The Complete One-Octave Major Scales Guitar Series

November 26, 2020 by Klaus Crow

Good day everyone, today I’ve put together all the lessons from the “One-Octave Major Scale Guitar Series” into one complete lesson. It doesn’t matter if you start from scratch or if you’ve already gone through all the lessons from the last couple of weeks, now is your chance to pick up your guitar, take this valuable guitar lesson of the one-octave major scale patterns and work on it every day. It will definitely make you a better guitar player.

Guitar students usually first learn two-octave scales, but one-octave scales are the building bricks of those two-octave scales and have their own effective purpose that will serve your playing in many ways.

Why You Want to Learn One Octave Scales

One of the reasons you want to learn one-octave scales is because of their simplicity. By using only one octave it’s easier to see the shape and structure of the scale, the notes within the scale, and the intervals. The scale is more user-friendly, easier to play, memorize and apply around the fretboard.

There’s another great benefit to learning one-octave scales. Once you got them under your fingers it’s only a matter of connecting the dots to lay out two octave and three-octave scales, since they are made up of one-octave scales.

Note: In this lesson you will learn one-octave major scale shapes across the entire guitar neck that will help you understand and own the entire major scale landscape.

Starting from the Root Note

We’re learning the three major scale shape/patterns with the first (root) note starting on the Low E-string (6th string), A-string (5th string), D-string (4th string) and the G-string (3rd string). For each string starting point we have three different patterns, which are all one and the same scale with the same notes, all starting from the same root note.

Tip: Learn and memorize the notes for each string so you know the notes and recognize the key of the scale when you move the scale up or down the fretboard. This will benefit your playing tremendeously now and in the long run.

Major Scale Fingering

For the major scale shapes / patterns in the tablature below I’ve notated the left hand fingering (for right handed players). The numbers next to the notes on the note staff right above the tablature indicate the left hand fingers:

1 = index
2 = middle finger
3 = ring finger
4 = pinky

The numbers in the yellow neck diagrams also indicate the fingers. The neck diagrams also clearly show what the shape or pattern looks like. Learn to visualize and memorize the shape of each pattern, so you learn to think in shapes rather than fret numbers.

Alternative Picking Technique

Make sure you play the scale shapes using alternative picking. Hold the pick between your thumb and index finger with the pointed end facing toward the strings. Strictly use alternating down and up strokes. The first note you play is a downstroke, the second an upstroke, the third one a downstroke, the fourth one an upstroke and so on.

Key of the Scale

In the examples below we play the G major scale, but it’s the goal to learn these scale shapes/patterns in every key, so you become an accomplished guitar player.

Once you got the scale under your fingers learn the pattern in different keys. Just move the entire scale up or down the fret to change keys. If you need some extra explanation on how to move a pattern up or down the fretboard you can find some examples for each pattern in Part I

Now let’s practice. Take it one scale at a time. Be patient, focused and practice on a regular basis.

Go get ‘m!

MAJOR SCALE – ROOT NOTE ON 6TH STRING

G MAJOR SCALE SHAPE / PATTERN #1

G MAJOR SCALE SHAPE / PATTERN #2

G MAJOR SCALE SHAPE / PATTERN #3

MAJOR SCALE – ROOT NOTE ON 5TH STRING

G MAJOR SCALE SHAPE / PATTERN #4

G MAJOR SCALE SHAPE / PATTERN #5

G MAJOR SCALE SHAPE / PATTERN #6

MAJOR SCALE – ROOT NOTE ON 4TH STRING

G MAJOR SCALE SHAPE / PATTERN #7

G MAJOR SCALE SHAPE / PATTERN #8

G MAJOR SCALE SHAPE / PATTERN #9

MAJOR SCALE – ROOT NOTE ON 3RD STRING

G MAJOR SCALE SHAPE / PATTERN #10

G MAJOR SCALE SHAPE / PATTERN #11

G MAJOR SCALE SHAPE / PATTERN #12

Assignments:

• Practice each scale pattern thoroughly. One at a time.
• Vividly memorize the shape and the fingering of each scale pattern.
• Learn and memorize all the notes on the fretboard so you know the notes and the key of the scale.
• Memorize where the root notes are located.
• Learn and practice the one-octave major scale shapes in different keys.
• Play the scales along with a metronome gradually increasing the bpm.
• Try to create some melody and learn to solo with the scale patterns over a major scale chord progression. Experiment with playing notes from the scale in a different order, using rhythm and different note lengths, and pauses. Try to come up with your own melody or play an existing melody you already know. Play around with the notes. It’s such a valuable lesson. Dare to experiment!
• Bonus Intermediate/Advanced Assignment: Call out the note names while you’re playing the notes of the scale. G major scale: G – A – B – C – D – E – F# – G | C major scale = C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C | F major scale = F – G – A – Bb – C – D – E – F | Do this exercise in all 12 keys.

P.S.
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