitty