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!
Remember that these are patterns. To play in different key signatures we move the patterns around.
C Scale Pattern
1. In the 1st diagram we see the C scale pattern in the key of C#/Db.
2. In the 2nd diagram we see the C scale pattern in the key of D#/Eb.
3. In the 3rd diagram we see the C scale pattern in the key of A.
