September 19, 2024 by Klaus Crow
Hi lovely people, today I want to teach you how to play the major scale, in particular the G major scale. The G major scale (1st position) is the best scale to start out with when you’re learning a major scale on the guitar, because of how it is positioned on the guitar.
Once you know how to play the G major scale you can move it up and down the neck to every key you like.
How to Learn the G Major Scale – 1st Position
- The best way to learn the major scale is by playing the 2 octave major scale.
- Memorize the notes of the major scale
- Learn the scale using the appropriate fingering
- Learn the scale also with one finger to become conscious of where the notes are on the neck.
Below are the TABS and the video lesson where I explain everything in full detail.
Please share your feedback in the comments below or on Youtube. I read and reply to everyone of them. I’d love to hear from you! 💚
Enjoy!
Other Major Scale Positions
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Hi Klaus, thanks for the lesson, nice job. If I may be so bold, I think I would have pointed out an important value in learning the G scale pattern as you have – using fretted notes on the 5th fret rather than open strings at the nut – is when you move up the fretboard to play other major scales. Learn one, you’ve learned them all, just know where the roots are.
I’m not a teacher, just a recreational player. I’m helping a beginner friend learn to play. He can play most major and minor chords. However last week I showed him the two sequential G scales in first position using open strings. He can see the open G that way; our next move is to go to the pattern you have shown here to help understand the relationship between the strings, especially in seeing how a guitar is tuned.
From there I plan to move him up the neck to the A maj scale, easy step, then to the Am pentatonic scale, pulling out the semi-tones. So he will also learn where those are. And one day to get him improvising while I play a 12 bar blues in A underneath. But that’s in the future when he’s ready.
I like your website and your style and have forwarded this link to my friend. If you see something I’m doing that is a bad idea, feel free to point that out.
Thank you, again.
Hi Steve,
That’s a great way to build up his knowledge of scales step by step.
Indeed the major scale as I showed in the video is perfect to fit every key.
The first note of that major scale (G note) is the root note of the scale and it determines the
key of the scale. For example: if you move the entire scale up 2 frets your root note is now an A note this means you’re playing an A major scale. You can do this with every key.
So exactly like you said, you only need one major scale pattern and you have every major scale key in your pocket.
Thanks for mentioning Steve, I appreciate it.
Warm regards,
Klaus
Good stuff, Mr Crow! Looking forward to the 50BluesLicks!
Hi Rick,
Enjoy the course! ;)
Cheers,
Klaus
hi Klaus, I am a beginner ( 66 yr old), once I have the G scale position memorized ( 1st position) can that be taken to anywhere on the fretboard? Im having trouble understanding the importance of it.
thank you for all of the amazing teachings you offer here!
Richard