Left Hand Position

Lesson 3/67 | Study Time: 5 Min

Course: Lead Guitar Method

Left Hand Position

Before you attempt to increase speed in your playing of the major scale, make sure that your left hand is correctly positioned. Each finger should "line up" with the string being played, and should hover a small distance above it until used. Each finger should also be in line with the four frets being used in the scale. Check your hand position with the following photographs.

This hand position will be difficult at first, but is essential if you are to eventually work up to a fast, smooth sound.

Here is an exercise to help you learn the major scale in all keys. Begin by playing the Root 6 (E formation) G major scale both ascending and descending. Then move to the Root 5 (A formation) C major scale. The next step is to move up one fret and repeat the two patterns in the keys of Ab major and Db major. If you keep progressing up the fretboard, it doesn’t take long until you have covered all possible keys. It is a good idea to say the name of each key as you play the scale.

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Gary Turner and Brenton White

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Class Sessions

1- Sixths 2- The Major Pentatonic Scale in Blues Improvising 3- Summary of Pattern One 4- Pattern Four 5- Patterns One and Four Combination 6- The Complete Pattern 7- Summary of Patterns 8- Additional Notes - the Blues Scale 9- Major Pentatonic Scale - Additional Notes 10- Minor Pentatonic Scale - Additional Notes 11- INTRODUCTION 12- Harmony Notes 13- Open String Slurs 14- An Alternative Improvising Method 15- Playing With the Pick and Fingers 16- Ideas For Further Study 17- Music Theory 18- Improvising Within A Song 19- Modulation 20- Ear Training 21- Harmonics 22- Chord Progressions 23- GLOSSARY OF MUSICAL TERMS 24- The Bend 25- The Major Scale 26- The 12 Bar Blues Progression 27- 12 Bar Blues Riff Number 2 28- Alternate Picking 29- The Major Scale - 2 Octaves 30- Minor Key Progressions 31- New Topic 32- The Blues Scale 33- Transposing 34- The Slur 35- Pattern One Extension (Key of A) 36- Major Key Progressions 37- Blues And Rock Progressions 38- Natural Harmonics 39- Copying Lead Solos From Records 40- Introductions 41- Fretboard Diagrams 42- The Major Scale 43- 12 Bar Blues Riff Number 7 44- Left Hand Position 45- 12 Bar Blues Riff Number 3 46- 12 Bar Blues Riff Number 4 47- Octaves 48- Key Signatures 49- Riff Number 8 50- Major Key Progressions 51- Left Hand Fingering 52- Tuning By Harmonics 53- Listening 54- Fill-Ins 55- Lead Solos 56- Tablature 57- Artificial Harmonics 58- Minor Key Progressions 59- Minor Keys And Scales 60- Notes on the Guitar Fretboard 61- Ideas For Improvising 62- Scale Tone Chords 63- Modulation 64- Tablature Symbols 65- Scale Tone Chord Extensions 66- The Chord/Key Relationship 67- Chord Formula Chart

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Left Hand Position