Scale (from L. scala, ladder): A progression of notes in a specific order.

5cales are very important t o know, especially when i t comes t o playing a solo. This section
is an easy reference for constructing, locating and playing al1 t h e essential scales on your
guitar. By t h e end of t h i s section, you'll be using scales t o improvise over t h e "Jam 5ession"
on t h e CD.

Eeeential ingrediente..

We've given you three ways t o build (or "spell") each scale:

This p a t t e r n t e l l s you how many s t e p s t o rnove frorn one scale t o n e t o t h e next, using
abbreviations f o r whole s t e p (W), half s t e p (H) and 1 1/2 steps (W+H). 5imply s t a r t on any
note and move up accordingly.
Here's an example s t a r t i n g on t h e r o o t note C:
step pattern

W-W-H-W-W-W-H

result

A-0-c#-D-E-F#-G#-A

Take t h e numbers in t h e formula (which correspond t o a particular rnajor scale tone) and
alter them a s indicated by t h e f l a t s andlor sharps. Try t h i s one.. .
A rnajor scale =

A-0-c#-D-E-F#-G#-A

formula

1-2-b3-4-5-bG-b7-8

result

A-0-C-D-E-F-G-A

IMPORTANT: These formulas are always based on t h e rnajor scale (includng any sharps o r
flats) n o t j u s t t h e l e t t e r names of t h e notes. T h a t is, 3 f o r t h e key o f E major i s actuaily
G# ( n o t G). 50, if t h e formula cal15 f o r b3, play G (one half-step lower t h a n G # )n o t ~ b .

Although we don't have room t o show al1 t h e scales on al1 twelve r o o t n o t e s (actually
seventeen i f you count t h e enharrnonics!), t h e note names shown are relative t o t h e r o o t
note used. Of course, a scale built on a different r o o t note will have a different l i s t of note
narnes.

Let's get organized..

Several fretboard locations are given f o r each scale in t h i s book. Use t h e one t h a t feels t h e
m o s t cornfortable f o r you. (Or, heck, rnernorize al1 o f them!)

The fingerings in t h i s systern generally apply t h e one-finger-ver-fret rule, staying within a

specific f o u r - f r e t position. In sorne cases, you may have t o reach o u t o f position one f r e t
above o r below t h i s basic position. (Try n o t t o h u r t yourself!)
Two moveable p a t t e r n s are given f o r each scale-one
with i t s r o o t on t h e sixth string, t h e
o t h e r with i t s r o o t on t h e f i k h string. (For more on rnoveable patterns, Rip t o page 46.)

These require a b i t more o f a s t r e t c h b u t generally span a full 2 1/2 octaves. Two rnoveable
fingerings are given f o r each scale. Again, one with a sixth s t r i n g r o o t and one with a f i f t h
string root.

Depending on t h e scale, t h e s e are found a s either sliding scales, or four-notes-per-string

p a t t e r n s . The fingerings in t h i s systern spread up t o 16 f r e t s (Ouch!), b u t they're handy in
t r y i n g t o connect d i s t a n t areas o f t h e fretboard o r t o smoothly t r a n s f e r frorn one position
t o another.
Like t h e caged a n d t h r e e - n o t e s - v e r - s t r i n g s y s t e m s , t w o rnoveable p a t t e r n s a l s o
accornpany each scale in t h e horizontal system.

Get in 5ync!
Practicing scales requires b o t h hands t o work t o g e t h e r in perfect synchronization. 5 t r i k e
each n o t e clearly a n d precisely, making sure you pick and finger t h e n o t e a t exactly t h e
sarne t i m e . Rernernber t o a l w a y s u s e a l t e r n a t e picking (successive d o w n s t r o k e a n d
upstroke a t t a c k s ) t o avoid excessive hand strain.

PRACTICE TIP: Make sure you play each scale forward a n d t h e n backward. And, a 5
always, s t a r t o u t 5 1 0 ~
and gradually build up speed a 5 you buitd up confidente.

MOVEABLE PATTERNS
A l 1 o f t h e scale p a t t e r n s given in t h i s book a r e rnoveable-that
is, t h e y c a n be easily
s h i f t e d up o r down t h e fingerboard t o accornodate any key'or r o o t note. To d o this, t a k e
n o t e o f t h e darkened r o o t notes:
= r o o t note of scale

You can use any o f t h e s e r o o t n o t e s a s a p o i n t o f reference f o r rnoving p a t t e r n s . However,

t h e r o o t s located on t h e f i k h and sixth s t r i n g s are usually t h e easiest place5 t o s t a r t .

E
B

G
D
A
E

=,root on sixth string

E
B
G
D
A
E

root on fifth string

To p l a y t h e s c a l e p a t t e r n in a n y p a r t i c u l a r key, m a t c h one o f t h e r o o t n o t e s t o i t s
respective n o t e on t h e fingerboard. (For example, t h e key o f C h a s a r o o t n o t e o f C.) The
a s simple a s shifting t h e shape.
r e s t o f t h e p a t t e r n follows accordingly-it's
Check o u t t h e example below:

Moveable Major %ale Pattern

E
B

G
D
A
E

Beginning F r e t
(fret t h e root is on)

Resulting 5cale

fret 1

F rnajor scale

fret 3

G rnajor scale

fret 6

Bb rnajor scale

f r e t 10

D rnajor scale

f r e t 12

E rnajor scale

Picture this..

Use t h e Guitar Fingerboard Chart below t o help you quickly

l o c a t e al1 t h e n o t e s within t h e f i r s t twelve f r e t s . A s described on t h e previous page, t h i s c h a r t will be especially
useful a s you begin using t h e moveable scale p a t t e r n s in
t h e pages ahead.
STRINGS

That's a b o u t all.. .good luck!

T h e m o s t common scale used in rnusic is t h e major scale, so learn it well! l t consists of

eight consecutive notes ascending or descending.

C rnajor scale

5 t e p pattern: W-W-H-W-W-W-H
Formula: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-1
Notes: C-D-E-F-G-A-6-C

4
3

.--

---- --

IMPORTANT: 5cale p a t t e r n s played on t h e guitar cover al1 of t h e notes within a certain

fretboard area. In other words, t h e notes in t h e scale are repeated in different octaves f o r
a more complete and practica1 fingering.

T h i s scale i s used in nearly al1 s t y l e s o f Western rnusic. It's sometimes referred t o a s t h e

"pure minor," "relative minor," o r "Aeolian rnode."

C natural minor scale

5 t e p p a t t e r n : W-H-W-W-H-W-W
Formula: 1-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7-1
Notes: C-D-~b-F-G-~b-~b-c

G
F

w
J

- -.

b o

T h i s scale provides another alternative minor scale t y p e and i s very common in classical
music.

C harmonic minor scale

5 t e p p a t t e r n : W-H-W-W-H-W+H-H

Fo rm ula: 1-24 5-4-546-7-8

Notes: C-D-~b-F-G-Ab-B-c

'a
m

-F4)
J

v -

F
r\

G
I
D O

~c

c3

T h i s scale can also be used over rninor chords and i s cornrnonly referred t o a s t h e "jazz
rninor" scale.

C melodic minor scale

5 t e p p a t t e r n : W-H-W-W-W-W-H
Form u la : 1-2-b

3-4-5-6-7-8

E
1

Notes: C-D-Eb-F-G-A-0-C

c3

GA
C)

c
cm

T h i ~
i5 undeniably t h e rnost prevalent scale used by rock and blues players. A 5 i t 5 narne
suggests ("penta" means five), t h i s scale contains only five different tones.

C minor pentatonic scale

5 t e p p a t t e r n : W+H-W-W-W+H-W

~b

Formula: 1-b3-4-5-b7

Notes: C-~b-F-G-0b-c

F
O

~b

N
p
.

T h i s i5 a n o t h e r 5 - t o n e ("pentatonic") scale cornrnon in many s t y l e s o f rnusic. I t h a s a

"bright" sound t h a t especially lends itself well t o county music.

5 t e p p a t t e r n : W-W-W+H-W-W+H
Forrn u la : 1-2-3-5-6-1
Notes: C-D-E-G-A-C

C rnajor pentatonic scale

E

T h e blues scale i s cornrnon in jazz. rock. and (you guessed i t ! ) blues music. I t contains an
added blues n o t e (b5) frorn t h e rninor pentatonic scale b u t has only six tones.

C blues scale

5 t e p p a t t e r n : W+H-W-H-H-W+H-W
Formula: I-b3-4-b5-5-b7-1
Notes: C-~b-F-Gb-G-0b-c

~b

~b

~b

- e

C
c3

I
V

r h i 5 5cale i5 popular in jazz and heavy metal music ( t u r n i t up!). NOTE: lt'5 n o t a typo,
there really are eight different t o n e s in t h i s scale.

S t e p pattern: W-H-W-H-W-H-W-H
Forrnula: 1-24 3-4454 6-6-7-8
Notes: C-D-E~-F-G~-A~-A-B-c

C diminished scale
C

~b

19n

1
1

o
+
+

b=

AL

~b

bu

C
O

M o d e s are like scales-each

uses a specific p a t t e r n o f whole s t e p s and half steps. The
difference i s t h a t a rnode i s n o t relatad t o t h e key o f i t s r o o t note. T h a t is, a Dorian rnode
built on C i s n o t in t h e key o f C. The seven rnodes in cornmon practice t o d a y are derived frorn
t h e seven n o t e s o f t h e rnajor scale:

C lonian

(same a s C major)

D Dorian

E Phrygian

F Lydian

GMixolydian =

A Aeolian

A A A A A A A

6 C

(sarne as A natural minor)

6 Locrian

A s you can see, each rnode i s actually a variation o f t h e rnajor scale. They differ only in t h e
arrangernent o f t h e intervals.
The next page gives you t w o usable p a t t e r n s f o r each of t h e seven rnodes.

lonian

Dorian

Phrygian

Lydian

Mixolydian

Aeolian

Locrian

Time t o charge admission..

N o w it's t i m e t o use t h e chords and scales from t h i s book and rnake sorne actual music!
This section provides t w e n t y chord progressions found in various rnusic styles. Play along
with t h e CD. You can either follow t h e chord symbols and s t r u m along, o r use t h e suggested
scales t o practice improvising.
Either way, grab your axe, and let's jarn!

hat

suggested scales: G rnajor, G rnajor pentatonic, E rninor pentatonic

G

play 8 times

suggested scales: E rninor, E rninor pentatonic

Em

piay

suggested scales: D rninor, D rninor pentatonic, D blues

Dm

A5

li://// 1

C5

Dm

play B times

/ / / /

:ll

suggested scales: A rninor pentatonic, A blues

A5

D5

E5

D5 p~ayB times

A5

8 times

Em

suggested scales: E blues, E minor pentatonic

suggested scales: C major, C major pentatonic

C
Am
F
G

II://// 1

play 3 times

play 8 times

:ll

/ / / /

suggested scales: E blues, E minor pentatonic

E9

A9

piay

E9

B times

suggested scales: G major, G major pentatonic

Am

D play 8 times

suggested scales: F major, F major pentatonic

Fmaj7

~bmaj7

Gm7

C7

piay 8 times

Fmaj7

piay 8 times

suggested scales: C blues, C minor pentatonic

Bb

Don't s t o p there! Turn t h e page.. .

61

suggested scales: C rnajor pentatonic, C rnajor

play 4 times

suggested scales: E Dorian, E rninor penatonic

Em

ola" 8 times

Em

suggested scales: ( f i r s t three rneasures): A rninor, A rninor pentatonic

suggested scales: (fourth rneasure): A harrnonic rninor
Am
G
F
E

suggested scales: C Phrygian, C rninor pentatonic

Cm7

Db

piay in times

Cm7

suggested scales: G blues, G rninor, G rninor pentatonic, G harrnonic rninor

Gm7

~m7b5

~7b9
plav 8 times

Gm7

play 8 times

Am

suggested scales: 0b Lydian, A minor pentatonic

~bmaj7b5

Am

Gm

Am

~brnajib5
play 0 times

suggested scales: C lonian, C rnajor

Dm7

suggested scales:

G7

Cmaj7

play B times

F# Aeolian, F# rninor pentatonic

E

play B times

suggested scales: D rnajor, D rnajor pentatonic

Bm

Em

suggested scales: E Mixolydian, E major pent;atonic

E

play B times

Bravo! You're ready f o r t h e biq leaques.. .

play 0 t i m e s