Major Scale Patterns On the Guitar Fretboard

Guitar players play melodies, riffs, lead guitar solos and bass lines using major scale patterns. The notes of these patterns cover the whole fretboard. To learn the whole scale template, players break it up into smaller pieces. This article will discuss how this is done and address common issues concerning scale patterns, fingering options, alternate picking and transposing to new keys. With this information, you'll be on your way to successfully using and applying major scale patterns, which is necessary in order to develop a strong knowledge of guitar theory.

Major Scale Patterns
When learning the major scale, it's necessary to break up the notes into positions or patterns. Usually this is done with five pieces but some players prefer seven. It really doesn't matter whether 5 or 7 patterns are used as long as the whole guitar fretboard is covered. Also, don't think of patterns as separate scales. They're not. They're just the same notes in different positions.

You can find major scale pattern diagrams by going to Google.com and searching "major scale patterns." Many web sites will come up that have pattern illustrations available for free. Major scale patterns are also drawn out in many instructional guitar theory books such as Fretboard Theory and Fretboard Logic.

Memorizing the Patterns
Major scale patterns should be learned one at a time. Visualize the pattern on the fret board and play up and down it until it's completely memorized. It's not necessary to start or end on the root of the scale, but rather just be sure to touch on every note available in a given position.

Major Scale Fingerings
Contrary to what is often taught, there are no correct or perfect fingerings for major scale patterns. With that being said, there still are some bad habits that should be avoided. Never do something silly like play through a whole pattern with only one or two fingers (unless you want look and sound like a hack). You've got four fingers so you might as well use them. Work on getting three or four fingers involved. Also, don't shift your hand but rather leave it set and then reach with your fingers. You may need to position your thumb behind the neck of the guitar so that you can spread your fingers and play with the tips.

It's good to settle on an effect fingering that works for you and then use it consistently as you practice, but you'll no doubt use other fingerings when you start actually playing music. For example, techniques such as slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs and bends may require you to use your fingers differently.

Alternate Your Pick
Don't spend your practice time reinforcing negative habits. For example, plunking through the scale entirely with downstrokes. Instead, be sure to alternate your pick as you rehearse the scale patterns. This is a good way to kill two birds with one stone because you can develop your alternate picking technique while you master the scale patterns.

To sharpen your picking technique, choke up on the pick, keep your hand planted on the guitar body and alternate continuously without skipping or repeating any strokes. Your right hand should rest just above the string you're picking. As your right hand moves across the strings, it should slide over and rest upon the strings that are not being played in order to keep them quiet.

Reference Chords
Every time you learn something new on the fret board you should try to peg it to something familiar. This trick can really help you to develop a good working knowledge of music theory especially when applying guitar theory to the fret board. This pegging idea can be put to good use with major scales by associating each pattern to a reference chord. For example, patterns one and four can be played right around common barre chords. Other patterns can be associated with barre chords derived from the CAGED chord system. If you know how to navigate the fretboard with chord forms, and you link these forms to major scale patterns, then you'll be able to instantly jump into the major scale from any chord or any position. Google search the "CAGED Template Chord System" to learn more about chord forms on the guitar fretboard.

How Major Scale Patterns Connect
After you have completely memorized a pattern you can move positions and start on the next. With each new pattern you complete, be sure to go back and review the others that came before it. This process should be continued until the whole guitar neck is covered. Then you can practice connecting the patterns in both directions across the neck. For example, connect pattern one to pattern two, two to three, three to four, four to five, and then reverse your direction by connecting pattern five back into pattern four, four into three, three into two, and two into one. There may even be room to continue moving backward by connecting the original pattern one back into pattern five and so on until you reach the open strings. Don't forget that these open string can be used too.

As you move across the fretboard try to focus on how a portion of each pattern is reused in the neighboring position. Visualizing how these pieces connect is critical to navigating the fretboard, mixing and matching music elements, and understanding guitar music theory.

Playing Major Scales in Different Keys
Once you use all the patterns to cover the entire fretboard in one key you can transpose and play in a new key by simply shifting everything to a new starting position. Don't let the fret numbers throw you off in the new key. Instead, focus your attention on the pattern shapes and fingerings. Connect all the patterns in a new key until the fretboard runs out or it's not possible to play any higher. Don't forget about the area of the neck before pattern one begins. You may be able to fit in a pattern five there, possibly more. Continue this process until all twelve keys are covered. Then you'll surely have the patterns down pat!

More Guitar Lessons to Come
More guitar lessons will be added soon including great ways to practice and helpful ways to begin applying the major scale to music and songs. This information is needed in order to complete the major scale learning process, and develop a deeper understanding of guitar theory.

Guitar Theory Podcast and Major Scales
To find and listen to free audio lessons on the major scale and music theory go to iTunes or TalkShoe.com and search "guitar theory" or "Desi Serna."

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Play Until Your Fingers Bleed!

Mr. Desi Serna (Google me!)

Author of Fretboard Theory

www.Guitar-Music-Theory.com

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