Learn basic guitar scales. These scales will help you learn how chords are formed from the notes of a scale. After learning how to play scales you can begin creating melodies from the notes of the scales. Scales are also a good warm up exercise and help improve finger dexterity.
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Major Scale
Minor Pentatonic Scale
Major Pentatonic Scale
How to Read Guitar Scale Diagrams
The Image below is an example of a Guitar Scale Diagram. Scale diagrams show the pattern to play a scale and how the pattern would appear on the fretboard.
The rectangle in the diagram represents the fretboard of a guitar. Like reading guitar tabs, the bottom line represents the low E string. Follow the arrows to play the scale. The red and black dots show where to fret the string to play the scale, the red dot representing the root notes of the scale.
The C Major Scale has no sharp or flat notes in its scale. A scale contains all the notes needed to make chords for that key. The notes are numbered below. This will help you become familiar with how to find the third and fifth notes of scale build common chords from. The G Major Scale is shown also.
The Notes of the C Major Scale
C D E F G A B C
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
The Notes of the G Major Scale
G A B C D E F# G
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Major Scale
The Major Scale can easily be played on one string up or down the length of the guitar neck as well as other combinations of patterns using multiple strings. Below are diagrams for the Major Scale showing one (left) and two octave (right)scale patterns.
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Minor Pentatonic Scale
The Pentatonic Scale’s use is popular in rock soloing. The diagrams below are the 5 Minor Pentatonic patterns. Match the Root note (red notes in diagram) with the Key you want to play in.
This diagram shows the 5 Minor Pentatonic patterns spread over the length of the guitar neck. Notice how the patterns connect to eachother.
Major Pentatonic Scale
The Major Pentatonic Scale’s 5 patterns. The patterns of the Major Pentatonic Scale may look the same as the Minor Pentatonic patterns, but notice the roots are not the same for each. Remember to match the Root note (red notes in diagram) with the Key you want to play in.
This diagram shows the 5 Major Pentatonic patterns spread over the length of the guitar neck. Notice again how the patterns connect to eachother.
Guitar Scales at GuitaristSource.com
Learn basic guitar scales. These scales will help you learn how chords are formed from the notes of a scale. After learning how to play scales you can begin creating melodies from the notes of the scales. Scales are also a good warm up exercise and help improve finger dexterity.
Jump ahead:
How to Read Guitar Scale Diagrams
The Image below is an example of a Guitar Scale Diagram. Scale diagrams show the pattern to play a scale and how the pattern would appear on the fretboard.
The rectangle in the diagram represents the fretboard of a guitar. Like reading guitar tabs, the bottom line represents the low E string. Follow the arrows to play the scale. The red and black dots show where to fret the string to play the scale, the red dot representing the root notes of the scale.
The C Major Scale has no sharp or flat notes in its scale. A scale contains all the notes needed to make chords for that key. The notes are numbered below. This will help you become familiar with how to find the third and fifth notes of scale build common chords from. The G Major Scale is shown also.
The Notes of the C Major Scale
C D E F G A B C
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
The Notes of the G Major Scale
G A B C D E F# G
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Major Scale
The Major Scale can easily be played on one string up or down the length of the guitar neck as well as other combinations of patterns using multiple strings. Below are diagrams for the Major Scale showing one (left) and two octave (right)scale patterns.
Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com
Minor Pentatonic Scale
The Pentatonic Scale’s use is popular in rock soloing. The diagrams below are the 5 Minor Pentatonic patterns. Match the Root note (red notes in diagram) with the Key you want to play in.
This diagram shows the 5 Minor Pentatonic patterns spread over the length of the guitar neck. Notice how the patterns connect to eachother.
Major Pentatonic Scale
The Major Pentatonic Scale’s 5 patterns. The patterns of the Major Pentatonic Scale may look the same as the Minor Pentatonic patterns, but notice the roots are not the same for each. Remember to match the Root note (red notes in diagram) with the Key you want to play in.
This diagram shows the 5 Major Pentatonic patterns spread over the length of the guitar neck. Notice again how the patterns connect to eachother.
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