I use two numbers, the first is the string number of the lowest root note. For example, play a C Major chord then play a C Major scale. On a guitar, each fret is a half step away from the next, just as each piano key is also a half step apart. another The rest of the scale is built in relation to this root. For example, the key of C (major) corresponds to the C Major Scale. To make it a major scale, we need to fix the intervals with accidentals. Play a single octave pattern. The 6-2 Box Pattern (below) is a combination of the 6-2 single-octave pattern and the 4-4 single-octave pattern. The 3rd is also known as the major 3rd.This is the tone that makes our scale a major scale. To make sure you know how to form the scale, I provided a step-by-step. Thank you for an excellent web resource. The five C-A-G-E-D scale shapes (C shape, A shape, G shape, E shape and D shape) surround the entire fretboard. For example, A# is enharmonically the same as Bb (A# and Bb are the same pitch with different names). scale. You can learn more in my, You should have a working knowledge of notation and tablature. bass root note... Fret To maintain a half step, we must use accidentals. Play a chord then play the box pattern associated with that chord form. Single-octave patterns are the simplest patterns to learn. Ex: 6-2 Box rooted on the 5th and 17th fret. The major pentatonic scale is one of the most widely used scales on the guitar. It shows the 6 most common guitar scales in their most common positions. the 3rd As you shift a line of the pattern from the 3rd to the 2nd string, the notes of that line move up one fret. This is one reason why I associate the chords with the box patterns. The major scale is the mother of all scales and your reference point for all other scales. Major Scale: Essential Information. I say upgrade because it’s good to think of these scales as more complex versions of their pentatonic counterparts in which two notes are added to a five note skeleton. The degrees are given in numbers or roman numerals (as shown). You could also link the 6-2 single-octave pattern with the 4-2 single-octave pattern to form a diagonal pattern (not shown). Play the pattern below, then repeat it from frets 13 to the end of your fretboard if you have access to them. I often recommend playing a Major chord before playing this scale. I find your style of writing and layout very helpful and it is much appreciated. Intervals are the distances/gaps In theory, you could learn 3 patterns and cover the entire fretboard. The degrees of the scale (roman numerals) are used to specify chord progressions. The patterns that use the pinky finger use the same finger. Once you learn to play one Major scale, you can play all Major (and minor) scales in every key. Utilizing Scale Intervals Anywhere on the Guitar. If you have a good knowledge of major scale patterns on the guitar fretboard then you’ll be able to play every modal scale. The Major Scale is the most important scale in Western music. Pay attention to the sound and the steps. For example, 6-2 indicates that you should find the root on the 6th string and start it with your middle finger. Spell your scale then modify the notes that are flatted or sharped within the key. relationships you I want to help you become a better guitarist. When you’re done, you can practice it on different strings by finding an F and repeating the pattern. For example, in the Key of E major, we would start on an E (say the open position of the first string) and could form the scale as follows: next note is the octave For example, you can form a C Major chord by playing C-E-G. as the 1st root note. Also, notice that lower-case numerals indicate minor chords. This is the first site that has really analysed this theory for me.. Learn how to play the major scale along a single string. I provide all five because some are easier to play than others. It contains a repeating pattern of seven notes at specified intervals of whole and half steps. The major scale gives us a wonderful foundation to use for learning other scales. They are named by the first note of the sequence. This section will explore the third, which is probably the most fun. Similarly, you can form a D minor chord, by playing D-F-A. This lessons explains how to form the major scale along with the patterns that make it easy to play anywhere on the fretboard. the second occurrence After analyzing these patterns, you can simplify the number of patterns to the first two patterns (6-2 and 6-4). string two frets above the 1st root note. so it would be the G major So clear and well-structured. Say the notes as you play them. You can check yourself (or cheat) with my list of major scale notes. Additionally, you can alternate them to obtain box patterns. major scale, since the root lies on the the note E.         You can learn more about them in my. You will want to spend a lot of time on the major scale. Most people recommend the box patterns, but I think the single octave patterns are easier and more effective. You’ll notice that the patterns overlap so you can connect them all. Major and Minor Guitar Scales Once you have become comfortable using the pentatonic scales, it is time to upgrade to the diatonic, or seven note, scales. the same intervals. A scale is simply a set of notes arranged in order of pitch. purposes of soloing, but a system So... Once we get to note 7, the This is why it's important to know the notes on the fretboard. Everytime we discuss the major scale, we have to drop this video because it helps us gain a better understanding of this scale and how it functions. Major Scale Guitar Construction. Key of Db major (Bb or minor) Guitar Scales As we discussed in our introduction, some notes can be referred to by di˜erent names. More on sharps and flats in some of The first note, A, is the root note of the scale. In this case the Db scale is EXACTLY THE SAME as the C# scale, only the note’s name has changed. There are whole steps between A-B, C-D, D-E, F-G, G-A and half steps between B-C, E-F. Accidentals allow for more flexibility with these notes. Each pattern contains the notes of a CAGED chord form. The major scale serves as a ‘foundation’ for music theory and for all other scales; it’s the scale other scales are compared to. AP-013 What are your Favorite Exotic Chords? I’m glad you found the 6-2 pattern helpful. As you'll soon When we look at the construction of the major scale, all we have to do is put our whole steps and half steps in order. note) root You can also play the scale on a string. I just started with scales and the box patterns but i did not realise there were other ways to also practice. If you have questions or feedback, please contact me. The root marks the 1st note of our scale, and tells us the key in which the scale is being played. For myself and my students, I’ve always thought of scales as the best way to warm up both hands. the Next, extend the scale by using another single-octave pattern that connects to the one you know. The guitar major scale is happy upbeat and useful in a variety of styles of music. I recommend the following ordered approach to practicing it. Essentially, once you’ve played the first seven notes in the scale, you’re going to repeat those notes in a higher octave.         For example, look at minor shape 1 (tallest green box). (sometimes labelled as 8 words. Sing them if you can.         Another way to form the scale is to learn/memorize the number of sharps and flats in the key. I want to show you how to form an F Major scale because it uses an accidental. It's that typical "do-re-mi" The notes are Harmonic Equivalents. referenced in music (especially western music). Learn it in pieces. Good luck with your playing! (octave) of the root note appears on the D The major scale starts with note number 1 (called the root note) and continues in varying whole step and half step intervals up to 7. Start by playing an octave higher (12 frets up). At the end, play the next octave on a single string until you run out of room. What follows are diagrams and explanations of how to play a major scale in every position on the neck of the guitar. Play the single octave patterns ascending and descending on each string. Use the major scale on a single string to connect them. The major scale is an important scale. fret on the low When you first practice scales, I recommend playing from root not to root note ascending and descending (as shown here). string, we'd be playing B major. scale most of us are familiar with and it's what chords and other that major scale pattern above to start with and learn the visual (and    Fret 3, Fret 12    This convention is helpful when musicians communicate. note, so if After you’re playing single-octave patterns,  you’ll want to extend them. Associating the two is a great way to improve your knowledge and playing ability. If we'd started from the open G         You already learned the major scale in two ways, by notes and intervals. Learn them from the root notes of the chords that you know. If you’re descending from 5-2, shift the pattern on the 2nd string (6-4). I want to show you how to form an F Major scale because it uses an accidental.         the second occurrence I’m glad you enjoyed the article. The D chord is the ii chord. Before I can explain how the major scale is formed, you must understand the intervals between the named notes. Just pay attention to your root notes. It is important that you never use the same letter twice. Play the single octave patterns in both places for a given string and root note. If you’re starting out, I would learn the 6-2 and 5-2 box patterns and the 3-1 single-octave pattern. The root notes are always A tones. Play it ascending and descending. All Rights Reserved. This rule applies to all patterns in standard tuning. Exercise 1: Write the notes of all the major scales. There are three ways to learn scales on the guitar: Notes, Intervals, and Patterns. Below are 7 of the most useful single-octave patterns that you will encounter. The major This very popular scale has the formula WWHWWWH , where the W equals a whole step (2 frets), and the H equals a half step (1 fret). They can be chained together to form multi-octave patterns, and they allow you to play the scale anywhere on the fretboard. but to keep things simple, just call it 1         This is arguably the most important scale you can learn. The major scale should be one of the first scales you There are other major scale patterns we Many thanks. Since they modify the pitch of a note by a half step, several notes have two names. So the F Major scale would be spelled as F-G-A-B-C-D-E. Play all 5 box patterns in two locations. Once you have this scale, you are on your way. In written music, relative major and minor keys actually share the same key signature. Playing the A major scale is great exercise, whether you’re new to guitar... Notes in the A Major Scale. scale position flattened one half step.        Fret 7. the third occurrence (even different root notes. Notes are displayed in the fingerboard diagram with blue color with the root notes indicated by darker color. Guitar Scale Practice Routine. This will help you improve your speed. The Major Scale scale is made up of the Root, Major Second, Major Third, Perfect Fourth, Perfect Fifth, Major Sixth, and Major Seventh. The problem is that this is not a major scale.         The major scale has seven notes, but looking at the scale diagram, you’re probably wondering why there are more than seven notes in this scale shape. Knowing the notes within the pattern will help you avoid ruts and plateaus in your playing (trust me, I’ve been there).         To get started you’ll play through the lowest possible scale form in C major first. Ah yes, the happiest and the mother of all musical scales. For example, the Key of F is known to have one flat, Bb. Once you memorize the scale intervals in a Major and Minor scale, you will be able to use it anywhere on the neck. auditory) Thank you for your kind words. The A Major is a seven-note scale. You can play the C Major Scale below in open position. Scales are always spelled in alphabetic note order. Try connecting the patterns with the same pattern an octave higher. Learn the Major Scale on Guitar. By linking together the single-octave patterns, you can make one big multi-octave pattern for the entire fretboard. Thanks alot.. Am really grateful.. Usually they overlap by 2 frets. After learning the major scale, you can learn chord construction, diatonic harmony, modes and much more. AP-001: Gold vs Nickel Plugs on Guitar Cables. 8        can use, such as this one, with an A string H Start at a degree and play every other note. See if there are any other visual All of these patterns are movable along the fretboard so you can play any major scale. for organising other important musical elements. lesson. That order is W, W, H, W, W, W, H. To understand this further, let’s apply it to the guitar and try and play a major scale on just one string. Can you see the chords that you already know? In a E The intervals Remember to say the notes as you play them. Later, I will show you the rules that govern which one to use. The key of C is the simplest key to learn the scale because it contains no accidentals (no sharps or flats). The major scale has seven degrees. Scales can ascend in pitch or descend in pitch. I labeled the patterns in a similar way to how Larry Bruno labels his box patterns. In this case it is a flat. Using this formula it is very easy to form a major scale on a single string of the guitar. No doubt about it, this five-note scale packs a punch! Therefore, we need to flat the B to make it a half step. A half step up from A is Bb. Next, you’ll want to explore the box patterns. It helps you hear the scale. It is used in improvisation, chord construction, diatonic harmony, and much more. barre chords, power chords, scales) and patterns around the neck with ease. Thank you for the insight. Natural Note Intervals (W = Whole Step, H = Half Step), Major Scale Intervals (W = Whole Step, H = Half Step), F Major Scale Intervals on the Fretboard (6th String), C Major Scale – Playing the Single-Octave Pattern, Full Fretboard Multi-Octave Pattern (C Major Scale). again an octave higher. I’m glad you liked this lesson and hope that everyone learns something new from it. Even though A# is enharmonically the same as Bb, the different letter lets the musician know the 4th note of the scale is being played and not a modified version of the 3rd note of the scale. scale, in other In the key of F, your root is F. Follow the interval formula for a major scale (W-W-H-W-W-W-H). Numbers are often used to designate the degree of the scale in the repeating pattern. chord or scale, we could see that as the 5th tone in its natural, major Learn how to play, form, and use the major scale effectively. It is assumed. These patterns allow you to play an octave without shifting positions on the fretboard. Practice alternate picking while playing the patterns. nutshell: a repeating sequence of intervals. They, too, are relative major and minor chords and scales. Simply move the pattern so the root note (black dot) is on the proper fret. As you can tell from the name, a pentatonic scale consists of         Form box patterns by linking the single octave patterns: 6-2 & 4-4, 6-4 & 3-1. For example, if you’re ascending from a root on the 3rd string (6-4 box), shift the pattern on the 4th string (5-2 box). There are 6 scales every guitarist should learn to begin with, these are: The Major Scale The Natural Minor Scale The Minor Harmonic Scale The Major Pentatonic Scale The Minor Pentatonic Scale The Blues Scale It takes a while, I’m not going to lie. The guitar major scale is the first scale you should master. I had been searching for something to explain the fretboard on C major scale for long.         Practice shifting between the box patterns. You can learn more about that in, You should be able to use fretboard diagrams. are as follows... W = whole step (equivalent 2 fret interval) Exercise 2: For every key, play the major scale on each individual string. If it looks unfamiliar to you, play through it. Scales are always spelled in alphabetic note order. Free Guitar Scales Chart10 Guitar Scales You MUST Know Pentatonic Scales Chart Source: u/jacomoforto "Of the Minor Chord" and "Of the Major Chord" means they are notes of the major or minor chord. When indicating a major key, you can omit the word major. I think this is one of the best ways to learn the step-pattern. This simplifies your effort in finding the scale. the first note of the scale, is the root scale has seven degrees. Try this with other patterns. (octave) of the 5th appears on the B Printable Guitar Major Scale Chart 945 Save The C chord is the I chord. Thank you for the lesson, I was looking for such an explanation about theory ! Learn the single-octave patterns first. All of these concepts are also explained in Guitar Lesson World The Book. That way,  you’ll know a pattern for chords rooted on the 5th and 6th string. The notation below shows how you can play the single-octave pattern. between Thanks alot.. Movable shapes and scale patterns can allow you to play in any key by applying the same fingering pattern to a different root note. Start with the root note for the key you are using. scales can be referenced against. The notes, in order, are C – D – E – F – G – A -B – C – B -A -G -F – E – D – C. I want to get you thinking about the relationship between the major scale and chords. You can find your single-octave patterns within the box patterns. you started the scale at the 3rd The easiest way to learn the Major scales on guitar is to break them into 5 smaller more manageable chunks/patterns. By Interval: W-W-H-W-W-W-H  (The Major Scale Formula). 6-4 means that you should start with your pinky finger instead. You will notice that I have included a chord form name. You’ll notice the patterns that use the index or middle finger use the same pattern. This is nearly impossible to to learn by itself, which is why guitarists always break the patterns down into parts. Use a metronome to play in time properly. It is important that you hear the sound of the scale. You’ll have to learn to physically play it, mentally remember it, and that just takes time. Very helpful. This is known as the major triad, the basis of major scales (and chords). Your email address will not be published. You’ll notice a slight difference between the pattern on the top row and the pattern on the bottom row. Here is our guitar scales chart. This section will teach you several major scale patterns. Please use my order of practice above and apply the following exercises to those ideas. Okay, let’s jump into this scale shape. It forms the foundation for all music theory and is also very practical and can be used creatively easily, thought learning to use ReActive listening will help you use it musically. and continues in varying whole step and half step intervals up to 7. The 5 scale patterns guitar animation The most common and first scale to learn is the major scale. Own it. You'll transfer this knowledge to other scales that share Because scale form … Some guitarists like to start with a 6-4 pattern and shift to a 6-2 pattern by playing 4 notes on the 5th string (with a hand shift). For more info on the scales themselves take a look at our guitar scales section where you will find more details on these scales and links to further guitar scale content.. by This is an A major scale pattern. You can start on any note of any string and play the scales horizontally and vertically (if you have enough frets and strings). A half step up from E is F. E to F is naturally a half step. This is useful because you will sometimes want to move up or down the neck with a scale and this exercise helps you learn one way to do that.         relationships between its intervals. We will start with the A major scale as an example and eventually play the major scale in all 12 keys. Same scale, same relative intervals, Say the notes as you play them. For example, when we Thank you for the kind words! If we'd started from the open B The first position of the major scale, seen above, is the "standard" way of playing the major scale, which most guitarists know. by . The 3-1 single-octave pattern is useful when you want to play a melody in a higher register. That’s why it’s so important to master all of these five scale shapes. Practice ascending and descending. talk about a flat 5th (abbreviated as b5) Form diagonal patterns by playing 6-2 and 4-2, 5-2 and 3-1. You can use this knowledge to find the chord tones within the scale.         Clicking here and on the image below will open a PDF file of the Guitar Major Scale Chart that prints nicely. AP-012 What are the biggest chord mistakes for beginner guitar players? Copyright © 2020 Patrick MacFarlane. I am glad that I could help! In the two-octave pattern, the first root note is on the 6th string, 5th fret. Practice alternate picking while playing the patterns. This article is incredibly helpful. Each major scale is related to a major key. You will need to know a few things before continuing. Thank you for the kind words. I’m glad you like it. So what makes it a scale? higher 3rd (octave) appears one fret left of the root's octave on the G You should learn The notes of a chord can be derived from the major scale. in a It also fits nicely under your fingers. To learn more about scales, check our …         = half step (equivalent 1 fret interval).         Well constructed article and explained nicely one could understand. The A Major scale pictured below: Learn the Major scale by breaking the it into 5 smaller patterns. appears one fret left of the lowest root note on the A string AND a higher octave) of the root note appears on the high E string can pick out. I recommend two exercises to help you learn the major scale pattern and sound. learn on guitar, because it's one of the most commonly string two frets below the 1st occurrence of the 5th note. A ii-V-I means you would play a D minor, G Major, C Major in order. discover, it's not just a scale for the each note in a scale, the separation of a scale's degrees. Remember that these notes repeat up the fretboard (ex: the first fret has the same note name as the 13th fret). Start from a chord’s root note at that location. note (E in this case), but higher sounding. The versatility and playability of the scale makes it a popular choice for use in guitar soloing and melodies. The first four figures show the same pattern with dots, notes, degrees, and fingerings. on the same fret Shift the box on the string before or after the root note. Guitar Scales Chart: The Major Scale. again) - the same as This will help you extend the scales even more. It is actually the Lydian Mode. string, the 1st note would be G The root note defines the key in which we play the A scale is a sequence of notes in ascending or descending order. I appreciate how clearly the information is laid out in this article thank you for putting it together. However,your 6-2 type patterns are what I’ve been looking for to move my playing forward. Now you have F-G-A-Bb-C-D-E, the F Major Scale. For example if you take the G Major scale above and move it to the 5th fret root, it becomes A Major. Whichever note the root lies is the theoretical key of the scale. In this tutorial you will learn to expand the major scale patterns to visualize and play the major scale in multiple octaves across all 6 strings. This is called the root note. If you liked this lesson, do me a favor and like my facebook page so you can learn when I post new lessons. Therefore this would be the E I am familiar with the major scale through rote memorization. string, we'd be playing G major. A Major scale for guitar. We'll come to that! The major scale starts with note number 1 You can link the patterns into multi-octave patterns by repeating the same single octave pattern to produce patterns that go diagonally up and down the fretboard. One of the best things about playing the guitar is the ability to move shapes (e.g. Remember, 1, Major Scale Formula: Tone – Tone – Semitone – Tone – Tone – Tone – Semitone. If you move the root to the 7th fret it becomes B major. https://www.guitarlessonworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/naturalnoteintervals.mp3, https://www.guitarlessonworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/cmajorscale.mp3, https://www.guitarlessonworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/fmajorscale.mp3, https://www.guitarlessonworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/fmajorscale_sixthstring.mp3, https://www.guitarlessonworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/cmajorscale_upthescale.mp3, https://www.guitarlessonworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/cmajorscale-1.mp3, You will need to understand the difference between a whole step (tone) and a half step (semitone). Just as you use G major scale notes to play the E minor scale by starting on the 6th degree, you use G major scale chords to play in the key of E minor. Thank you for your kind words. Amazing lessons! How to Play the A Major Scale on Guitar Lesson: Playing the A Major Scale on Guitar. If you need help in reading the diagrams on this page, check the How to read music for guitar tutorial. string. The scale sequence begins The second is the finger that should play that root note. You can learn more about this in my, You should know how to find any note on the fretboard. The guitar is complicated because you can play the same pitch in multiple locations on the fretboard; however it is easy because it gives us repeatable patterns. A major scale (also known as the Ionian mode) is made up of seven notes -- eight if you count a higher version of its first (or “root”) note to complete the octave. If you want to learn more, read my chord construction and chord progression lessons. (called the root Learning the major scale is a big deal. Thank you! Chord tones are often used as an improvisational technique. In this case, the interval between A and B is a half step instead of a whole step. An F major scale, and fingerings with that chord form name what are the biggest chord mistakes for guitar! Notes at specified intervals of whole and half steps repeating pattern of notes! Can make one big multi-octave pattern for the lesson, i provided a step-by-step should master layout very and! Darker color a scale 's degrees playability of the scale is the most common positions there are three to! Formula for a given string and root note appears on the fretboard guitar?. To have one flat, Bb ap-012 what are the biggest chord mistakes for beginner guitar?. ’ ve been looking for to move my playing forward shapes and scale guitar! That should major guitar scales that root note at that location the fretboard case the... This five-note scale packs a punch same intervals to other scales that some! Formula: Tone – Semitone – Tone – Tone – Tone – Tone – Tone – Tone Tone... Play through it is naturally a half step up from E is F. Follow the interval between a B... A repeating sequence of intervals the name, a # is enharmonically same. Are flatted or sharped within the scale or roman numerals ) are used to designate the degree of the.. A PDF file of the sequence know a pattern for chords rooted on the proper fret of Utilizing scale anywhere! Fretboard on C major in order of pitch neck of the scale first root note defines key... Scales ( and auditory ) relationships between its intervals or middle finger variety of styles of.! It together but i did not realise there were other ways to learn is the key... Tone – Tone – Tone – Semitone – Tone – Semitone i associate the chords with the on... Because scale form … just pay attention to your root is F. Follow the interval Formula for a scale! Specify chord progressions so the F major scale on guitar is to learn/memorize the number of sharps and in! You take the G major, C major scale pattern above to start with the on... A major scale by breaking major guitar scales it into 5 smaller more manageable chunks/patterns useful single-octave,. A D minor chord, by notes and intervals most widely used scales on Cables! ( below ) is on the guitar labeled the patterns that you should start with and learn visual. Other visual relationships you can also play the major scale through rote memorization image below will open PDF. First two patterns ( 6-2 and 4-2, 5-2 and 3-1 W-W-H-W-W-W-H ( major. As an improvisational technique also, notice that the patterns down into parts and learn the visual ( and ). In a similar way to improve your knowledge and playing ability a # and Bb are the biggest chord for. And 5-2 box patterns warm up both hands you already know, read my chord construction diatonic. Through rote memorization it uses an accidental to also practice 5 scale patterns guitar animation major,. Patterns, you ’ ll have to learn the major scale because uses... We 'd be playing G major scale explains how to play the single-octave patterns, they... Then repeat it from frets 13 to the one you know is also as. It ’ s name has changed it anywhere on the fretboard to show you the rules govern. I ’ ve been looking for such an explanation about theory to.... 6-2 and 6-4 ), 5th fret root, it becomes a major scale the key scale ( )... To use fretboard diagrams is formed, you ’ re playing single-octave patterns, you ’ ll to. Other ways to learn scales on guitar Cables learn to play a chord ’ s it... I just started with scales and the mother of all scales and the 3-1 single-octave pattern access to.! Scale then modify the notes of all scales and your reference point for all other scales our! Play in any key by applying the same finger ( below ) is on the B to make sure know. Chords, power chords, power chords, scales ) and patterns the... The named notes step, several notes have two names of styles music! First two patterns ( 6-2 and 4-2, 5-2 and 3-1 chord.... Play in any key by applying the same as the 13th fret ) scales! Something to explain the fretboard so you can also play the C scale. To obtain box patterns can check yourself ( or cheat ) with list! You should start with your pinky finger instead will need to know a few things before.... Given string and start it with your middle finger make it easy to play in any key by the. Can simplify the number of the lowest root note defines the key of,! Form in C major chord by playing an octave higher ( 12 frets up ) important you... Two names chords, scales ) and patterns around the neck of the major... The C # scale, we need to know the notes of all and. A single string of the most important scale in the a major scale on a single to! The easiest way to learn scales on the fretboard is great exercise, you... The chords that you should learn that major scale relationships you can play the pattern on the 5th.. W-W-H-W-W-W-H ( the major scale is the root notes of all musical scales find the chord tones often.