Scales

The Natural Major Scale

along the open string(s) consists of 7 ( or 8 if you count the octave ) notes divided by intervals :

0 > > 2 > >2>1 > > 2 > > 2 > > 2 >1

From (any fret - but in this case )the open string, move along 2 frets to the 2nd fret ( 0 >>2 )

This is the 2nd note of the scale ( *N.B. -not because it is on the 2nd fret )

Move along another 2 frets (to the 4th fret) to find the 3rd note of the scale.

* It is important not to confuse the number of the fret with the number of the note in the scale sequence.

Remember that the natural major scale follows this progression: 221,2221 - which expresses the distances or 'intervals' between the notes.

Or more formally:

Whole tone, Whole tone, Semi-tone, Whole tone, Whole tone, Whole tone, Semi-tone

( 1 'Whole' tone/note = >2 frets ) ( 1 semi-tone =>1 fret )

0 is whichever note you start from - so it's the first note. Then move

0 > > 2 > > 2 > 1 > > 2 > > 2 > > 2 >1

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th8th

3+4 7+8 !!!

Note that the 3rd and 4th notes AND the 7th and 8th notes are 'stuck together' with no semi-tone in-between them.

This is going to be important to you later when building chords - especially 'added tone' and 'extended' chords.

N.B. You can start playing a scale from ANY note ANYWHERE on the guitar.

Have a go. Remember that the first and second notes are 2 notes apart.

Have a go at voicing / singing the notes as you play them.

We can name the notes using ordinal numbers : 1st , 2nd, 3rd, 4th , 5th , 6th, 7th, 8th etc ( up to 15th )

or by the letters of the notes :

Along the top bass E string : E , F, G, A , B , C , D , E

The notes along the E major scale along the E string are actually : E F# G# A B C# D# E ( # = 'sharp' )

And along the A string A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A,

The notes along the A major scale along the A string are actually : A B C# D E F# G # A

It will be useful to test yourself on where some of these notes ( especially the 4th, 5th and 6th notes) are

to provide reference points for finding other notes.

Or by Solfege, which is usually used when singing : Do, Re, Mi , Fa, So, La, Te , Do

Up to the 12th fret is 'one guitar' beyond that is just a replication of the first 12.

i.e. the 13fret is the same as the first fret etc.

4 finger exercises

You should be playing these notes with all 4 fingers on your fretting hand.

This is important to develop equal strength and dexterity in each of the fingers.

Practice doing groups of notes ( e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4 then 5,6,7,8 ) and different combinations of notes.

=================================================================================

Playing scales across the strings ( as opposed to ' along' the strings ) .

There are the commonly used fingerings to play the major and minor scales - across the strings.

You can use this shape from any fret. The red dots represent the octaves - the start and end of each of the (2) scales.

The bottom of these diagrams represents the top of the guitar- the bass E string

and the left hand side is closest to the first fret.

The notes in the minor scale are actually the same as the notes in the major scale.

If the major scale starts from the first note - and ends at the 8th, the minor scale starts from the 6th note and ends at the 13th.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Tonic ( Major )

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Supertonic ( Minor )

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Mediant ( Minor )

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Subdominant ( Major )

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Dominant ( 7th )

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Submediant ( Minor )

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Leading tone / subtonic ( diminished )

Within any of the 12 keys, each has its major key and its (relative) minor key.

The pentonic ( 5 note ) scale is created from the 6th -13 notes

The same notes can also ( more fluently ) be played using the following shape.