Guitar Scales
Whatever style you want to play, technique will come in handy.
And perhaps the most universally handy tool is guitar scales.
Not only will they improve your chops tremendously, but they
are a great way to find the right notes to play.
Think of guitar scales as a bridge between technique and
fretboard knowledgable. Within the realm of scales, it is
counterproductive to try to learn too many. Forget those
books that show you 100 different scales.
For starters, work with the pentatonic scale. This is a 5 note scale
and its the easiest scale to get started with to make some
sweet lead guitar sounds. Even when you become advanced,
you will still rely heavily on this basic scale.
It is important to be able to play through each scale pattern.
After that, learn sequences on each of the scales. Practice alternate picking.
Here are the 5 basic patterns of the pentatonic scale:
Pattern 1:
This is the “home base” pattern with the root of the scale
as the first note on the low E string. For example, in the key of A,
you would start this pattern on the fifth fret. The nice thing about
any pattern on the guitar that doesn’t use open strings, is that you
can change keys by moving it up or down on the fretboard without
changing the shape.
In case you’ve never seen these kinds of patterns before, the highest
string (the high E string) is first, then B, G, D, A, and low E strings:
Starting on the next note of the scale, pattern 2 would look like this:
Starting on the 3rd note of the scale gives you pattern 3:
Starting on the 4th note of the scale gives you pattern 4:
And finally, the last or 5th note of the scale gives you pattern 5:
These patterns are well known to experienced guitarists. Nothing new here, but how
well do you really know the patterns? Can you play all of them with no problem?
Next, you should practice diatonic scale. “Woah, hold on”,
you might be saying… What the heck is the diatonic
scale?
The well-known “major” scale is the diatonic scale.
However, the “minor” scale is really the same scale
but starting on a different note.
For example, the G major scale contains
the notes: G, A, B, C, D, E, and F#.
These are the same notes as in the
E minor scale: E, F#, G, A, B, C, and D.
15 Comments
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September 9, 2011
christina
can you make a video showing the keys or chords so I can learn then ? I am9years old and want to learn to play really bad. Thank you for your time
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October 6, 2011
Joe
Thanks for sharing your guitar exp i just started playing in church and i realy think that your skills are gonna take me to where i want to be playing,making music for GOD thanks for a great website God bless you.
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November 3, 2011
LisA
It is great
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November 16, 2011
shawndon
im a guitarist barley starting off. i love playing guitar and i would really love to learn it. if u have some videos that show all of the chords nd notes can u please send it to my email? sorry if this isnt the kind of comment u wanted. and just to let u know ur website has tought me alot.
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November 26, 2011
Alice Cunningham
Hi Claude,
I was practicing these scale patterns and found that the sounds
were not to my ears liking. I guess I wanted to hear scales. Did I have too many piano lessons ? Can you show me how they should sound ?
Thank You,
Alice-
February 12, 2013
Kenneth
I’m 60 and picked up the guitar after a 40 year hiatus… help!
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December 18, 2011
K Stewart
COOL! I thought “Diatonic” referred to Semi tones with the same note but different name ie: d sharp / e flat
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February 12, 2012
Tim Carroll
Want to learn all scales and their variations,mixalodian,Dorian etc.
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March 15, 2012
ron short
Claude, now this is very helpful to me. Playing on and off since 1967, I never learned to read music always played by ear. Now i’m learning to to read and play right. It’s like starting from the begining. Now I have to break old habits, strange. But you are performing a great lesson to many of us out here, and we are greatful for your time and knowledge you give us. Keep training us, love it Ron. disabled vet.
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March 30, 2012
jon
This is helpful. Very simple. I get the Penatonic patterns and the relationship between the major and minor scales.
Forget the Guitar God crap. I’d pay real money for a basic music theory course that incorporates the kind of clarity you have here.
Thanks. -
April 9, 2012
J.H.BROWNING
old beginner/I WILL BE BACK
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October 29, 2012
Bishara
Hi MR. claude what you ‘re doing is not just to earn respect or likewise
but to earn your place in heaven so I personally thank you and on behalf
of those have been learning
thanks -
March 18, 2013
steve
I’ve been playing for ten years, really just needed some help with scales. Fortunately when look at these diagrams I know exactly what I’m looking at thanks.
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April 7, 2013
Debbie
Ok, I’m a complete beginner and have no idea
What these scales mean. Am I just stupid? -
May 15, 2013
core
Thanks big time for the basic scales (pentatonic & diatonic) okay now I practice:)
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