The Major Scale
The major scale (and scales derived from it) is the basis of most lead guitar playing. For now however, you will only be using it as an exercise for developing left and right hand co-ordination. A one octave pattern of the A major scale is written in the next diagram. Observe the correct fingering (finger numbers written inside each note).
The dots surrounded by a square represent root notes. Root notes are notes which have the same name as the scale name (e.g., A notes are root notes for the A major scale).
Play through this pattern very slowly, ascending and descending, and you will notice that it has the familiar sound of DO RE MI FA SO LA TI DO. The notes you are playing are written out here.
There is only a semitone (1 fret) between the 3rd-4th notes and 7th-8th notes of the major scale (indicated by the curved line). All other notes are separated by a tone (2 frets). The pattern of tones and semitones remains the same for every major scale.
Try the same pattern starting at the 8th fret.
You are now playing a C major scale:
Notice that it keeps the DO RE MI FA SO LA TI DO sound which was heard with the A major scale. This is because the interval pattern remains the same between each note.
This major scale pattern can be played by starting at any note on the 6th or 5th strings. The note you start on will be the root note of the scale. E.g., if you start on the 10th fret of the 6th string, you will be playing a D major scale.
If you start at the 6th fret of the 5th string, you will be playing an Eb major scale.
And so on...
It is probably easiest to relate the scale name to the root 6 (E formation) and root 5 (A formation) bar chord names. Your starting note on the 6th string will have the same name as the root 6 chord for that position; and on the 5th string it will have the same name as the root 5 bar chord for that position.
