Stay Signed In
Do you want to access your site more quickly on this computer? Check this box, and your username and password will be remembered for two weeks. Click logout to turn this off.
Stay Safe
Do not check this box if you are using a public computer. You don't want anyone seeing your personal info or messing with your site.
There are 5 different Major Scale patterns.
Each pattern has all the notes of the major scale.
(for instance, a C major scale contains...c,d,e,f,g,a,b,c...in that order). The scales are mostly 2 octaves, meaning the scale is present in two octaves (example in C...c,d,e,f,g,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,a,b,c)...the entire scale has been duplicated).
On this page are the 5 major scale patterns in keys of C,A,G,E, and D.
All of the C major scales start on a C note, all of the A major scales start on an A note, all of the G major scales start on a G note, etc...To play a C# major scale, pretend you are playing a C major scale, but start one fret higher, (example, a pattern 2 "C# major scale" would start on the 4th fret of the A string). Because of redundancy issues, i only tabbed out the C scales and G scales, the main idea is to get used to the 5 patterns and to know where the scale you want to play starts.
by practicing these scales and noting which pattern you are playing, you will develop the ability to play this scale in different places for other keys and modes.
The 5 patterns work in a circular motion, meaning, even if we start with pattern 2, we will then go to 3,4,5,1, and back to 2. at least one pattern per key will repeat as you go up the guitar neck. if you know the names of the notes on the guitar, you can easily find these patterns...
What fingers do i use to play these scales?
Designate a finger to each fret;
so this pattern 2 C major scale would be...
middle, pinky (on the A string)
then index, middle, pinky (on the D string), etc...
sometimes you will shift your fingers, in which case, you will still keep each finger one fret apart, but just reposition your hand.
pattern 5...begin with index finger and slide it up
E--------------------------------------------------------------------10-12--- -(10)-
B-------------------------------------------shift (index)-10-12-13----------- -13-(r)
G---------------------------------------9-10-12----------------------------- -12--
D-----------------shift (index) 9-10-12-------------------------------------- -10--(root)
A-----------------10-12----------------------------------------------------- --x--
E--8---10-12-13------------------------------------------------------------ -10--
pattern 1...begin with index finger
E----------------------------------------------12-13-15--------------------- -12--
B----------------------------------12-13-15--------------------------------- -13--(r)
G-------------------------- 12-14-------------------------------------------- -12--
D---------------12-14-15---------------------------------------------------- -14--
A------------15--------------------------------------------------------------- -15-(root)
E------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --x--
G major scale patterns
pattern 4...begin with middle finger
E------------------------------------------------2--3------------------- --3-(r)
B-----------------------------------------3--5-------------------------- --3--
G------------------------------2--4--5--------------------------------- --4--
D-------------------2--4--5-------------------------------------------- --5-(r)
A---------2--3--5------------------------------------------------------ --5--
E--3--5----------------------------------------------------------------- --3-(root)
pattern 5...begin with index finger and slide it up
E---------------------------------------------------------------5-7-8----- -(7)-
B-------------------------------------------shift (index)-5-7-8----------- --8--(r)
G-------------------------------------4-5-7------------------------------ --7--
D-----------------shift (index) 4-5-7------------------------------------- --5--(root)
A-------------5-7--------------------------------------------------------- --x--
E--3---5-7-8------------------------------------------------------------- --7--
-The A patterns will start with pattern 3 with the pinky finger on the 5th fret of the thick E string. Then pattern 4, starting with the middle finger on the 5th fret of the thick E string. Then pattern 5, also starting with the 5th fret of the thick E string, and sliding up to the 7th fret. Then pattern 1, starting on the 12th fret of the A string with the pinky, and pattern 2, starting on the 12th fret of the A string with the middle finger.
-The E patterns will start with pattern 5, you can begin with the open E, or begin on the 2nd fret of the D string. Then on to pattern 1 (7th fret of A string), pattern 2 (also 7th fret of A string), pattern 3 (12th fret of thick E string), pattern 4 (also 12th fret of thick E string).
-The D patterns will begin with pattern 1 (5th fret of A string), then on to pattern 2 (also 5th fret of A string), then pattern 3 (10th fret of thick E string), pattern 4 (also 10th fret of thick E string), and pattern 5 (also the 10th fret of the thick E string).
Back To Home Page
