The Major Scale

A scale is simply group of notes that has a specific sound. The major scale has a happy sound. It ascends via steps going up and then down.

The C major scale consists of these notes: C D E F G A B C Try and play this on the guitar.

The scales are made up of intervals (the distance between the 2 notes)

These intervals are semitones (1 fret distance) and tones (2 fret distance).

The formula for major scales is:

Tone Tone Semi-tone Tone Tone Tone Semi- Tone

You could play a major scale using this method on any string of the guitar without know the notes. Give it a try on the high E string.

You would play these frets on the string 0 2 4 5 7 8 9 11 12. If you played it on the E string you would have just played the E major scale.

Try playing it on some of the other strings. The notes that you start on is called your root note that give the scale the name whether it's A major, D major etc.

Intervals

The major scale has 7 notes we give each of these notes interval names.

These are:

• Root

• Major 2

• Major 3

• Perfect 4th

• Perfect 5th

• Major 6th

• Major 7th

Seconds, thirds, sixths and sevenths are either major or minor and fourths and fifths are either perfect, diminished or augmented.

We sometimes have other names for these intervals:

• We sometimes call minor intervals flats therefore a minor 3rd could all be called a b3.

• Diminished means to make smaller so a diminished 5th could also be called a b5.

• Augmented means to make bigger so a Augmented 4th could also be called a #4

CAGED scale shapes

Below is a diagram of 5 major scale shapes in the key of G. These shapes cover all the notes in G major on the fretboard in 5 easy to learn shapes.

Each of these shapes in linked with a chord. Click here for the CAGED Chords

These shapes can be put into any different key. The red notes are the root notes. If you were to play position 1 starting on the 8th fret you would be playing the C major scale.

Start by learning positions 1 and 4. Start by playing from the root note.

• In position 1 play from the 3rd fret on the low E string

• In position 4 play from the 10th fret of the A string.

• Played the relevant CAGED chord before you play the scale.

How to practise the scale?

• Play it with a metronome nice and slowly to begin with, gradually speeding it up - this is great for building technique!

• Sing the scale. This really help you understand the sound of the scale.

• Improvise with the scale using the backing track below

• Move the shapes round the fretboard

• Try playing the scales in a different key for this you need good fretboard knowlege