For instance, Pattern 1 will correspond to a C chord. These CAGED scale patterns help you learn the major scale as it relates to standard CAGED chords. The goal when complete is to be able to play a single major scale all over the fretboard. This guitar neck shows the notes of the major scale. As youll soon discover, its not just a scale for the purposes of soloing, but a system for organising other important musical elements. This is the concept we'll apply in the following steps to the rest of the positions of the major scale. The major scale should be one of the first scales you learn on guitar, because its one of the most commonly referenced in music (especially western music). This time, however, you played the major scale two frets up, using a different scale pattern. In the two-octave pattern, the first root note is on the 6th string, 5th fret. When you return to the fifth fret on the sixth string, slide your finger down again to play the note on the third fret.Ĭould you hear what happened? You just played a G major scale, which you'd normally play using the pattern outlined on the previous page. Notes are displayed in the fingerboard diagram with blue color with the root notes indicated by darker color. Play the scale forwards and backwards, staying in position throughout, using your fourth (pinky) finger to stretch. Next, slide that finger up to the fifth fret, and play the pattern shown here. Now, try playing the third fret on the sixth string of the guitar (the note G) with your first finger. This is actually much easier to hear than it is to explain. So, if you were playing a G major scale in second position, the bottom note in the pattern would be "A" - two frets up from the root of the scale.
#MAJOR SCALE GUITAR HOW TO#
You can find out how to read scale patterns on this page: Guitar Scale Patterns In the pattern above, the tonic notes of the scale are represented by green circles. The second position of the major scale begins it's pattern on the second note of the scale. Below is a pattern for playing a A major scale starting at the 5th fret of the low E string. Pattern begins two frets up from the root on the sixth string.