Scales - A Primer (Page 1 of 2)

Scale Patterns - C Shape Pattern

So, scales are patterns of intervals.  The guitar fretboard lends itself well to patterns.  It is really just a big grid.  And in fact, scales can be played by simply fretting patterns that represent those same intervals.  So no matter where you play the pattern, you can play a scale in that key.

Below I've included a diagram of a chord shape you probably already know.  C major.  Where you fret is highlighted in red.   You can see all of the notes of that scale by their "Nashville number" (I II III IV, etc).  If you play those notes in order starting out on C, you have played the C major scale.   Down on the 12th fret you can see the exact same pattern, but because the root (the I) is on A, when you play that pattern, you will be playing A major instead.  We call this ability to move scale patterns around all over the neck "Portability."  It applies to chords, too.  If you fret the C shape chord down on the 12th fret, you played A major.   

I will go over five scale patterns, and show you how they relate to each other.  All of the patterns are portable, and relate to a common major chord shape that you most likely already know.

Scale Patterns (cont) - The G Shape Pattern

The G shape is also portable.  Here it is playing C and A, just like we did with the C shape pattern.  This pattern is also portable across the neck as well as down, so you could fret it with root on the E string, and you would be fine.

Scale Patterns (cont) - D Shape Pattern

The D shape pattern is good to use if you like to play in the upper registers.  If you like to bang on the skinny strings, practice this one a lot.    The following are E major and C major. It's a hard one to fret for chords (for me, anyway) but it's a useful solo scale.

Thank you.

Awesome Thanks

Jerome.
This certainly is a quality post you've put together.Visually seeing it the way you have it down will help myself and others immensely.
Thanks for all your hard work.
KAP54

Jerome, thank you wery wery much!
I posted a couple of posts last night, where I said I did not expect a easy explanation to this,
but WOW, I got it now! I can practise the scales, and it comes easy as well, cause I have been playing a lot, for 16 years.
I understand 3ds 5ths 7ths and so on, and roman numbering, up to 7!
Ståle

Don't let it intimidate you.  It's really not that complicated.  A little practice and a little study, and you'll have a moment of clarity.  Then the sky is the limit!

I can see it, but it's coming from my account so it's not a good measure of success.

If anyone has any problems with seeing the images, please let me know right away.

Hi Jerome, you've provided so much info-GREAT JOB!!-  I'm having trouble seeing the image for the D shape, I've typed in the address all I get is a 404 error.

thanks 4 the info's

This was really a nice primer to read about.in order to play it well and correctly. I just hope that things would go out well and it would help you out in the long run. Thanks for this one. Appreciate the effort to give this to us!