Guitar Scales

There is a big difference between a scale pattern and the actual scale. The actual scale is only 5 notes. When we are learning scale patterns we are learning the location of the notes from the scale as they appear on the fretboard. The same 5 notes repeat themselves over and over on the guitar’s fretboard. What we need to be able to do in order to play from the scale is memorize these fretboard patterns.

They Move!Read More »Moving Scales To Play In Different Keys

What Is It?

There are 5 basic “shapes” of the pentatonic major scale on the guitar. They are C, A, G, E, and D. The shapes appear in the guitar’s open position. To play scales in other key signatures we must move one of the basic scales shapes up the fretboard similar to creating a barre chord.

I tend to call these shapes “the basic scale shapes/patterns”, but keep in mind that they are the same thing as the pentatonic scales and only have to add a 3rd and 6th scale step to make it the major scale. It’s not as technical as it sounds. I promise that it will make much more sense to you as you progress through these lessons.Read More »Open Position C Shape Scale Pattern