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E Minor pentatonic scale in open position
A Minor Pentatonic in Open Position
Three-note Efficiency Patterns
Two Fret Scales in G Pentatonic
Two Fret Two Note Efficiency Patterns in G
Three Fret Two Note Efficiency Patterns in G
Other Keys Full Pentatonic Patterns
Open Position Pentatonic Scales In Other Keys
E Harmonic Minor (Relative to G) Full Pattern
E Harmonic Minor Open Position
E Harmonic Minor G Locrean Position
E Harmonic Minor G Ionian Position
E Harmonic Minor G Dorian Position
E Harmonic Minor G Phrygian Position
E Harmonic Minor G Lydian Position
E Harmonic Minor G Mixolydian Position
E Harmonic Minor G Aeolian Position
Eb Harmonic Minor Full Pattern
Eb Harmonic Minor Open Position
D Harmonic Minor Open Position
Db Harmonic Minor Full Pattern
Db Harmonic Minor Open Position
C Harmonic Minor Open Position
B Harmonic Minor Open Position
Bb Harmonic Minor Full Pattern
Bb Harmonic Minor Open Position
A Harmonic Minor Open Position
Ab Harmonic Minor Full Pattern
Ab Harmonic Minor Open Position
G Harmonic Minor Open Position
Gb Harmonic Minor Full Pattern
Gb Harmonic Minor Open Position
F Harmonic Minor Open Position
E Melodic Minor Ascending Full Pattern
E Melodic Minor G Locrean Position
E Melodic Minor G Ionian Position
E Melodic Minor G Dorian Position
E Melodic Minor G Phrygian Position
E Melodic Minor G Lydian Position
E Melodic Minor G Mixolydian Position
E Melodic Minor G Aeolian Position
Eb Melodic Minor Ascending Full Pattern
Eb Melodic Minor Open Position
D Melodic Minor Ascending Full Pattern
Db Melodic Minor Ascending Full Pattern
Db Melodic Minor Open Position
C Melodic Minor Ascending Full Pattern
B Melodic Minor Ascending Full Pattern
Bb Melodic Minor Ascending Full Pattern
Bb Melodic Minor Open Position
A Melodic Minor Ascending Full Pattern
Ab Melodic Minor Ascending Full Pattern
Ab Melodic Minor Open Position
G Melodic Minor Ascending Full Pattern
Gb Melodic Minor Ascending Full Pattern
Gb Melodic Minor Open Position
F Melodic Minor Ascending Full Pattern
Dr. Dick's Endless Scale Distilled
dellitsiD elacS sseldnE s'kciD .rD
Parallel Moveable Mode Scales in G
Modal Equivalents Based on Harmonic Minor
Modal Equivalents Based on Melodic Minor Ascending
G Half Diminished ♮4 Ascending Scale
G Half Diminished Ascending Scale
Dorian Position With an Added Chromatic Tone
Phrygian Position With an Added Chromatic Tone
Lydian Position With an Added Chromatic Tone
Mixolydian Position With an Added Chromatic Tone
Locrean Position With an Added Chromatic Tone
Scales are the essential building block or harmonies and melodies. Knowing the scales cold in all keys is essential to mastery of the guitar.
First, learn the chromatic scale in the open position, establishing fingerings for the open position scales. Play the scale up and down using a metronome, slowly at first. For all scales, do not proceed to the next scale until the scale is on tempo, with clean notes, with a relaxed left hand, and with no extraneous finger movement.
e-------------------------------------------------0-1-2-3-4-
b---------------------------------------0-1-2-3-4-----------
g-------------------------------0-1-2-3---------------------
d---------------------0-1-2-3-4-----------------------------
a-----------0-1-2-3-4---------------------------------------
e-0-1-2-3-4-------------------------------------------------
Then establish the
E Minor pentatonic scale in open position.
e-----------------------------o-3-
b-----------------------o-3-------
g-------------------o-2-----------
d-------------o-2-----------------
a-------o-2-----------------------
e-o-3-----------------------------
The E minor pentatonic scale and the G pentatonic scale share the same notes, with the G pentatonic having G as to the root tone rather than E. The major pentatonic and relative minor pentatonic are interchangeable for the purpose of this learning process, so identify the scales by either or both labels. For example the C pentatonic scale also contains
e-----------------------------o-3-
b------------------------1-3------
g-------------------o-2-----------
d-------------o-2-----------------
a-------o-3-----------------------
e-o-3-----------------------------
After mastering these two scales ascending and descending with a metronome at a steady beat, fill in the rest of the chord tones. The major root note G is bold.
e-----------------------------o-2-3
b-----------------------o-1-3------
g-------------------o-2------------
d-------------o-2-4----------------
a-------o-2-3----------------------
e-o-2-3----------------------------
e-3-2-o----------------------------
b------3-1-o-----------------------
g------------2-o-------------------
d-----------------4-2-o------------
a----------------------3-2-o-------
e-----------------------------3-2-o
Then fill in the notes for the C scale in open position
C
e-----------------------------0-1-3-
b-----------------------0-1-3-------
g-------------------0-2-------------
d-------------0-2-3-----------------
a-------0-2-3-----------------------
e-0-1-3-----------------------------
e-3-1-0-----------------------------
b-------3-1-0-----------------------
g-------------2-0-------------------
d-----------------3-2-0-------------
a-----------------------3-2-0-------
e-----------------------------3-1-0-
And then the last of the basic three scales for guitar is
e-----------------------------o-2-3-
b-----------------------o-2-3-------
g-------------------o-2-------------
d-------------o-2-4-----------------
a-------o-2-4-----------------------
e-o-2-3-----------------------------
e-3-2-o-----------------------------
b-------3-2-o-----------------------
g-------------2-o-------------------
d-----------------4-2-o-------------
a-----------------------4-2-o-------
e-----------------------------3-2-o-
Before moving on to the other keys, begin exploring the patterns just up the neck of the guitar. Start by getting used to playing up the neck with the moveable version of the chromatic scale.
e-----------------------------------------1-2-3-4-
b---------------------------------2-3-4-5---------
g-------------------------2-3-4-5-----------------
d-----------------3-4-5-6-------------------------
a---------4-5-6-7---------------------------------
e-5-6-7-8-----------------------------------------
Then start learning the moveable versions of the scales, which can move anywhere on the Fretboard above the open positions. For example, the notes of the G scale up the neck including the fourth and fifth frets include
e-o-2-3-5-
b-o-1-3-5-
g-o-2-4-5-
d-o-2-4-5-
a-o-2-3-5-
e-o-2-3-5-
Instead of playing the scales in the open position, move the left hand into the second position, with the first finger at the second fret.
e-----------------------------2-3-5
b-------------------------3-5------
g-------------------2-4-5----------
d-------------2-4-5----------------
a-------2-3-5----------------------
e-2-3-5----------------------------
e-5-3-2----------------------------
b-------5-3------------------------
g-----------5-4-2------------------
d-----------------5-4-2------------
a-----------------------5-3-2------
e-----------------------------5-3-2
The technical name for this scale is F# Locrean, with F# Locrean containing all the notes of the G major scale, but starting on the seventh scale degree. For comparison purposes this document will refer to the F# Locrean scale as the G scale in the Locrean position (see the music theory document for a full explanation of the Greek modes).
Since this scale has no notes on open strings, it can move up the neck to transpose into any key.
The D scale in second position is the Phrygian position since the third scale degree is the lowest note. (Technically the F# Phrygian scale)
e-----------------------------2-3-5-
b-----------------------2-3-5-------
g-------------------2-4-------------
d-------------2-4-5-----------------
a-------2-4-5-----------------------
e-2-3-5-----------------------------
e-5-3-2-----------------------------
b-------5-3-2-----------------------
g-------------4-2-------------------
d-----------------5-4-2-------------
a-----------------------5-4-2-------
e-----------------------------5-3-2-
The next moveable form to learn would be relative to the A scale. A moves from the open position into the Aeolian position (F# Aeolian or F# Minor), with the F3 as the lowest note.
A A to Aeolian
e-----------------------------o-2-4- e-o- /2-4-5
b-----------------------o-2-3------- b-o- /2-3-5
g-------------------1-2------------- g-1- /2-4-
d-------------o-2-4----------------- d-o- /2-4-6
a-------o-2-4----------------------- a-o- /2-4-5
e-o-2-4----------------------------- e-o- /2-4-5
e-4-2-o-----------------------------
b-------3-2-o-----------------------
g-------------2-1-------------------
d-----------------4-2-o-------------
a-----------------------4-2-o-------
e-----------------------------4-2-o-
e-----------------------------2-4-5-
b-----------------------2-3-5-------
g-------------------2-4-------------
d-------------2-4-6-----------------
a-------2-4-5-----------------------
e-2-4-5-----------------------------
e-5-4-2-----------------------------
b-------5-3-2-----------------------
g-------------4-2-------------------
d-----------------6-4-2-------------
a-----------------------5-4-2-------
e-----------------------------5-4-2-
Since the C scale does not contain F#, the appropriate shift is to the first position, C in Lydian Position (F Lydian).
e-----------------------------1-3-5-
b-----------------------1-3-5------
g-------------------2-4------------
d-------------2-3-5----------------
a-------2-3-5----------------------
e-1-3-5----------------------------
e-5-3-1-----------------------------
b-------5-3-1-----------------------
g-------------4-2-------------------
d-----------------5-3-2-------------
a-----------------------5-3-2-------
e-----------------------------5-3-1-
The Next scale to learn is E, which is in the Dorian position shifted to the second fret (F# Dorian).
E to Dorian
e-----------------------------o-2-4- e-o-/2-4-5
b-----------------------o-2-4------- b-o-/2-4-5
g-------------------1-2------------- g-1-/2-4-
d-------------1-2-4----------------- d-1-/2-4-6
a-------o-2-4----------------------- a-o-/2-4-6
e-o-2-4----------------------------- e-o-/2-4-5
e-4-2-o-----------------------------
b-------4-2-o-----------------------
g-------------2-1-------------------
d-----------------4-2-1-------------
a-----------------------4-2-o-------
e-----------------------------4-2-o-
e-----------------------------2-4-5-
b------------------------2-4-5------
g--------------------2-4------------
d--------------2-4-6----------------
a-------2-4-6----------------------
e-2-4-5----------------------------
e-5-4-2-----------------------------
b-------5-4-2-----------------------
g-------------4-2-------------------
d-----------------6-4-2-------------
a-----------------------6-4-2-------
e-----------------------------5-4-2-
The next scale to learn is B, which shifts up to F# Mixolydian Position (F# Mixolydian).
B B to Mixolydian
e-----------------------------o-2-4- e-o- /2-4-6
b-----------------------o-2-4------- b-o- /2-4-5
g-------------------1-3------------- g-1- /3-4-
d-------------1-2-4----------------- d-1- /2-4-6
a-------1-2-4----------------------- a-1- /2-4-6
e-o-2-4----------------------------- e-o- /2-4-6
e-4-2-o-----------------------------
b-------4-2-o-----------------------
g-------------3-1-------------------
d-----------------4-2-1-------------
a-----------------------4-2-1-------
e-----------------------------4-2-o-
e-----------------------------2-4-6-
b-----------------------2-4-5-------
g-------------------3-4-------------
d-------------2-4-6-----------------
a-------2-4-6-----------------------
e-2-4-6-----------------------------
e-6-4-2-----------------------------
b-------5-4-2-----------------------
g-------------4-3-------------------
d-----------------6-4-2-------------
a-----------------------6-4-2-------
e-----------------------------6-4-2-
The final moveable scale contains the notes of F major. Since like C, F does not contain an F#, the proper shift is up to the first position, the Ionian Position, F Ionian or F Major.
F F to Ionian
e-----------------------------o-1-3- e-o-/1-3-5
b-------------------------1-3------- b- -/1-3-5
g-------------------o-2-3----------- g-o-/2-3-
d-------------o-2-3----------------- d-o-/2-3-5
a-------o-1-3----------------------- a-o-/1-3-5
e-o-1-3----------------------------- e-o-/1-3-5
e-3-1-o-----------------------------
b-------3-1-------------------------
g-----------3-2-o-------------------
d-----------------3-2-o-------------
a-----------------------3-1-o-------
e-----------------------------3-1-o-
e----------------------------1-3-5-
b-----------------------1-3-5------
g-------------------2-3-----------
d-------------2-3-5----------------
a-------1-3-5----------------------
e-1-3-5----------------------------
e-5-3-1-----------------------------
b-------5-3-1-----------------------
g-------------3-2-------------------
d-----------------5-3-2-------------
a-----------------------5-3-1-------
e-----------------------------5-3-1-
Now with seven modes of the moveable forms learned, scales on the rest of the fretboard are just repeats of the same patterns. A good exercise is to play the same scale group in all the positions up the fretboard.
G in the Ionian position is just the F scale up two frets
e-3-5-7
b-3-5-7
g-4-5
d-4-5-7
a-3-5-7
e-3-5-7
e-----------------------------3-5-7
b-----------------------3-5-7------
g-------------------4-5-----------
d-------------4-5-7----------------
a-------3-5-7----------------------
e-3-5-7----------------------------
e-7-5-3----------------------------
b-------7-5-3----------------------
g-------------5-4------------------
d-----------------7-5-4------------
a-----------------------7-5-3------
e-----------------------------7-5-3
In the Dorian position is the Dorian pattern begun on the fifth fret.
e-5-7-8
b-5-7-8
g-5-7
d-5-7-9
a-5-7-9
e-5-7-8
e-----------------------------5-7-8-
b-----------------------5-7-8-------
g-------------------5-7-------------
d-------------5-7-9-----------------
a-------5-7-9-----------------------
e-5-7-8-----------------------------
e-8-7-5-----------------------------
b-------8-7-5-----------------------
g-------------7-5-------------------
d-----------------9-7-5-------------
a-----------------------9-7-5-------
e-----------------------------8-7-5-
and up the fretboard.
e-7-8-10
b-7-8-10
g-7-9
d-7-9-10
a-7-9-10
e-7-8-10
e---------------------------------7-8-10-
b--------------------------7-8-10--------
g----------------------7-9---------------
d---------------7-9-10-------------------
a--------7-9-10--------------------------
e-7-8-10---------------------------------
e-10-8-7---------------------------------
b--------10-8-7--------------------------
g---------------9-7----------------------
d-------------------10-9-7---------------
a--------------------------10-9-7--------
e---------------------------------10-8-7-
e-8-10-12
b-8-10-12
g-9-11
d-9-10-12
a-9-10-12
e-8-10-12
e--------------------------------------8-10-12-
b------------------------------8-10-12---------
g-------------------------9-11-----------------
d-----------------9-10-12----------------------
a---------9-10-12------------------------------
e-8-10-12--------------------------------------
e-12-10-8--------------------------------------
b---------12-10-8------------------------------
g-----------------11-9-------------------------
d----------------------12-10-9-----------------
a------------------------------12-10-9---------
e--------------------------------------12-10-8-
e-10-12-14
b-10-12-13
g-11-12
d-10-12-14
a-10-12-14
e-10-12-14
e-------------------------------------------10-12-14-
b----------------------------------10-12-13----------
g----------------------------11-12-------------------
d-------------------10-12-14-------------------------
a----------10-12-14----------------------------------
e-10-12-14-------------------------------------------
e-14-12-10-------------------------------------------
b----------13-12-10----------------------------------
g-------------------12-11----------------------------
d-------------------------14-12-10-------------------
a----------------------------------14-12-10----------
e-------------------------------------------14-12-10-
Refer to the document "Modal Scales Relative to G" for a summary of these scales and a number of alternate ways to play them.
All of the notes of the G scale would look something like
e-o-2-3-5-7-8-10-12-14-15-17-19-20-22
b-o-1-3-5-7-8-10-12-13-15-17-19-20-22
g-o-2-4-5-7-9-11-12-14-16-17-19-21-23
d-o-2-4-5-7-9-10-12-14-16-17-19-21-22
a-o-2-3-5-7-9-10-12-14-15-17-19-21-22
e-o-2-3-5-7-8-10-12-14-15-17-19-20-22
On the fretboard, the G scale would look like
|
o |
o |
o |
o |
o |
o |
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1 |
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2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
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2 |
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3 |
3 |
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3 |
3 |
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4 |
4 |
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5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
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7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
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8 |
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8 |
8 |
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9 |
9 |
9 |
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10 |
10 |
10 |
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10 |
10 |
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11 |
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12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
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13 |
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14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
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14 |
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15 |
15 |
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15 |
15 |
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16 |
16 |
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17 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
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19 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
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20 |
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20 |
20 |
To ingrain the full G pattern, try the exercise "Scale in G Distilled to Basic Elements." At this point, and scale based on the major modes is within reach anywhere on the fretboard.
Now finish the remaining major scales. The open version of F# is almost the same as the shift up 1 fret to the Locrean position (E# Locrean)
F# Open Position F# to Locrean
e-----------------------------1-2-4- e---/1-2-4-
b-----------------------o-2-4------- b-o-/2-4-
g-------------------1-3------------- g---/1-3-4-
d-------------1-3-4----------------- d---/1-3-4-
a-------1-2-4----------------------- a---/1-2-4-
e-1-2-4----------------------------- e---/1-2-4-
e-4-2-1-----------------------------
b-------4-2-o-----------------------
g-------------3-1-------------------
d-----------------4-3-1-------------
a-----------------------4-2-1-------
e-----------------------------4-2-1-
e-----------------------------1-2-4-
b-------------------------2-4-------
g-------------------1-3-4-----------
d-------------1-3-4-----------------
a-------1-2-4-----------------------
e-1-2-4-----------------------------
e-4-2-1-----------------------------
b-------4-2-------------------------
g-----------4-3-1-------------------
d-----------------4-3-1-------------
a-----------------------4-2-1-------
e-----------------------------4-2-1-
Notice how F# in this position is the same moveable scale that began this process just slid down the neck one fret. This shows how the moveable forms can slide around anywhere on the neck without open strings.
So once in the Locrean mode, playing F# up the neck is easy. F# in second position, the F# Ionian position, is just the G Ionian scale slid a fret down, and all the other patterns fall in order up the neck, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian Mixolydian and Aeolian.
e-1-2-4-6-7-9--11-13-14-16-18-19-21
b-o-2-4-6-7-9--11-12-14-16-18-19-21
g-1-3-4-6-8-10-11-13-15-16-18-20-22
d-1-3-4-6-8-9--11-13-15-16-18-20-21
a-1-2-4-6-8-9--11-13-14-16-18-20-21
e-1-2-4-6-7-9--11-13-14-16-18-19-21
For the vertical fretboard view of all the scales, refer to the Vertical Scales Major section of the method.
Next is Bb
e-1-3-5-6-8-10-11-13-15-17-18-20-22-23
b-1-3-4-6-8-10-11-13-15-16-18-20-22-23
g-o-2-3-5-7-8--10-12-14-15-17-18-19-21
d-o-1-3-5-7-8--10-12-13-15-17-19-20-21
a-o-1-3-5-6-8--10-12-13-15-17-18-20-21
e-1-3-5-6-8-10-11-13-15-17-18-20-22-23
Bb Bb to Mixolydian
e-----------------------------1-3-5- e- - /1-3-5
b-----------------------1-3-4------- b- - /1-3-4
g-----------------o-2-3------------- g-o- /2-3-
d-----------o-1-3------------------- d-o- /1-3-5
a-----o-1-3------------------------- a-o- /1-3-5
e-1-3------------------------------- e- - /1-3-5
e-5-3-1-----------------------------
b-------4-3-1-----------------------
g-------------3-2-o-----------------
d-------------------3-1-o-----------
a-------------------------3-1-o-----
e-------------------------------3-1-
e-----------------------------1-3-5-
b-----------------------1-3-4-------
g-------------------2-3-------------
d-------------1-3-5-----------------
a-------1-3-5-----------------------
e-1-3-5-----------------------------
e-5-3-1------------------------------
b-------4-3-1------------------------
g-------------3-2--------------------
d-----------------5-3-1--------------
a------------------------5-3-1-------
e------------------------------5-3-1-
Further up the neck the Lydian position starts on the fifth fret, followed by Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrean, Ionian, Dorian, and Phrygian
e-1-3-4-6-8-10-11-13-15-16-18-20-22-23
b-1-3-4-6-8-9--11-13-15-16-18-20-21-23
g-1-3-5-7-8-10-12-13-15-17-19-20-22-23
d-1-3-5-6-8-10-12-13-15-17-18-20-22-24
a-1-3-5-6-8-10-11-13-15-17-18-20-22-23
e-1-3-4-6-8-10-11-13-15-16-18-20-22-23
Eb Open Position Eb to Dorian
e-----------------------------1-3-4- e-1-3-4--
b-----------------------1-3-4------- b-1-3-4--
g-----------------o-1-3------------- g-1-3---
d-----------o-1-3------------------- d-1-3-5--
a-------1-3------------------------- a-1-3-5--
e-1-3-4----------------------------- e-1-3-4--
e-4-3-1-----------------------------
b-------4-3-1-----------------------
g-------------3-1-o-----------------
d-------------------3-1-o-----------
a-------------------------3-1-------
e-----------------------------4-3-1-
e-----------------------------1-3-4-
b-----------------------1-3-4-------
g-------------------1-3-------------
d-------------1-3-5-----------------
a-------1-3-5-----------------------
e-1-3-4-----------------------------
e-4-3-1-----------------------------
b-------4-3-1-----------------------
g-------------3-1-------------------
d-----------------5-3-1-------------
a-----------------------5-3-1-------
e-----------------------------4-3-1-
Eb is in Phrygian position at the third position, Lydian at the Fourth position, and continuing.
e-1-3-4-6-8-9--11-13-15-16-18-20-21-23
b-1-2-4-6-8-9--11-13-14-16-18-20-21-23
g-o-1-3-5-6-8--10-12-13-15-16-17-19-22
d-1-3-5-6-8-10-11-13-15-17-18-19-22-23
a-1-3-4-6-8-10-11-13-15-16-18-19-22-23
e-1-3-4-6-8-9--11-13-15-16-18-20-21-23
Ab Open Position Ab to Aeolean
e-----------------------------1-3-4- e- - /1-3-4
b-----------------------1-2-4------- b- - /1-2-4
g-----------------o-1-3------------- g-o- /1-3-
d-------------1-3------------------- d- - /1-3-5
a-------1-3-4----------------------- a- - /1-3-4
e-1-3-4----------------------------- e- - /1-3-4
e-4-3-1-----------------------------
b-------4-2-1-----------------------
g-------------3-1-o-----------------
d-------------------3-1-------------
a-----------------------4-3-1-------
e-----------------------------4-3-1-
e-----------------------------1-3-4-
b-----------------------1-2-4-------
g-------------------1-3-------------
d-------------1-3-5-----------------
a-------1-3-4-----------------------
e-1-3-4-----------------------------
e-4-3-1-----------------------------
b-------4-2-1-----------------------
g-------------3-1-------------------
d-----------------5-3-1-------------
a-----------------------4-3-1-------
e-----------------------------4-3-1-
Finally Db has no open strings, so its lowest position is the Phrygian position (F Phrygian).
e-1-2-4-6-8-9--11-13-14-16-18-20-21-23
b-1-2-4-6-7-9--11-13-14-16-18-19-21-23
g-1-3-5-6-8-10-11-13-15-17-18-20-21-22
d-1-3-4-6-8-10-11-13-15-16-18-20-22-23
a-1-3-4-6-8-9--11-13-15-16-18-20-21-23
e-1-2-4-6-8-9--11-13-14-16-18-20-21-23
Db Phrygian Position (No shift)
e-----------------------------1-2-4- e-1-2-4--
b-----------------------1-2-4------- b-1-2-4--
g-------------------1-3------------- g-1-3---
d-------------1-3-4----------------- d-1-3-4--
a-------1-3-4----------------------- a-1-3-4--
e-1-2-4----------------------------- e-1-2-4--
e-4-2-1-----------------------------
b-------4-2-1-----------------------
g-------------3-1-------------------
d-----------------4-3-1-------------
a-----------------------4-3-1-------
e-----------------------------4-2-1-
Each scale form has alternate ways of playing the same notes. For example, the G scale in open position could use a third string fourth fret B instead of the open second string B.
e-----------------------------o-2-3-
b-------------------------1-3-------
g-------------------o-2-4-----------
d-------------o-2-4-----------------
a-------o-2-3-----------------------
e-o-2-3-----------------------------
e-3-2-o-----------------------------
b-------3-1-------------------------
g-----------4-2-o-------------------
d-----------------4-2-o-------------
a-----------------------3-2-o-------
e-----------------------------3-2-o-
For a more complete list of alternate fingerings within the basic patterns, refer to the document, "Modal Scales Relative to G."
Scale patterns can also move between positions. The problem with the standard position scales is that they contain three notes on most strings, but two notes on a single string. Playing three notes on each string allows for a consistent picking pattern and less brain energy to remember where the two note strings are.
Three note efficiency scales begin in one position and end in the position above it. For example, the G major/E minor related modes starting in open position and shifting to Locrean position would be
e-------------------------------2-3-5-
b-------------------------1-3-5-------
g-------------------o-2-4-------------
d-------------o-2-4-------------------
a-------o-2-3-------------------------
e-o-2-3-------------------------------
e-5-3-2-------------------------------
g-------5-3-1-------------------------
b-------------4-2-o-------------------
d-------------------4-2-o-------------
a-------------------------3-2-o-------
e-------------------------------3-2-o-
Often three note patterns are accompanied by efficiency picking, using a
down-up-down down-up-down down-up-down…
picking pattern ascending and an
up-down-up up-down-up up-down-up
pattern ascending. Once mastered, the combination of the picking pattern that does not cross strings and the three note consistent fingering pattern leads to the possibility of extremely fast runs popular in heavy metal and progressive styles. Efficiency picking is not recommended for beginning students, instead first establish an alternating picking style.
up the neck in G (and moveable to other keys) are
e-------------------------------3-5-7-
b-------------------------3-5-7-------
g-------------------2-4-5-------------
d-------------2-4-5-------------------
a-------2-3-5-------------------------
e-2-3-5-------------------------------
e-7-5-3-------------------------------
g-------7-5-3-------------------------
b-------------5-4-2-------------------
d-------------------5-4-2-------------
a-------------------------5-3-2-------
e-------------------------------5-3-2-
e--------------------------------5-7-8-
b--------------------------5-7-8-------
g--------------------4-5-7-------------
d--------------4-5-7-------------------
a--------3-5-7-------------------------
e-3-5-7--------------------------------
e-8-7-5--------------------------------
g-------8-7-5--------------------------
b-------------7-5-4--------------------
d-------------------7-5-4--------------
a-------------------------7-5-3--------
e--------------------------------7-5-3-
e---------------------------------7-8-10-
b--------------------------7-8-10--------
g--------------------5-7-9---------------
d--------------5-7-9---------------------
a-------5-7-9----------------------------
e-5-7-8----------------------------------
e-10-8-7---------------------------------
g--------10-8-7--------------------------
b---------------9-7-5--------------------
d---------------------9-7-5--------------
a----------------------------9-7-5-------
e----------------------------------8-7-5-
e-------------------------------------8-10-12-
b-----------------------------8-10-12---------
g----------------------7-9-11-----------------
d---------------7-9-10------------------------
a--------7-9-10-------------------------------
e-7-8-10--------------------------------------
e-12-10-8-------------------------------------
g---------12-10-8-----------------------------
b-----------------11-9-7----------------------
d------------------------10-9-7---------------
a-------------------------------10-9-7--------
e--------------------------------------10-8-7-
e------------------------------------------10-12-14-
b---------------------------------10-12-13----------
g-------------------------9-11-12-------------------
d-----------------9-10-12---------------------------
a---------9-10-12-----------------------------------
e-8-10-12-------------------------------------------
e-14-12-10------------------------------------------
g----------13-12-10---------------------------------
b-------------------12-11-9-------------------------
d---------------------------12-10-9-----------------
a-----------------------------------12-10-9---------
e-------------------------------------------12-10-8-
e----------------------------------------------12-14-15-
b-------------------------------------12-13-15----------
g----------------------------11-12-14-------------------
d-------------------10-12-14----------------------------
a----------10-12-14-------------------------------------
e-10-12-14----------------------------------------------
e-15-14-12----------------------------------------------
g----------15-13-12-------------------------------------
b-------------------14-12-11----------------------------
d----------------------------14-12-10-------------------
a-------------------------------------14-12-10----------
e----------------------------------------------14-12-10-
e----------------------------------------------14-15-17-
b-------------------------------------13-15-17----------
g----------------------------12-14-16-------------------
d-------------------12-14-16----------------------------
a----------12-14-15-------------------------------------
e-12-14-15----------------------------------------------
e-17-15-14----------------------------------------------
g----------17-15-13-------------------------------------
b-------------------16-14-12----------------------------
d----------------------------16-14-12-------------------
a-------------------------------------15-14-12----------
e----------------------------------------------15-14-12-
Pentatonic scales are simply the major patterns with the fourth and seventh scale degrees removed, In G, gabde, In the relative minor, this becomes the second and sixth degrees removed, egabd. The full pattern is
(E Minor uses the same patterns as G)
e-o-3-5-7-10-12-15-17-19-
b-o-3-5-8-10-12-15-17-20-
g-o-2-4-7-9--12-14-16-19-
d-o-2-5-7-9--12-14-17-18-
a-o-2-5-7-10-12-14-17-18-
e-o-3-5-7-10-12-15-17-19-
e-19-17-15-12-10-7-5-3-o-
b-20-17-15-12-10-8-5-3-o-
g-18-16-14-12-9--7-4-2-o-
d-18-17-14-12-9--7-5-2-o-
a-18-17-14-12-10-7-5-2-o-
e-19-17-15-12-10-7-5-3-o-
Pentatonic up the neck in G mirror their full scale counterparts.
e-o-3-
b-o-3-
g-o-2-
d-o-2-
a-o-2-
e-o-3-
e-----------------------------o-3-
b-----------------------o-3-------
g-------------------o-2-----------
d-------------o-2-----------------
a-------o-2-----------------------
e-o-3-----------------------------
e-3-o-----------------------------
b------3-o------------------------
g------------2-o------------------
d-----------------2-o-------------
a----------------------2-o--------
e-----------------------------3-o-
e-3-5-
b-3-5-
g-2-4-
d-2-5-
a-2-5-
e-3-5-
e-----------------------------3-5-
b-------------------------3-5-----
g-------------------2-4-----------
d-------------2-5-----------------
a-------2-5-----------------------
e-3-5-----------------------------
e-5-3-----------------------------
b-------5-3-----------------------
g-----------4-2-------------------
d-----------------5-2-------------
a-----------------------5-2-------
e-----------------------------5-3-
e-3-5-7-
b-3-5-7-
g-4-5-
d-5-7-
a-5-7-
e-3-5-7-
e-----------------------------3-5-7-
b-----------------------3-5---------
g-------------------4---------------
d-------------5-7-------------------
a-------5-7-------------------------
e-3-5-7-----------------------------
e-7-5-3-----------------------------
b-------5-3-------------------------
g-------------4---------------------
d-----------------7-5---------------
a-----------------------7-5---------
e-----------------------------7-5-3-
e-5-7-8-
b-5-8-
g---7-
d-5-7-9-
a-5-7-9-
e-5-7-8-
e-----------------------------5-7-
b-----------------------5-8-------
g-------------------7-------------
d-------------5-7-9---------------
a-------5-7-----------------------
e-5-7-----------------------------
e-7-5-----------------------------
b-------8-5-----------------------
g-------------7-------------------
d-----------------9-7-5-----------
a-----------------------7-5-------
e-----------------------------7-5-
e-7-10-
b-8-10-
g-7-9-
d-7-9-
a-7-10-
e-7-10-
e---------------------------------7-10-
b--------------------------8-10--------
g----------------------7-9-------------
d---------------7-9--------------------
a--------7-10--------------------------
e-7-10---------------------------------
e-10-7---------------------------------
b--------10-8--------------------------
g---------------9-7--------------------
d-------------------9-7----------------
a--------------------------10-7--------
e---------------------------------10-7-
e-10-12-
b-8-10-12-
g-9-11-
d-9-12-
a-10-12-
e-10-12-
e--------------------------------------10-12-
b------------------------------8-10-12-------
g-------------------------9------------------
d-----------------9-12-----------------------
a---------10-12------------------------------
e-10-12--------------------------------------
e-12-10--------------------------------------
b---------12-10-8----------------------------
g-----------------9--------------------------
d----------------------12-9------------------
a------------------------------12-10---------
e--------------------------------------12-10-
e-10-12-14
b-10-12-
g-12-
d-12-14-
a-10-12-14-
e-10-12-14-
e--------------------------------------------10-12-14-
b-----------------------------------10-12-------------
g----------------------------12-----------------------
d-------------------12-14-----------------------------
a----------10-12-14-----------------------------------
e-10-12-----------------------------------------------
e-14-12-10--------------------------------------------
b----------12-10--------------------------------------
g-------------------12--------------------------------
d-------------------------14-12-----------------------
a----------------------------------14-12-10-----------
e-------------------------------------------12-10-----
e-12-15-
b-12-15-
g-12-14-
d-12-14-
a-12-14-
e-12-15-
e-------------------------------------------12-15-
b----------------------------------12-15----------
g----------------------------12-14----------------
d-------------------12-14-------------------------
a----------12-14----------------------------------
e-12-15-------------------------------------------
e-15-12-------------------------------------------
b----------15-12----------------------------------
g-------------------14-12-------------------------
d-------------------------14-12-------------------
a----------------------------------14-12----------
e-------------------------------------------15-12-
Much of blues based rock soloing bases off of variations on the pentatonic scales. One fruitful process is to isolate the two fret patterns.
e---------------10---12-
b-----------8---10---12-
g---------7---9--------
d-----5---7---9--------
a-----5---7------------
e-3---5---7------------
e-----------15---17---19-
b-----------15---17------
g---------14---16--------
d------12---14-----------
a-10---12---14-----------
e-10---12----------------
Finding the two fret patterns one per string leads to more efficient playing. Since these patterns skip scale notes, they are not full pentatonic scales.
(Not Full Scales)
e---------------10---12-
b-----------8---10------
g---------7---9---------
d-----5---7-------------
a-----5---7-------------
e-3---5-----------------
e---------------10---12-
b---------------10---12-
g---------7---9---------
d-----5---7-------------
a-----5---7-------------
e-3---5-----------------
e---------------10---12-
b-----------8---10------
g---------7---9---------
d---------7---9---------
a-----5---7-------------
e-3---5-----------------
e---------------10---12-
b---------------10---12-
g---------7---9---------
d---------7---9---------
a-----5---7-------------
e-3---5-----------------
e---------------10---12-
b-----------8---10------
g---------7---9---------
d-----5---7-------------
a-----5---7-------------
e-----5---7-------------
e---------------10---12-
b-----------8---10------
g---------7---9---------
d---------7---9---------
a-----5---7-------------
e-----5---7-------------
e---------------10---12-
b---------------10---12-
g---------7---9---------
d-----5---7-------------
a-----5---7-------------
e-----5---7-------------
e---------------10---12-
b---------------10---12-
g---------7---9---------
d---------7---9---------
a-----5---7-------------
e-----5---7-------------
e-----------15---17------
b-----------15---17------
g---------14---16--------
d------12---14-----------
a------12---14-----------
e-10---12----------------
e----------------17---19-
b-----------15---17------
g---------14---16--------
d------12---14-----------
a------12---14-----------
e-10---12----------------
e-----------15---17------
b-----------15---17------
g---------14---16--------
d------12---14-----------
a-10---12----------------
e-10---12----------------
e----------------17---19-
b-----------15---17------
g---------14---16--------
d------12---14-----------
a-10---12----------------
e-10---12----------------
(Not Full Scales)
e---------------7-----10-
b-----------5-----8------
g---------4-----7--------
d-----2-----5------------
a-----2-----5------------
e-o-----3----------------
e-----------12-----15---
b-----------12-----15---
g-----9-----12----------
d-----9-----12----------
a-7-----10--------------
e-7-----10--------------
Relative minors of keys use the same patterns
e-2-4-6-9-11-14-16-18-21
b-2-4-7-9-11-14-16-19-21
g-1-3-6-8-11-13-15-18-20
d-1-4-6-8-11-13-16-18-20
a-1-4-6-9-11-13-16-18-21
e-2-4-6-9-11-14-16-18-21
e-1-3-5-8-10-13-15-17-20
b-1-3-6-8-10-13-15-18-20
g-o-2-5-7-10-12-14-17-19
d-o-3-5-7-10-12-15-17-19
a-o-3-5-8-10-12-15-17-20
e-1-3-5-8-10-13-15-17-20
e-o-2-4-7-9-12-14-16-19
b-o-2-5-7-9-12-14-17-19
g---1-4-6-9-11-13-16-18
d---2-4-6-9-11-14-16-18
a---2-4-7-9-11-14-16-19
e-o-2-4-7-9-12-14-16-19
e-1-3-6-8-11-13-15-18-20
b-1-4-6-8-11-13-16-18-20
g-o-3-5-8-10-12-15-17-20
d-1-3-5-8-10-13-15-17-20
a-1-3-6-8-10-13-15-18-20
e-1-3-6-8-11-13-15-18-20
e-o-2-5-7-10-12-14-17-19
b-o-3-5-7-10-12-15-17-19
g---2-4-7-9--11-14-16-19
d-o-2-4-7-9--12-14-16-19
a-o-2-5-7-9--12-14-17-19
e-o-2-5-7-10-12-14-17-19
e-1-4-6-9-11-13-16-18-21
b-2-4-6-9-11-14-16-18-21
g-1-3-6-8-10-13-15-18-20
d-1-3-6-8-11-13-15-18-20
a-1-4-6-8-11-13-16-18-20
e-1-4-6-9-11-13-16-18-21
e-o-3-5-8-10-12-15-17-20
b-1-3-5-8-10-13-15-17-20
g-o-2-5-7-9--12-14-17-19
d-o-2-5-7-10-12-14-17-19
a-o-3-5-7-10-12-15-17-19
e-o-3-5-8-10-12-15-17-20
e-2-4-7-9-11-14-16-19-21
b-o-2-4-7-9--12-14-16-19
g-1-4-6-8-11-13-16-18-20
d-1-4-6-9-11-13-16-18-21
a-2-4-6-9-11-14-16-18-21
e-2-4-7-9-11-14-16-19-21
e-1-3-6-8-10-13-15-18-20
b-1-3-6-8-11-13-15-18-20
g-o-3-5-7-10-12-15-17-19
d-o-3-5-8-10-12-15-17-20
a-1-3-5-8-10-13-15-17-20
e-1-3-6-8-10-13-15-18-20
e-o-2-5-7-9--12-14-17-19
b-o-2-5-7-10-12-14-17-19
g---2-4-6-9--11-14-16-18
d---2-4-7-9--11-14-16-19
a-o-2-4-7-9--12-14-16-19
e-o-2-5-7-9--12-14-17-19
e-1-4-6-8-11-13-16-18-20
b-1-4-6-9-11-13-16-18-21
g-1-3-5-8-10-13-15-17-20
d-1-3-6-8-10-13-15-18-20
a-1-3-6-8-11-13-15-18-20
e-1-4-6-8-11-13-16-18-20
See the "Scales in Other Keys" document for shift patterns into higher forms.
e-----------------------------2-4-
b-------------------------2-4-----
g-------------------1-3-----------
d-------------1-4-----------------
a-------1-4-----------------------
e-2-4-----------------------------
e-4-2-----------------------------
b-------4-2-----------------------
g-----------3-1-------------------
d-----------------4-1-------------
a-----------------------4-1-------
e-----------------------------4-2-
e----------------------------1-3-
b------------------------1-3-----
g------------------o-2-----------
d------------o-3-----------------
a------o-3-----------------------
e-1-3----------------------------
e-3-1----------------------------
b------3-1-----------------------
g----------2-o-------------------
d----------------3-o-------------
a----------------------3-o-------
e----------------------------3-1-
e-----------------------------o-2-4-
b-----------------------o-2---------
g-------------------1---------------
d-------------2-4-------------------
a-------2-4-------------------------
e-o-2-4-----------------------------
e-4-2-o-----------------------------
b-------2-o-------------------------
g-------------1---------------------
d-----------------4-2---------------
a-----------------------4-2---------
e-----------------------------4-2-o-
e-----------------------------1-3-
b-----------------------1-4-------
g-------------------3-------------
d-------------1-3-5---------------
a-------1-3-----------------------
e-1-3-----------------------------
e-3-1-----------------------------
b-------4-1-----------------------
g-------------3-------------------
d-----------------5-3-1-----------
a-----------------------3-1-------
e-----------------------------3-1-
e-----------------------------o-2-
b-----------------------o-3-------
g-------------------2-------------
d-------------o-2-4---------------
a-------o-2-----------------------
e-o-2-----------------------------
e-2-o-----------------------------
b-------3-o-----------------------
g-------------2-------------------
d-----------------4-2-o-----------
a-----------------------2-o-------
e-----------------------------2-o-
e---------------------------------1-4-
b--------------------------2-4--------
g----------------------1-3------------
d---------------1-3-------------------
a--------1-4--------------------------
e-1-4---------------------------------
e-4-1---------------------------------
b--------4-2--------------------------
g---------------3-1-------------------
d-------------------3-1---------------
a--------------------------4-1--------
e---------------------------------4-1-
e---------------------------------o-3-
b--------------------------1-3--------
g----------------------o-2------------
d---------------o-2-------------------
a--------o-3--------------------------
e-o-3---------------------------------
e-3-o---------------------------------
b--------3-1--------------------------
g---------------2-o-------------------
d-------------------2-o---------------
a--------------------------3-o--------
e---------------------------------3-o-
e--------------------------------------2-4-
b------------------------------o-2-4-------
g-------------------------1----------------
d-----------------1-4----------------------
a---------2-4------------------------------
e-2-4--------------------------------------
e-4-2--------------------------------------
b---------4-2-o----------------------------
g-----------------1------------------------
d----------------------4-1-----------------
a------------------------------4-2---------
e--------------------------------------4-2-
e-----------------------------------------1-3-5-
b-----------------------------------1-3---------
g----------------------------3------------------
d-------------------3-5-------------------------
a----------1-3-5--------------------------------
e-1-3-------------------------------------------
e-3-1-------------------------------------------
b----------3-1----------------------------------
g-------------------3---------------------------
d-------------------------5-3-------------------
a----------------------------------5-3-1--------
e-------------------------------------------3-1-
e-----------------------------------------o-2-4-
b-----------------------------------o-2---------
g----------------------------2------------------
d-------------------2-4-------------------------
a----------o-2-4--------------------------------
e-o-2-------------------------------------------
e-2-o-------------------------------------------
b----------2-o----------------------------------
g-------------------2---------------------------
d-------------------------4-2-------------------
a----------------------------------4-2-o--------
e-------------------------------------------2-o-
e-------------------------------------------1-4-
b----------------------------------1-4----------
g----------------------------1-3----------------
d-------------------1-3-------------------------
a----------1-3----------------------------------
e-1-4-------------------------------------------
e-4-1-------------------------------------------
b----------4-1----------------------------------
g-------------------3-1-------------------------
d-------------------------3-1-------------------
a----------------------------------3-1----------
e-------------------------------------------4-1-
For harmonic minor scales, raise the seventh degree of the natural minor scale. So, in E minor (relative to G major), change all the Ds to D#.
e-o-2-3-5-7-8-11-12-14-15-17-19-20-23
b-o-1-4-5-7-8-10-12-13-16-17-19-20-22
g-o-2-4-5-8-9-11-12-14-16-17-20-21-23
d-1-2-4-5-7-9-10-13-14-16-17-19-21-22
a-o-2-3-6-7-9-10-12-14-15-18-19-21-22
e-o-2-3-5-7-8-11-12-14-15-17-19-20-23
|
o |
o |
|
o |
o |
o |
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
2 |
|
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
|
5 |
|
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
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|
6 |
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|
|
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|
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
7 |
7 |
|
8 |
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8 |
8 |
8 |
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|
9 |
9 |
9 |
|
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10 |
10 |
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10 |
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11 |
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11 |
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11 |
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12 |
12 |
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12 |
12 |
12 |
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13 |
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13 |
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14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
|
14 |
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15 |
15 |
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15 |
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16 |
16 |
16 |
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17 |
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17 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
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18 |
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19 |
19 |
19 |
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19 |
19 |
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20 |
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20 |
20 |
20 |
e-----------------------------o-2-3-
b-----------------------o-1-4-------
g-------------------o-2-------------
d-------------1-2-4-----------------
a-------o-2-3-----------------------
e-o-2-3-----------------------------
Moving up the neck, the modal positions are indicated by the same shapes as their major counterparts even though these are no longer the scales indicated by the Greek mode names.
e-----------------------------2-3-5-
b-------------------------4-5-------
g-------------------2-4-5-----------
d-------------2-4-5-----------------
a-------2-3-5-----------------------
e-2-3-5-----------------------------
-----------------------------3-5-7-
b----------------------4-5-7-------
g------------------4-5-------------
d-------------4-5-7----------------
a-------3-6-7----------------------
e-3-5-7----------------------------
e-------------------------------5-7-8-
b-------------------------5-7-8-------
g-------------------5-8-9-------------
d-------------5-7-9-------------------
a-------6-7-9-------------------------
e-5-7-8-------------------------------
e------------------------------7-8-11-
b--------------------------7-8-10-----
g----------------------8-9------------
d---------------7-9-10----------------
a--------7-9-10-----------------------
e-7-8-11------------------------------
e-------------------------------------8-11-12-
b-----------------------------8-10-12---------
g----------------------8-9-11-----------------
d-----------------9-10------------------------
a---------9-10-12-----------------------------
e-8-11-12-------------------------------------
e------------------------------------------11-12-14-
b---------------------------------10-12-13----------
g----------------------------11-12------------------
d-------------------10-13-14------------------------
a----------10-12-14---------------------------------
e-11-12-14------------------------------------------
e----------------------------------------------12-14-15-
b-------------------------------------12-13-16----------
g----------------------------12-14-16-------------------
d-------------------13-14-16----------------------------
a----------12-14-15-------------------------------------
e-12-14-15----------------------------------------------
For the other 11 keys, the full patterns and the open position scales are below. For shifts into higher positions, use the same shifts shown in the relative major exploration and then the patterns from above shifted. For vertical fretboard versions, see Vertical Scales Harmonic.
e-1-2-4-6-7-10-11-13-14-16-18-19
b-o-3-4-6-7-9--11-12-15-16-18-19
g-1-3-4-7-8-10-11-13-15-16-19-20
d-1-3-4-6-8-9--12-13-15-16-18-20
a-1-2-5-6-8-9--11-13-14-17-18-20
e-1-2-4-6-7-10-11-13-14-16-18-19
e-----------------------------1-2-4-
b-----------------------o-3-4-------
g-------------------1-3-------------
d-------------1-3-4-----------------
a-------1-2-5-----------------------
e-1-2-4-----------------------------
e-o-1-3-5-6-9--10-12-13-15-17-18
b-2-3-5-6-8-10-11-14-15-17-18-20
g-o-2-3-6-7-9--10-12-14-15-18-19
d-o-2-3-5-7-8--11-12-14-15-17-19
a-o-1-4-5-7-8--10-12-13-16-17-19
e-o-1-3-5-6-9--10-12-13-15-17-18
e-----------------------------o-1-3-
b-------------------------2-3-------
g-------------------o-2-3-----------
d-------------o-2-3-----------------
a-------o-1-4-----------------------
e-o-1-3-----------------------------
e-o-2-4-5-8-9--11-12-14-16-17-20
b-1-2-4-5-7-9--10-13-14-16-17-19
g-1-2-5-6-8-9--11-13-14-17-18-20
d-1-2-4-6-7-10-11-13-14-16-18-19
a-o-3-4-6-7-9--11-12-15-16-18-19
e-o-2-4-5-8-9--11-12-14-16-17-20
e-----------------------------o-2-4-
b-----------------------1-2-4-------
g-------------------1-2-------------
d-------------1-2-4-----------------
a-------o-3-4-----------------------
e-o-2-4-----------------------------
e-1-3-4-7-8-10-11-13-15-16-19-20
b-o-1-3-4-6-8--9--12-13-15-16-18
g-o-1-4-5-7-8--10-12-13-16-17-19
d-o-1-3-5-6-9--10-12-13-15-17-18
a-2-3-5-6-8-10-11-14-15-17-18-20
e-1-3-4-7-8-10-11-13-15-16-19-20
e---------------------------1-3-4-
b---------------------o-1-3-------
g-----------------o-1-------------
d-----------o-1-3-----------------
a-------2-3-----------------------
e-1-3-4---------------------------
e-o-2-3-6-7-9-10-12-14-15-18-19
b-o-2-3-5-7-8-11-12-14-15-17-19
g-o-3-4-6-7-9-11-12-15-16-18-19
d-o-2-4-5-8-9-11-12-14-16-17-20
a-1-2-4-5-7-9-10-13-14-16-17-19
e-o-2-3-6-7-9-10-12-14-15-18-19
e-----------------------------o-2-3-
b-----------------------o-2-3-------
g-------------------o-3-------------
d-------------o-2-4-----------------
a-------1-2-4-----------------------
e-o-2-3-----------------------------
e-1-2-5-6-8-9--11-13-14-17-18-20
b-1-2-4-6-7-10-11-13-14-16-18-19
g-2-3-5-6-8-10-11-14-15-17-18-20
d-1-3-4-7-8-10-11-13-15-16-19-20
a-o-1-3-4-6-8--9--12-13-15-16-18
e-1-2-5-6-8-9--11-13-14-17-18-20
e---------------------------1-2-5-
b---------------------1-2-4-------
g-----------------2-3-------------
d-----------1-3-4-----------------
a-----o-1-3-----------------------
e-1-2-----------------------------
e-o-1-4-5-7-8-10-12-13-16-17-19
b-o-1-3-5-6-9-10-12-13-15-17-18
g-1-2-4-5-7-9-10-13-14-16-17-19
d-o-2-3-6-7-9-10-12-14-15-18-19
a-o-2-3-5-7-8-11-12-14-15-17-19
e-o-1-4-5-7-8-10-12-13-16-17-19
e-----------------------------o-1-4-
b-----------------------o-1-3-------
g-------------------1-2-------------
d-------------o-2-3-----------------
a-------o-2-3-----------------------
e-o-1-4-----------------------------
e-o-3-4-6-7-9--11-12-15-16-18-19
b-o-2-4-5-8-9--11-12-14-16-17-20
g-o-1-3-4-6-8--9--12-13-15-16-18
d-1-2-5-6-8-9--11-13-14-17-18-20
a-1-2-4-6-7-10-11-13-14-16-18-19
e-o-3-4-6-7-9--11-12-15-16-18-19
e-----------------------------o-3-4-
b-----------------------o-2-4-------
g-----------------o-1-3-------------
d-------------1-2-------------------
a-------1-2-4-----------------------
e-o-3-4-----------------------------
e-2-3-5-6-8-10-11-14-15-17-18-20
b-1-3-4-7-8-10-11-13-15-16-19-20
g-o-2-3-5-7-8--11-12-14-15-17-18
d-o-1-4-5-7-8--10-12-13-16-17-19
a-o-1-3-5-6-9--10-12-13-15-17-18
e-2-3-5-6-8-10-11-14-15-17-18-20
e-----------------------------2-3-5-
b-----------------------1-3-4-------
g-----------------o-2-3-------------
d-----------o-1-4-------------------
a-----o-1-3-------------------------
e-2-3-------------------------------
e-1-2-4-5-7-9--10-13-14-16-17-19
b-o-2-3-6-7-9--10-12-14-15-18-19
g-1-2-4-6-7-10-11-13-14-16-17-18
d-o-3-4-6-7-9--11-12-15-16-18-19
a-o-2-4-5-8-9--11-12-14-16-17-19
e-1-2-4-5-7-9--10-13-14-16-17-19
e-------------------------------1-2-4-
b-------------------------o-2-3-------
g-------------------1-2-4-------------
d-------------o-3-4-------------------
a-------o-2-4-------------------------
e-1-2-4-------------------------------
e-o-1-3-4-6-8--9--12-13-15-16-18
b-1-2-5-6-8-9--11-13-14-17-18-20
g-o-1-3-5-6-9--10-12-13-15-16-17
d-2-3-5-6-8-10-11-14-15-17-18-20
a-1-3-4-7-8-10-11-13-15-16-18-20
e-o-1-3-4-6-8--9--12-13-15-16-18
e-----------------------------o-1-3-
b-------------------------1-2-------
g-------------------o-1-3-----------
d-------------2-3-5-----------------
a-------1-3-4-----------------------
e-o-1-3-----------------------------
Melodic minor scales add a raised sixth and a raised seventh ascending, and revert to natural minor descending.
e-o-2-3-5-7-9-11-12-14-15-17-19
b-o-2-4-5-7-8-10-12-14-16-17-19
g-o-2-4-6-8-9-11-12-14-16-18-20
d-1-2-4-5-7-9-11-13-14-16-17-19
a-o-2-4-6-7-9-10-12-14-16-18-19
e-o-2-3-5-7-9-11-12-14-15-17-19
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e-------------------------------o-2-3-
b-------------------------o-2-4-------
g-------------------o-2-4-------------
d-------------1-2-4-------------------
a-------o-2-4-------------------------
e-o-2-3-------------------------------
e-3-2-o-----------------------------
b-------3-1-o-----------------------
g-------------2-o-------------------
d-----------------4-2-o-------------
a-----------------------3-2-o-------
e-----------------------------3-2-o-
e-----------------------------2-3-5-
b-----------------------2-4-5-------
g-------------------2-4-------------
d-------------2-4-5-----------------
a-------2-4-6-----------------------
e-2-3-5-----------------------------
e-5-3-2-----------------------------
b-------5-3-------------------------
g-----------5-4-2-------------------
d-----------------5-4-2-------------
a-----------------------5-3-2-------
e-----------------------------5-3-2-
e-----------------------------3-5-7-
b-----------------------4-5-7-------
g-------------------4-6-------------
d-------------4-5-7-----------------
a-------4-6-7-----------------------
e-3-5-7-----------------------------
e-7-5-3-----------------------------
b-------7-5-3-----------------------
g-------------5-4-------------------
d-----------------7-5-4-------------
a-----------------------7-5-3-------
e-----------------------------7-5-3-
e-----------------------------5-7-9-
b-----------------------5-7-8-------
g-------------------6-8-------------
d-------------5-7-9-----------------
a-------6-7-9-----------------------
e-5-7-9-----------------------------
e-8-7-5------------------------------
b--------8-7-5-----------------------
g--------------7-5-------------------
d------------------9-7-5-------------
a------------------------9-7-5-------
e------------------------------8-7-5-
e---------------------------------7-9-11-
b--------------------------7-8-10--------
g----------------------8-9---------------
d---------------7-9-11-------------------
a--------7-9-10--------------------------
e-7-9-11---------------------------------
e-10-8-7---------------------------------
b--------10-8-7--------------------------
g---------------9-7----------------------
d-------------------10-9-7---------------
a--------------------------10-9-7--------
e---------------------------------10-8-7-
e--------------------------------------9-11-12-
b------------------------------8-10-12---------
g-------------------------9-11-----------------
d-----------------9-11-13----------------------
a---------9-10-12------------------------------
e-9-11-12--------------------------------------
e-12-10-8--------------------------------------
b---------12-10-8------------------------------
g-----------------11-9-------------------------
d----------------------12-10-9-----------------
a------------------------------12-10-9---------
e--------------------------------------12-10-8-
e------------------------------------------11-12-14-
b---------------------------------10-12-14----------
g---------------------------11-12-------------------
d-------------------11-13-14------------------------
a----------10-12-14---------------------------------
e-11-12-14------------------------------------------
e-14-12-10-------------------------------------------
b----------13-12-10----------------------------------
g-------------------12-11----------------------------
d-------------------------14-12-10-------------------
a----------------------------------14-12-10----------
e-------------------------------------------14-12-10-
e-------------------------------------------12-14-15-
b----------------------------------12-14-16----------
g----------------------------12-14-------------------
d-------------------13-14-16-------------------------
a----------12-14-16----------------------------------
e-12-14-15-------------------------------------------
e-15-14-12-------------------------------------------
b----------15-13-------------------------------------
g----------------16-14-12----------------------------
d-------------------------16-14-12-------------------
a----------------------------------15-14-12----------
e-------------------------------------------15-14-12-
e-o-1-2-4-6-8-10-11-13-14-16-18
b-o-1-3-4-6-7-9--11-13-15-16-18
g-o-1-3-5-7-8-10-11-13-15-17-19
d-1-1-3-4-6-8-10-12-13-15-16-18
a-o-1-3-5-6-8-9--11-13-15-17-18
e-o-1-2-4-6-8-10-11-13-14-16-18
(For the vertical, fretboard layout of all these scales, see Vertical Scale Melodic Minor Ascending.)
e-------------------------------------o-1-2-4-
b-----------------------------o-1-3-4---------
g-----------------------o-1-3-----------------
d---------------o-1-3-4-----------------------
a---------o-1-3-------------------------------
e-o-1-2-4-------------------------------------
e-4-2-1-----------------------------
b-------4-2-o-----------------------
g-------------3-1-------------------
d-----------------4-3-1-------------
a-----------------------4-2-1-------
e-----------------------------4-2-1-
e-o-1-3-5-7-9-10-12-13-15-17-19
b-o-2-3-5-6-8-10-12-14-15-17-18
g-o-2-4-6-7-9-10-12-14-16-18-19
d-o-2-3-5-7-9-11-12-14-15-17-19
a-o-2-4-5-7-8-10-12-14-16-17-19
e-o-1-3-5-7-9-10-12-13-15-17-19
e-------------------------------o-1-3-
b-------------------------o-2-3-------
g-------------------o-2-4-------------
d-------------o-2-3-------------------
a-------o-2-4-------------------------
e-o-1-3-------------------------------
e-3-1-o-----------------------------
b-------3-1-------------------------
g-----------3-2-o-------------------
d-----------------3-2-o-------------
a-----------------------3-1-o-------
e-----------------------------3-1-o-
e-o-2-4-6-8-9--11-12-14-16-18-20
b-1-2-4-5-7-9--11-13-14-16-17-19
g-1-3-5-6-8-9--11-13-15-17-18-20
d-1-2-4-6-8-10-11-13-14-16-18-20
a-1-3-4-6-7-9--11-13-15-16-18-19
e-o-2-4-6-8-9--11-12-14-16-18-20
e-------------------------------o-2-4-
b-------------------------1-2-4-------
g-------------------1-3-5-------------
d-------------1-2-4-------------------
a-------1-3-4-------------------------
e-o-2-4-------------------------------
e-4-2-o-----------------------------
b-------4-2-o-----------------------
g-------------2-1-------------------
d-----------------4-2-1-------------
a-----------------------4-2-o-------
e-----------------------------4-2-o-
e---1-3-5-7-8-10-11-13-15-17-19
b-o-1-3-4-6-8-10-12-13-15-16-18
g-o-2-4-5-7-8-10-12-14-16-17-19
d-o-1-3-5-7-9-10-12-13-15-17-19
a-o-2-3-5-6-8-10-12-14-15-17-18
e---1-3-5-7-8-10-11-13-15-17-19
e-------------------------------1-3-
b-----------------------o-1-3-4-----
g-----------------o-2-4-------------
d-----------o-1-3-------------------
a-----o-2-3-------------------------
e-1-3-------------------------------
e-4-3-1-----------------------------
b-------4-3-1-----------------------
g-------------3-1-------------------
d-----------------5-3-1-------------
a-----------------------5-3-1-------
e-----------------------------4-3-1-
e-o-2-4-6-7-9-10-12-14-16-18-19
b-o-2-3-5-7-9-11-12-14-15-17-20
g-1-3-4-6-7-9-11-13-15-16-18-19
d-o-2-4-6-8-9-11-12-14-16-18-20
a-1-2-4-5-7-9-11-13-14-16-17-19
e-o-2-4-6-7-9-10-12-14-16-18-19
e-------------------------------o-2-4-
b-------------------------o-2-3-------
g-------------------1-3-4-------------
d-------------o-2-4-------------------
a-------1-2-4-------------------------
e-o-2-4-------------------------------
e-3-2-o-----------------------------
b-------3-2-o-----------------------
g-------------2-o-------------------
d-----------------4-2-o-------------
a-----------------------4-2-o-------
e-----------------------------3-2-o-
e---1-3-5-6-8-9--11-13-15-17-18
b---1-2-4-6-8-10-11-13-14-16-19
g-o-2-3-5-6-8-10-12-14-15-17-18
d---1-3-5-7-8-10-11-13-15-17-19
a-o-1-3-4-6-8-10-12-13-15-16-18
e---1-3-5-6-8-9--11-13-15-17-18
e-----------------------------1-3-
b-----------------------1-2-4-----
g-----------------o-2-3-----------
d-------------1-3-----------------
a-----o-1-3-4---------------------
e-1-3-----------------------------
e-4-2-1-----------------------------
b-------4-2-1-----------------------
g-------------3-1-------------------
d-----------------4-3-1-------------
a-----------------------4-3-1-------
e-----------------------------4-2-1-
e-o-2-4-5-7-8-10-12-14-16-17-19
b-o-1-3-5-7-9-10-12-13-15-18-19
g-1-2-4-5-7-9-11-13-14-16-17-19
d-o-2-4-6-7-9-10-12-14-16-18-19
a-o-2-3-5-7-9-11-12-14-15-17-19
e-o-2-4-5-7-8-10-12-14-16-17-19
e-------------------------------o-2-4-
b-------------------------o-1-3-------
g-------------------1-2-4-------------
d-------------o-2-4-------------------
a-------o-2-3-------------------------
e-o-2-4-------------------------------
e-3-1-o-----------------------------
b-------3-1-o-----------------------
g-------------2-o-------------------
d-----------------3-2-o-------------
a-----------------------3-2-o-------
e-----------------------------3-1-o-
e---1-3-4-6-7-9--11-13-15-16-18
b---o-2-4-6-8-9--11-12-14-17-18
g-o-1-3-4-6-8-10-12-13-15-16-18
d---1-3-5-6-8-9--11-13-15-17-18
a---1-2-4-6-8-10-11-13-14-16-18
e---1-3-4-6-7-9--11-13-15-16-18
e-------------------------------1-3-4-
b-------------------------o-2-4-------
g-----------------o-1-3-4-------------
d-------------1-3---------------------
a-------1-2-4-------------------------
e-1-3-4-------------------------------
e-4-2-o-----------------------------
b-------4-2-o-----------------------
g-------------3-1-------------------
d-----------------4-2-1-------------
a-----------------------4-2-1-------
e-----------------------------4-2-o-
e-o-2-3-5-6-8-10-12-14-15-17-18
b---1-3-5-7-8-10-11-13-16-17-19
g-o-2-3-5-7-9-11-12-14-15-17-18
d-o-2-4-5-7-8-10-12-14-16-17-19
a-o-1-3-5-7-9-10-12-13-15-17-18
e-o-2-3-5-6-8-10-12-14-15-17-18
e-----------------------------o-2-3-
b-------------------------1-3-------
g-------------------o-2-3-----------
d-------------o-2-4-----------------
a-------o-1-3-----------------------
e-o-2-3-----------------------------
e-5-3-1-----------------------------
b-------4-3-1-----------------------
g-------------3-2-o-----------------
d-------------------3-1-o-----------
a-------------------------3-1-o-----
e-------------------------------3-1-
e-1-2-4-5-7-9--11-13-14-16-17-19
b-o-2-4-6-7-9--10-12-15-16-18-19
g-1-2-4-6-8-10-11-13-14-16-17-18
d-1-3-4-6-7-9--11-13-15-16-18-19
a-o-2-4-6-8-9--11-12-14-16-17-19
e-1-2-4-5-7-9--11-13-14-16-17-19
e-4-2-o-----------------------------
b-------3-2-o-----------------------
g-------------2-1-------------------
d-----------------4-2-o-------------
a-----------------------4-2-o-------
e-----------------------------4-2-o-
e-------------------------------1-2-4-
b-------------------------o-2-4-------
g-------------------1-2-4-------------
d-------------1-3-4-------------------
a-------o-2-4-------------------------
e-1-2-4-------------------------------
e-o-1-3-4-6-8-10-12-13-15-16-18
b---1-3-5-6-8-9--11-14-15-17-18
g-o-1-3-5-7-9-10-12-13-15-16-17
d-o-2-3-5-6-8-10-12-14-15-17-18
a---1-3-5-7-8-10-11-13-15-16-18
e-o-1-3-4-6-8-10-12-13-15-16-18
e-----------------------------o-1-3-4-
b-------------------------1-3---------
g-------------------o-1-3-------------
d-------------o-2-3-------------------
a---------1-3-------------------------
e-o-1-3-4-----------------------------
e-4-3-1-----------------------------
b-------4-2-1-----------------------
g-------------3-1-o-----------------
d-------------------3-1-------------
a-----------------------4-3-1-------
e-----------------------------4-3-1-
The section on three note efficiency scales showed how shifting between positions can have benefits. Using the first finger to shift between positions can add range to the scales. To learn the first finger shifts, first revisit the full pattern of the G scale.
The G major scale
e-o-2-3-5-7-8-10-12-14-15-17-19
b-o-1-3-5-7-8-10-12-13-15-17-19
g-o-2-4-5-7-9-11-12-14-15-16-18
d-o-2-4-5-7-9-10-12-14-16-17-18
a-o-2-3-5-7-9-10-12-14-15-17-18
e-o-2-3-5-7-8-10-12-14-15-17-19
Descending
e-19-17-15-14-12-10-8-7-5-3-2-o
b-19-17-15-13-12-10-8-7-5-3-1-o
g-18-16-15-14-12-11-9-7-5-4-2-o
d-18-17-16-14-12-10-9-7-5-4-2-o
a-18-17-15-14-12-10-9-7-5-3-2-o
e-19-17-15-14-12-10-8-7-5-3-2-o
Previous versions of the scale fixed one position and played the patterns horizontally across the fretboard. Now begin to add vertical movement to the scales.
First, on the low E sixth string, practice the scale vertically using only the first finger sliding between notes.
e-o-2-3-5-7-8-10-12-14-15-17-19
e-19-17-15-14-12-10-8-7-5-3-2-o
Then move on to the other strings, still just sliding with the first finger.
A string
a-o-2-3-5-7-9-10-12-14-15-17-18
a-18-17-15-14-12-10-9-7-5-3-2-o
D string
d-o-2-4-5-7-9-10-12-14-16-17-18
d-18-17-16-14-12-10-9-7-5-4-2-o
G string
g-o-2-4-5-7-9-11-12-14-15-16-18
g-18-16-15-14-12-11-9-7-5-4-2-o
B string
b-o-1-3-5-7-8-10-12-13-15-17-19
b-19-17-15-13-12-10-8-7-5-3-1-o
High E string
e-o-2-3-5-7-8-10-12-14-15-17-19
e-19-17-15-14-12-10-8-7-5-3-2-o
Then practice sliding in context on every string. The "/" indicates a shift in hand position and not necessarily an actual slide. Play these five note patterns shifting the first finger on every / marking ascending.
Low E string
e-o-2-3-2-/3-5-7-5-3-/5-7-8-7-5-/7-8-10-8-7-
e-/8-10-12-10-8-/10-12-14-12-10-/12-14-15-14-12
The descending pattern is a four note pattern with a \ indicating a shift downward.
e-15-14-12-\10-14-12-10-\8-12-10-8-\7-10-8-7-\5-7-5-3-\2-5-3-2-o-3-2-o
Continue to the other strings.
A String
a-o-2-3-2-/3-5-7-5-3-/5-7-9-7-5-/7-9-10-9-7-
a-/9-10-12-10-9-/10-12-14-12-10-/12-14-15-14-12
a-15-14-12-\10-14-12-10-\9-12-10-9-\7-10-9-7-\5-7-5-3-\2-5-3-2-o-3-2-o
D String
d-o-2-4-2-/4-5-7-5-4-/5-7-9-7-5-/7-9-10-9-7-
d-/9-10-12-10-9-/10-12-14-12-10-/12-14-16-14-12
d-16-14-12-\10-14-12-10-\9-12-10-9-\7-10-9-7-\5-7-5-4-\2-5-4-2-o-4-2-o
G String
g-o-2-4-2-/4-5-7-5-4-/5-7-9-7-5-/7-9-11-9-7-
g-/9-11-12-11-9-/11-12-14-12-11-/12-14-15-14-12
g-15-14-12-\11-14-12-11-\9-12-11-9-\7-11-9-7-\5-7-5-4-\2-5-4-2-o-4-2-o
B String
b-o-1-3-1-/3-5-7-5-3-/5-7-8-7-5-/7-8-10-8-7-
b-/8-10-12-10-8-/10-12-13-12-10-/12-13-15-13-12
b-15-13-12-\10-13-12-10-\8-12-10-8-\7-10-8-7-\5-7-5-3-\1-5-3-1-o-3-1-o
High E string
e-o-2-3-2-/3-5-7-5-3-/5-7-8-7-5-/7-8-10-8-7-
e-/8-10-12-10-8-/10-12-14-12-10-/12-14-15-14-12
e-15-14-12-\10-14-12-10-\8-12-10-8-\7-10-8-7-\5-7-5-3-\2-5-3-2-o-3-2-o
Once shifting technique is natural and relaxed, begin the exhaustive process of playing through the shifts in the document "Modal Scales with Shifts in G"
The process starts with a simple one-string shift
Open 1st String Shift to Locrean Position
e-----------------------------o-/2-3-5-
b-----------------------o-1-3----------
g-------------------o-2----------------
d-------------o-2-4--------------------
a-------o-2-3--------------------------
e-o-2-3--------------------------------
e-5-3-2-\o-----------------------------
b----------3-1-o-----------------------
g----------------2-o-------------------
d--------------------4-2-o-------------
a--------------------------3-2-o-------
e--------------------------------3-2-o-
Then moves to the next string
Open 2nd String Shift to Locrean Position
e--------------------------------2-3-5-
b-----------------------o-/1-3-5-------
g-------------------o-2----------------
d-------------o-2-4--------------------
a-------o-2-3--------------------------
e-o-2-3--------------------------------
e-5-3-2--------------------------------
b-------5-3-1-\o-----------------------
g---------------2-o--------------------
d-------------------4-2-o--------------
a-------------------------3-2-o--------
e-------------------------------3-2-o--
Then adds a second shift to the pattern
Open 2nd String Shift to Locrean Position with 1st String Shift
e-------------------------------2-/3-5-7-
b-----------------------o-/1-3-5---------
g-------------------o-2------------------
d-------------o-2-4----------------------
a-------o-2-3----------------------------
e-o-2-3----------------------------------
e-7-5-3-\2-------------------------------
b----------5-3-1-\o----------------------
g-------------------2-o------------------
d-----------------------4-2-o------------
a-----------------------------3-2-o------
e-----------------------------------3-2-o
Then the shift moves on to the next string
Open 3rd String Shift to Locrean Position
e--------------------------------2-3-5-
b----------------------------3-5-------
g-------------------o-/2-4-5-----------
d-------------o-2-4--------------------
a-------o-2-3--------------------------
e-o-2-3--------------------------------
e-5-3-2--------------------------------
b-------5-3----------------------------
g-----------5-4-2-\o-------------------
d--------------------4-2-o-------------
a--------------------------3-2-o-------
e--------------------------------3-2-o-
The full document then adds a first string shift, a second string shift, and then second string with first string.
This pattern continues until all strings have shifted.
Open 6th String Shift to Locrean 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st String Shift
e---------------------------------------------8-/10-12-14--
b----------------------------------7-/8-10-12--------------
g---------------------------5-/7-9-------------------------
d------------------4-/5-7-9--------------------------------
a---------2-/3-5-7-----------------------------------------
e-o-2-3-5--------------------------------------------------
e-14-12-10-\8----------------------------------------------
b-------------12-10-8-\7-----------------------------------
g------------------------9-7-\5----------------------------
d-------------------------------9-7-5-\4-------------------
a----------------------------------------7-5-3-\2----------
e-------------------------------------------------5-3-2-o--
Once all open shifts are complete, the pattern begins in the Locrean position
Locrean position with 1st String Shift
e-----------------------------2-/3-5-7-
b-------------------------3-5----------
g-------------------2-4-5--------------
d-------------2-4-5--------------------
a-------2-3-5--------------------------
e-2-3-5--------------------------------
e-7-5-3-\2-----------------------------
b----------5-3-------------------------
g--------------5-4-2-------------------
d--------------------5-4-2-------------
a--------------------------5-3-2-------
e--------------------------------5-3-2-
And continues through all shifts to.
Locrean 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st String Shift
Fully Shifted Three Octave Scale
e-----------------------------------------------10-/12-14-15--
b-----------------------------------8-/10-12-13---------------
g----------------------------7-/9-11--------------------------
d-------------------5-/7-9-10---------------------------------
a----------3-/5-7-9-------------------------------------------
e-2-/3-5-7----------------------------------------------------
e-15-14-12-\10------------------------------------------------
b--------------13-12-10-\8------------------------------------
g--------------------------11-9-\7----------------------------
d----------------------------------10-9-7-\5------------------
a--------------------------------------------9-7-5-\3---------
e-----------------------------------------------------7-5-3-\2
Once Locrean is complete, continue with Ionian until
Ionian 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd String Shift
e------------------------------------------------------12-14-15-
b-----------------------------------------10-/12-13-15----------
g--------------------------------9-/11-12-----------------------
d---------------------7-/9-10-12--------------------------------
a----------5-/7-9-10--------------------------------------------
e-3-/5-7-8------------------------------------------------------
e-15-14-12------------------------------------------------------
b----------15-13-12-\10-----------------------------------------
g-----------------------12-11-\9--------------------------------
d--------------------------------12-10-9-\7---------------------
a------------------------------------------10-9-7-\5------------
e----------------------------------------------------8-7-5-\3---
At this point the scales begin to wrap around each other.
"Ionian 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st String Shift" would be redundant. These scales are limited to three octaves plus a few essential notes topping put around the 15th fret. Any more would just repeat the patterns already lower on the string. To continue further up the neck, just wrap the patterns around from the bottom, Locrean mode, and continue. Each successive mode has one less iteration than the previous, otherwise the patterns would become redundant and reach further up the neck than ay guitar could play.
Refer to the document, "Modal Scales with shifts in G" for all the patterns.
The shifted pattern scales are informative, but for practical purposes too long to practice regularly since even an accomplished played takes about 20 minutes to play through all 294 variations. Removing all the repeated portions of the scale distills the process down to its basic elements. The following exercise includes all the elements of the shifted scales at least once, adds all the unique elements from the scale variations, and also adds open stings to the scales up the next. Presented here ascending, then in reverse order to cover all possible note changes in G and the related modes.
e-o-2-3-2-o------------o-/2-3-5-3-2-\o--------------2-/3-5-7-5-3-\2------------b-----------3-1-o-1-3------------------3-1-o-/1-3-5-----------------5-3-1-\o---g----------------------------------------------------------------------------2-d------------------------------------------------------------------------------a------------------------------------------------------------------------------e------------------------------------------------------------------------------ e----------------o-----2-----3-/5-7-8-7-5-\3------------------------------------5-/7-8-b-----o-----1-/3---3-5---5-7------------------7-5-3-\1------------1----3-/5-7-8--------g-o-2---2-4--------------------------------------------4-2-o-/2-4---4-5----------------d--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------a--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------e-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- e-10-8-7-\5--------------------------------------------------------------------7-/8-10-b-----------8-7-5-\3------------------------------------------3-----5-/7-8-10----------g--------------------5-4-2-\o--------------------o-----2-/4-5---5-7--------------------d-----------------------------4-2-o-2-4-2-o-/2-4---4-5---------------------------------a--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------e-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- e-12-10-8-\7---------------------------------b------------10-8-7-\5-----------------------g----------------------7-5-4-\2--------------d-------------------------------5-4-2-\o-----a----------------------------------------3-2-e-------------------------------------------- e--------------------------------------------o-------------7-------8-/10-12-b----------------------------------------5---------7-/8-10---10-12----------g--------------------------------4-/5-7---7---7-9---------------------------d----------------o-----2-/4-5-7---------------------------------------------a-o-2-3-2-o-/2-3---3-5------------------------------------------------------e--------------------------------------------------------------------------- e-13-12-10-\8--------------------------------------------b-------------12-10-8-\7---------------------------------g------------------------9-7-5-\4------------------------d----------------------------------7-5-4-\3--------------a-------------------------------------------5-3-2-\o-----e----------------------------------------------------3-2- e-------------------------------------------------------------------------------10-/12-14-b-----------------------------------------------o------------7------8-/10-12-13-----------g-------------------------------------------4---------5-/7-9---9-11-----------------------d------------------------------2-----4-/5-7---7---7-9-------------------------------------a-----------------o-----2-/3-5---5-7------------------------------------------------------e-o-2-3-2-o-/2-3---3-5-------------------------------------------------------------------- e-15-14-12-\10--------------------------------------------b--------------14-13-10-\8--------------------------------g--------------------------11-9-7-\5----------------------
d------------------------------------9-7-5-\4-------------a---------------------------------------------7-5-3-\2----e-----------------------------------------------------5-3- e------------------------------------------------------------------------------b----------------------------------------o----------------8-------10-/12-13-15-g-------------------------------------------------7-/9-11---11-12--------------d-----------------------------4-----5-/7---7-9-10------------------------------a----------------2-----3-/5-7---7-9--------------------------------------------e-2-3-5-3-2-/3-5---5-7--------------------------------------------------------- e-12------------------------------------------------b----15-13-12-\10-----------------------------------g-----------------12-11-9-\7------------------------d----------------------------10-9-7-\5--------------a--------------------------------------9-7-5-\3-----e-----------------------------------------------7-5- e-------------------------------------------------------------b----------------------------------------------------10-------g-------------------------o-----------------9-/11-12----12-14-d--------------------------------7-/9-10-12-------------------a------------------5-/7-9---9-10------------------------------e-3-5-7-5-3-/5-7-8-------------------------------------------- e------------------------------------------b-12-\10-----------------------------------g--------12-11-\9---------------------------d-----------------12-10-9-\7---------------a----------------------------10-9-7-\5-----e--------------------------------------8-7- e--------------------------------------------------------------------------b-----------------------------------------------------------------12-------g----------------------------o------------------9-------11-/12-14----14-16-d----------------o---------------------9-/10-12---12-14--------------------a-----------------------7-/9---9-10-12-------------------------------------e-5-7-8-7-5-/7-8---8-10---------------------------------------------------- e---------------------------------------------b-13-12---------------------------------------g-------14-12-\11-----------------------------d-----------------14-12-10-\9-----------------a-----------------------------12-10-9-\7------e----------------------------------------10-8- e--------------------------------------------------o----------------b-------------------------------------------------------------------g----------------------------------------------------------11-------d-----------------------------------9-------10-/12---12-14----14-16-a------------------7-------9-/10-12---12-14-------------------------e-7-8-10-8-7-/8-10---10-12------------------------------------------- e----------------------------------------------------------------------------------b-----------------------------------------------------------------------o----------g-12-------------------------------------------------------------------------------d----16-14-12-\10------------------------------------------------------------------a------------------14-12-10-\9---------------------------9-------10-/12---12-14-15-e------------------------------12-10--8-10-12-10-8-/10-12--12-14------------------- e-----------------------------------------------------------b-----------------------------------------------------------g---------------------------------------------o-------------d-12--------------------------------------------------------a----15-14-12-/10-------------------------------------------e-----------------14-12-10-12-14-12-10-/12-14---14-15-14-12-
e-----------------------------------------------------------
b-----------------------------------------------------------
g-------------o---------------------------------------------
d--------------------------------------------------------12-
a-------------------------------------------10-\12-14-15----
e-12-14-15-14---14-12-\10-12-14-12-10-12-14-----------------
e----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
b----------o-----------------------------------------------------------------------
g-------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-
d------------------------------------------------------------------10-/12-14-16----
a-15-14-12---12-\10-------9---------------------------9-/10-12-14------------------
e-------------------14-12--12-10-\8-10-12-10-8--10-12------------------------------
e----------------o--------------------------------------------------
b-------------------------------------------------------------------
g-------11----------------------------------------------------------
d-16-14----14-12---12-\10-------9-----------------------------------
a-------------------------14-12---12-10-\9-------7------------------
e-------------------------------------------12-10---10-8-\7-8-10-8-7-
e---------------------------------------------
b---------------------------------------12-13-
g-----------------------------11-/12-14-------
d-----------------9-/10-12-14-----------------
a------7-/9-10-12-----------------------------
e-8-10----------------------------------------
e--------------------------------------------------------------------------
b-------12-----------------------------------------------------------------
g-16-14----14-12-\11-------9------------------o----------------------------
d--------------------14-12---12-10-\9---------------------o----------------
a-------------------------------------12-10-9---9-\7-----------------------
e----------------------------------------------------10-8---8-7-\5-7-8-7-5-
e------------------------------------------
b-----------------------------------10-/12-
g---------------------------9-/11-12--------
d---------------7-/9-10-12-----------------
a-----5-/7-9-10----------------------------
e-7-8--------------------------------------
e-------------------------------------------------------------
b-------10----------------------------------------------------
g-14-12----12-11-\9-----------------o-------------------------
d-------------------12-10-9-\7--------------------------------
a------------------------------10-9---9-7-\5------------------
e--------------------------------------------8-7-5-\3-5-7-5-3-
e------------------------------------------------12-
b-----------------------------------10-/12-13-15----
g------------------------7-/9-11-12-----------------
d--------------5-/7-9-10----------------------------
a-----3-/5-7-9--------------------------------------
e-5-7-----------------------------------------------
e------------------------------------------------------------------------------
b-15-13-12-\10-------8----------------o----------------------------------------
g--------------12-11---11-9-\7-------------------------------------------------
d------------------------------10-9-7---7-\5-----4-----------------------------
a--------------------------------------------9-7---7-5-\3-----2----------------
e---------------------------------------------------------7-5---5-3-\2-3-5-3-2-
e--------------------------------------------10-/12-14-15-
b--------------------------------8-/10-12-13--------------
g----------------------5-/7-9-11--------------------------
d-------------4-/5-7-9------------------------------------
a----2-/3-5-7---------------------------------------------
e-3-5-----------------------------------------------------
e-13-12-\10-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
b-----------13-12-10-\8------7------------o-----------------------------------------------
g-----------------------11-9---9-7-\5---------4-------------------------------------------
d-------------------------------------9-7---7---7-5-\4-----2------------------------------
a------------------------------------------------------7-5---5-3-\2-----o-----------------
e--------------------------------------------------------------------5-3---3-2-\o-2-3-2-o-
e--------------------------------------------8-/10-12-14-
b---------------------------------7-/8-10-12-------------
g------------------------4-/5-7-9------------------------
d--------------3-/4-5-7----------------------------------
a-----o-/2-3-5-------------------------------------------
e-2-3----------------------------------------------------
e-12-10-\8-------7-------------o--------------------------------------------
b----------12-10---10-8-\7---------5----------------------------------------
g---------------------------9-7---7---7-5-\4--------------------------------
d---------------------------------------------7-5-4-\2-----o----------------
a------------------------------------------------------5-3---3-2-\o-2-3-2-o-
e---------------------------------------------------------------------------
e---------------------------------7-/8-10-12-
b-----------------------5-/7-8-10------------
g--------------2-/4-5-7----------------------
d-----o-/2-4-5-------------------------------
a-2-3----------------------------------------
e--------------------------------------------
e-10-8-\7--------------------------------------------------------------------5-/7-8-10-
b----------10-8-7-\5-----3------------------------------------------3-/5-7-8-----------
g--------------------7-5---5-4-\2-----o--------------------o-/2-4-5--------------------
d---------------------------------5-4---4-2-\o-2-4-2-o-2-4-----------------------------
a--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
e--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
e-8-7-\5------------------------------------3-/5-7-8-7-5-\3-----2-----o----------------
b--------8-7-5-\3----1------------1-/3-5-7------------------7-5---5-3---3-\1-----o-----
g----------------5-4---4-2-\o-2-4--------------------------------------------4-2---2-o-
d--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
e--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
e------------2-/3-5-7-5-3-\2--------------o-/2-3-5-3-2-\o------------o-2-3-2-o-
b---o-/1-3-5-----------------5-3-1-\o-1-3------------------3-1-o-1-3-----------
g-2----------------------------------------------------------------------------
d------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a------------------------------------------------------------------------------
e------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the position shifting exercises, the scale that ended each section was fully shifted and three octaves. For example,
e-------------------------------------------------10-/12-14-15-
b-------------------------------------8-/10-12-13--------------
g---------------------------5-/7-9-11--------------------------
d------------------4-/5-7-9------------------------------------
a---------2-/3-5-7---------------------------------------------
e-o-2-3-5------------------------------------------------------
e-15-14-12-\10-------------------------------------------------
b--------------13-12-10-\8-------------------------------------
g--------------------------11-9-7-\5---------------------------
d------------------------------------9-7-5-\4------------------
a---------------------------------------------7-5-3-\2---------
e------------------------------------------------------5-3-2-o-
This scale is extremely powerful because of its three octave range, and also because it contains the same number of notes on each string. As seen with the three note efficiency scales, a consistent number of notes reduces the amount of brain power necessary to calculate changing picking patterns.
The next four-note three-octave scale starting in the Locrean position is
e-----------------------------------------------------12-/14-15-17-
b----------------------------------------10-/12-13-15--------------
g-----------------------------7-/9-11-12---------------------------
d-------------------5-/7-9-10--------------------------------------
a----------3-/5-7-9------------------------------------------------
e-2-/3-5-7---------------------------------------------------------
e-17-15-14-\12----------------------------------------------------
b--------------15-13-12-\10---------------------------------------
g---------------------------12-11-9-\7-----------------------------
d--------------------------------------10-9-7-\5-------------------
a------------------------------------------------9-7-5-\3----------
e---------------------------------------------------------7-5-3-\2-
In the previous exercise, these scales were truncated to eliminate redundant patterns, but or the efficiency scales continue them to their extreme.
e---------------------------------------------------------14-/15-17-19-
b--------------------------------------------12-/13-15-17--------------
g--------------------------------9-/11-12-14---------------------------
d---------------------7-/9-10-12---------------------------------------
a----------5-/7-9-10---------------------------------------------------
e-3-/5-7-8-------------------------------------------------------------
e-19-17-15-\14--------------------------------------------------------
b--------------17-15-13-\12-------------------------------------------
g---------------------------14-12-11-\9-------------------------------
d---------------------------------------12-10-9-\7--------------------
a--------------------------------------------------10-9-7-\5----------
e------------------------------------------------------------8-7-5-\3-
The following are not possible to play as is because of the extended neck position, but their patterns are included here for transposition purposes.
e------------------------------------------------------------15-/17-19-21-
b-----------------------------------------------13-/15-17-18--------------
g----------------------------------11-/12-14-16---------------------------
d----------------------9-/10-12-14----------------------------------------
a-----------7-/9-10-12----------------------------------------------------
e-5-/7-8-10---------------------------------------------------------------
e-21-19-17-\15------------------------------------------------------------
b--------------18-17-15-\13-----------------------------------------------
g---------------------------15-14-12-\11----------------------------------
d----------------------------------------14-12-10-\9----------------------
a----------------------------------------------------12-10-9-\7-----------
e---------------------------------------------------------------10-8-7-\5-
e--------------------------------------------------------------17-/19-20-22-
b-------------------------------------------------15-/17-19-20--------------
g-------------------------------------12-/14-16-17--------------------------
d------------------------10-/12-14-16---------------------------------------
a------------9-/10-12-14----------------------------------------------------
e-7-/8-10-12----------------------------------------------------------------
e-22-20-19-\17--------------------------------------------------------------
b--------------20-19-17-\15-------------------------------------------------
g---------------------------17-16-14-\12------------------------------------
d---------------------------------------16-14-12-\10------------------------
a----------------------------------------------------14-12-10-\9------------
e----------------------------------------------------------------12-10-8-\7-
e----------------------------------------------------------------19-/20-22-24-
b---------------------------------------------------17-/19-20-22--------------
g--------------------------------------14-/16-17-19---------------------------
d--------------------------12-14-16-17----------------------------------------
a-------------10-/12-14-15----------------------------------------------------
e-8-/10-12-14-----------------------------------------------------------------
e-24-22-20-\19----------------------------------------------------------------
b--------------22-20-19-\17---------------------------------------------------
g---------------------------19-17-16-\14--------------------------------------
d----------------------------------------17-16-14-12--------------------------
a----------------------------------------------------15-14-12-\10-------------
e-----------------------------------------------------------------14-12-10-\8-
e-----------------------------------------------------------------20-/22-24-26-
b----------------------------------------------------19-/20-22-24--------------
g---------------------------------------16-/17-19-21---------------------------
d--------------------------14-/16-17-19----------------------------------------
a--------------12-14-15-17-----------------------------------------------------
e-10-/12-14-15-----------------------------------------------------------------
e-26-24-22-\20-----------------------------------------------------------------
b--------------24-22-20-\19----------------------------------------------------
g---------------------------21-19-17-\16---------------------------------------
d----------------------------------------19-17-16-\14--------------------------
a-----------------------------------------------------17-15-14-12--------------
e-----------------------------------------------------------------15-14-12-\10-
e------------------------------------------------------------------22-/24-26-27-
b-----------------------------------------------------20-/22-24-25--------------
g----------------------------------------17-/19-21-23---------------------------
d---------------------------16-/17-19-21----------------------------------------
a--------------14-/15-17-19-----------------------------------------------------
e-12-/14-15-17------------------------------------------------------------------
e-27-26-24-\22------------------------------------------------------------------
b--------------25-24-22-\20-----------------------------------------------------
g---------------------------23-21-19-\17----------------------------------------
d----------------------------------------21-19-17-\16---------------------------
a-----------------------------------------------------19-17-15-\14--------------
e------------------------------------------------------------------17-15-14-\12-
Other four note efficiency patterns do not contain some strings, but are still useful
e-o-/2-3-5-5-3-2-\o----------2-/3-5-7-7-5-3-\2-----------
b-------------------o-/1-3-5--------------------5-3-1-\o-
g---------------------------------------------------------
d---------------------------------------------------------
a---------------------------------------------------------
e---------------------------------------------------------
e------------------5-/7-8-10-10-8-7-\5------------------
b---------3-/5-7-8---------------------8-7-5-\3---------
g-o-2-4-5---------------------------------------5-4-2-o-
d-------------------------------------------------------
a-------------------------------------------------------
e-------------------------------------------------------
e----------------------------7-/8-10-12-12-10-8-\7----------------------------
b------------------5-/7-8-10-----------------------10-8-7-\5------------------
g---------2-/4-5-7-------------------------------------------7-5-4-\2---------
d-o-2-4-5-------------------------------------------------------------5-4-2-o-
a-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
e-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
e--------------------------------------8-/10-12-14-
b---------------------------7-/8-10-12-------------
g------------------4-/5-7-9------------------------
d---------2-/4-5-7---------------------------------
a-o-2-3-5------------------------------------------
e--------------------------------------------------
The moveable versions of these scales can slide into any key, and these scales can append to any of the scales in other keys using the shifts in the "Scales in Other Keys" document.
For a summary, both ascending and descending, see the document, "Four Note Efficiency Scales in G."
Typically first finger is shifted, but any finger may be the basis for the shift. With fourth finger shifts, the note pattern remains the same, but the shift occurs at the end of the string group rather than the beginning. Shown here are in Locrean starting point, efficiency style, but patterns are similar for other scales.
e-----------------------------------------------------12-14-15-/17-
b----------------------------------------10-12-13-15--------------
g-----------------------------7-9-11-/12---------------------------
d-------------------5-7-9-/10--------------------------------------
a----------3-5-7-/9------------------------------------------------
e-2-3-5-/7---------------------------------------------------------
e-17-\15-14-12----------------------------------------------------
b--------------15-\13-12-10---------------------------------------
g---------------------------12-\11-9-7-----------------------------
d--------------------------------------10-\9-7-5-------------------
a------------------------------------------------9-\7-5-3----------
e---------------------------------------------------------7-\5-3-2-
Shifting off the second or third finger is possible, but often leads to awkward fingerings.
e-----------------------------------------------------12-14-/15-17-
b----------------------------------------10-12-/13-15--------------
g-----------------------------7-9-/11-12---------------------------
d-------------------5-7-/9-10--------------------------------------
a----------3-5-/7-9------------------------------------------------
e-2-3-/5-7---------------------------------------------------------
e-17-15-\14-12----------------------------------------------------
b--------------15-13-\12-10---------------------------------------
g---------------------------12-11-\9-7-----------------------------
d--------------------------------------10-9-\7-5-------------------
a------------------------------------------------9-7-\5-3----------
e---------------------------------------------------------7-5-\3-2-
Finally, multiple shifts on one string lead to even more vertical movement, topping out on this monster of a four-octave scale fully playable only on an extended neck. On each string, the first shift uses the first finger and the second shift uses the fourth finger.
e---------------------------------------------------------------------------19-/20-22-24-/26---
b----------------------------------------------------------15-/17-19-20-/22--------------------
g-----------------------------------------11-/12-14-16-/17-------------------------------------
d--------------------------7-/9-10-12-/14------------------------------------------------------
a-------------3-/5-7-9-/10---------------------------------------------------------------------
e-o-/2-3-5-/7----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
e---26-\24-22-20-\19---------------------------------------------------------------------------
b--------------------22-\20-19-17-\15----------------------------------------------------------
g-------------------------------------17-\16-14-12-\11-----------------------------------------
d-------------------------------------------------------14-\12-10-9e7--------------------------
a---------------------------------------------------------------------10-\9-7-5-\3-------------
e----------------------------------------------------------------------------------7-\5-3-2-\o-
All the scales so far base off the Greek modes and alterations. Some scales base off symmetrical patterns. The first is the chromatic scale that started the process. But others exist.
The whole tone scale is just a series of six whole steps. Since a whole tone scale transposed up a step is the same scale, only two unique whole tone patterns exists, with any of the notes having the possibility of being a root tone.
e-0-2-4-6-8-10-
b-1-3-5-7-9-11-
g-1-3-5-7-9-11-
d-0-2-4-6-8-10-
a-1-3-5-7-9-11-
e-0-2-4-6-8-10-
e-1-3-5-7-9-11-
b-0-2-4-6-8-10-
g-0-2-4-6-8-10-
d-1-3-5-7-9-11-
a-0-2-4-6-8-10-
e-1-3-5-7-9-11-
e--------------------------0-2-4-
b----------------------1-3-------
g-----------------1-3------------
d-----------0-2-4----------------
a-------1-3----------------------
e-0-2-4--------------------------
e-------------------------1-3-
b-------------------0-2-------
g---------------0-2-----------
d-----------1-3---------------
a-----0-2-4-------------------
e-1-3-------------------------
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For vertical versions in all 12 keys (just variations on these 3 patterns with new roots) see Vertical Scale Whole Tone.
e-------------------------3-5-7-
b---------------------4-6-------
g-----------------4-6-----------
d-----------3-5-7---------------
a-------4-6---------------------
e-3-5-7-------------------------
e----------------------------------9-11-13-
b--------------------------8-10-12---------
g-------------------6-8-10-----------------
d-------------5-7-9------------------------
a-------4-6-8------------------------------
e-3-5-7------------------------------------
e---------------------1-3-
b-----------------2-4-----
g-------------2-4---------
d---------3-5-------------
a-----4-6-----------------
e-5-7---------------------
Whole tone scales are useful for improvising over an augmented chord, or for simply a floating effect.
The Octatonic scale alternates whole and half steps into an eight-note pattern. Octatonic scales sound interesting on their own or as a scale over a fully diminished seventh chord. Like the whole tone scale, only a limited number of unique scales exist. The three unique versions of the octatonic scale are
e-0-1-3-4-6-7-9--10-
b-0-2-3-5-6-8-9--10-
g-0-1-3-4-6-7-9--10-
d-0-2-3-5-6-8-9--10-
a-1-2-4-5-7-8-10-11-
e-0-1-3-4-6-7-9--10-
e-1-2-4-5-7-8-10-11-
b-0-1-3-4-6-7-9--10-
g-1-2-4-5-7-8-10-11-
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g-0-2-3-5-6-8-9--10-
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For vertical versions in all 12 keys (just variations on these 3 patterns with new roots) see Vertical Scale Octatonic.
e---------------------------------0-1-3-4-
b---------------------------0-2-3---------
g---------------------0-1-3---------------
d---------------0-2-3---------------------
a---------1-2-4---------------------------
e-0-1-3-4---------------------------------
e---------------------------------1-2-4-
b-------------------------0-1-3-4-------
g---------------------1-2---------------
d-------------0-1-3-4-------------------
a-------0-2-3---------------------------
e-1-2-4---------------------------------
e---------------------------------0-2-3-
b---------------------------1-2-4-------
g---------------------0-2-3-------------
d---------------1-2-4-------------------
a-------0-1-3-4-------------------------
e-0-2-3---------------------------------
e-----------------------------------2-3-5-
b-----------------------------2-4-5-------
g---------------------2-3-5-6-------------
d---------------2-4-5---------------------
a---------3-4-6---------------------------
e-2-3-5-6---------------------------------
e----------------------------------2-4-5-
b----------------------------3-4-6-------
g----------------------2-4-5-------------
d---------------3-4-6--------------------
a-------2-3-5-6--------------------------
e-2-4-5----------------------------------
(Octatonic Moveable #3 would be redundant.)
e----------------------------------------------8-9-11-12-
b------------------------------------7-8-10-11-----------
g-------------------------5-6-8-9-10---------------------
d-----------------4-5-7-8--------------------------------
a---------3-4-6-7----------------------------------------
e-2-3-5-6------------------------------------------------
The modal scales so far have all been in context, with all notes being the same. G Ionian, A Dorian, B Phrygian, C Lydian, D Mixolydian, E Aeolian, and F# Locrean are just the same seven notes in different orders. But removing the context and transposing all the scales to the same note is a useful exercise. These are the parallel modes, shown here in G. These are the actual modal scales, and not just the position of the scales used as a learning aid before.
e-----------------------------3-5-7-
b-----------------------3-5-7-------
g-------------------4-5-------------
d-------------4-5-7-----------------
a-------3-5-7-----------------------
e-3-5-7-----------------------------
e-7-5-3-----------------------------
b-------7-5-3-----------------------
g-------------5-4-------------------
d-----------------7-5-4-------------
a-----------------------7-5-3-------
e-----------------------------7-5-3-
e-----------------------------3-5-6-
b-----------------------3-5-6-------
g-------------------3-5-------------
d-------------3-5-7-----------------
a-------3-5-7-----------------------
e-3-5-6-----------------------------
e-6-5-3-----------------------------
b-------6-5-3-----------------------
g-------------5-3-------------------
d-----------------7-5-3-------------
a-----------------------7-5-3-------
e-----------------------------6-5-3-
e-----------------------------3-4-6-
b-----------------------3-4-6-------
g-------------------3-5-------------
d-------------3-5-6-----------------
a-------3-5-6-----------------------
e-3-4-6-----------------------------
e-6-4-3-----------------------------
b-------6-4-3-----------------------
g-------------5-3-------------------
d-----------------6-5-3-------------
a-----------------------6-5-3-------
e-----------------------------6-4-3-
e-----------------------------3-5-7-
b-----------------------3-5-7-------
g-------------------4-6-------------
d-------------4-5-7-----------------
a-------4-5-7-----------------------
e-3-5-7-----------------------------
e-7-5-3-----------------------------
b-------7-5-3-----------------------
g-------------6-4-------------------
d-----------------7-5-4-------------
a-----------------------7-5-4-------
e-----------------------------7-5-3-
e-----------------------------3-5-7-
b-----------------------3-5-6-------
g-------------------4-5-------------
d-------------3-5-7-----------------
a-------3-5-7-----------------------
e-3-5-7-----------------------------
e-7-5-3-----------------------------
b-------6-5-3-----------------------
g-------------5-4-------------------
d-----------------7-5-3-------------
a-----------------------7-5-3-------
e-----------------------------7-5-3-
e-----------------------------3-5-6-
b-----------------------3-4-6-------
g-------------------3-5-------------
d-------------3-5-7-----------------
a-------3-5-6-----------------------
e-3-5-6-----------------------------
e-6-5-3-----------------------------
b-------6-4-3-----------------------
g-------------5-3-------------------
d-----------------7-5-3-------------
a-----------------------6-5-3-------
e-----------------------------6-5-3-
e-----------------------------3-4-6-
b-------------------------4-6-------
g-------------------3-5-6-----------
d-------------3-5-6-----------------
a-------3-4-6-----------------------
e-3-4-6-----------------------------
e-6-4-3-----------------------------
b-------6-4-------------------------
g-----------6-5-3-------------------
d-----------------6-5-3-------------
a-----------------------6-4-3-------
e-----------------------------6-4-3-
The harmonic minor scale raised the seventh degree of the minor (Aeolian) mode. Building the equivalent of modal scales on each of the scales on each of the degrees of the harmonic minor scale yields the following scales. (See the music theory document for why the scales have their labels.)
e-----------------------------3-5-7-
b-----------------------4-5-7-------
g-------------------4-5-------------
d-------------4-5-7-----------------
a-------3-6-7-----------------------
e-3-5-7-----------------------------
e-7-5-3-----------------------------
b-------7-5-4-----------------------
g-------------5-4-------------------
d-----------------7-5-4-------------
a-----------------------7-6-3-------
e-----------------------------7-5-3-
e------------------------------3-5-6-
b------------------------3-5-6-------
g-------------------3-6--------------
d-------------3-5-7------------------
a-------4-5-7------------------------
e-3-5-6------------------------------
e-6-5-3------------------------------
b-------6-5-3------------------------
g--------------6-3-------------------
d------------------7-5-3-------------
a------------------------7-5-4-------
e------------------------------6-5-3-
e-----------------------------3-4-7-
b-----------------------3-4-6-------
g-------------------4-5-------------
d-------------3-5-6-----------------
a-------3-5-6-----------------------
e-3-4-7-----------------------------
e-7-4-3-----------------------------
b-------6-4-3-----------------------
g-------------5-4-------------------
d-----------------6-5-3-------------
a-----------------------6-5-3-------
e-----------------------------7-4-3-
e-----------------------------3-6-7-
b-----------------------3-5-7-------
g-----------------3-4-6-------------
d-------------4-5-------------------
a-------4-5-7-----------------------
e-3-6-7-----------------------------
e-7-6-3-----------------------------
b-------7-5-3-----------------------
g-------------6-4-3-----------------
d-------------------5-4-------------
a-----------------------7-5-4-------
e-----------------------------7-6-3-
e-----------------------------3-4-6-
b-----------------------2-4-5-------
g-------------------3-4-------------
d-------------2-5-6-----------------
a-------2-4-6-----------------------
e-3-4-6-----------------------------
e-6-4-3-----------------------------
b-------5-4-2-----------------------
g-------------4-3-------------------
d-----------------6-5-2-------------
a-----------------------6-4-2-------
e-----------------------------6-4-3-
e-----------------------------3-5-6-
b-----------------------3-4-7-------
g-------------------3-5-------------
d-------------4-5-7-----------------
a-------3-5-6-----------------------
e-3-5-6-----------------------------
e-6-5-3-----------------------------
b-------7-4-3-----------------------
g-------------5-3-------------------
d-----------------7-5-4-------------
a-----------------------6-5-3-------
e-----------------------------6-5-3-
e-----------------------------3-4-6-
b-------------------------5-6-------
g-------------------3-5-6-----------
d-------------3-5-6-----------------
a-------3-4-6-----------------------
e-3-4-6-----------------------------
e-6-4-3-----------------------------
b-------6-5-------------------------
g-----------6-5-3-------------------
d-----------------6-5-3-------------
a-----------------------6-4-3-------
e-----------------------------6-4-3-
The melodic minor scale raises the sixth and seventh scale degrees, leading to the following modal equivalents.
e-----------------------------3-5-7-
b-----------------------4-5-7-------
g-------------------4-6-------------
d-------------4-5-7-----------------
a-------4-6-7-----------------------
e-3-5-7-----------------------------
e-7-5-3-----------------------------
b-------7-5-3-----------------------
g-------------5-4-------------------
d-----------------7-5-4-------------
a-----------------------7-5-3-------
e-----------------------------7-5-3-
e-----------------------------3-5-7-
b-----------------------3-5-6-------
g-------------------4-6-------------
d-------------3-5-7-----------------
a-------4-5-7-----------------------
e-3-5-7-----------------------------
e-6-5-3-----------------------------
b-------6-5-3-----------------------
g-------------5-3-------------------
d-----------------7-5-3-------------
a-----------------------7-5-3-------
e-----------------------------6-5-3-
e-----------------------------3-5-7-
b-----------------------3-4-6-------
g-------------------4-5-------------
d-------------3-5-7-----------------
a-------3-5-6-----------------------
e-3-5-7-----------------------------
e-6-4-3-----------------------------
b-------6-4-3-----------------------
g-------------5-3-------------------
d-----------------6-5-3-------------
a-----------------------6-5-3-------
e-----------------------------6-4-3-
e-----------------------------3-5-6-
b-----------------------2-4-6-------
g-------------------3-5-------------
d-------------3-5-7-----------------
a-------3-4-6-----------------------
e-3-5-6-----------------------------
e-6-4-2-----------------------------
b-------6-4-2-----------------------
g-------------5-3-------------------
d-----------------6-4-3-------------
a-----------------------6-4-3-------
e-----------------------------6-4-2-
e------------------------------3-4-6-
b------------------------2-4-6-------
g--------------------3-4-------------
d--------------3-5-6-----------------
a-------2-4-6------------------------
e-3-4-6------------------------------
e-6-4-2------------------------------
b-------5-4-2------------------------
g--------------4-3-------------------
d------------------6-4-2-------------
a------------------------6-4-2-------
e------------------------------6-4-2-
e-----------------------------3-5-6-
b-----------------------3-5-7-------
g-------------------3-5-------------
d-------------4-5-7-----------------
a-------3-5-7-----------------------
e-3-5-6-----------------------------
e-6-5-3-----------------------------
b-------6-4-------------------------
g-----------7-5-3-------------------
d-----------------7-5-3-------------
a-----------------------6-5-3-------
e-----------------------------6-5-3-
e-----------------------------3-4-6-
b-----------------------3-5-6-------
g-------------------3-5-------------
d-------------3-5-6-----------------
a-------3-5-7-----------------------
e-3-4-6-----------------------------
e-6-4-3-----------------------------
b-------6-4-------------------------
g-----------6-5-3-------------------
d-----------------6-5-3-------------
a-----------------------6-4-3-------
e-----------------------------6-4-3-
These parallel modal scales are useful not only for solos over the chords that lie underneath them, but also as a source for alternate notes to the traditional scales. For example, many guitar players use the parallel Dorian mode over a major scale to take advantage of the color of the lowered third and seventh. These altered notes can substitute for the original scale degree, or just add to the scale.
One problem with the seven note scale is that music tends to divide down into even numbered divisions. Groups of 4 and 7 do not line up in a satisfying manner. To make the scale line up into an even number, add a chromatic tone to the scale. One common use of a chromatic passing to is adding a lowered seventh to the major scale.
e---------------------------o-1-2-3-
b---------------------o-1-3---------
g-----------------o-2---------------
d---------o-2-3-4-------------------
a---o-2-3---------------------------
e-3---------------------------------
e-3-2-1-o---------------------------
b---------3-1-o---------------------
g---------------2-o-----------------
d-------------------4-3-2-o---------
a---------------------------3-2-o---
e---------------------------------3-
Another common addition is a raised seventh added to a minor scale.
e---------------------------------o-
b-------------------------o-1-3-4---
g---------------------o-2-----------
d-------------o-1-2-4---------------
a-------o-2-3-----------------------
e-o-2-3-----------------------------
e-o---------------------------------
b---4-3-1-o-------------------------
g-----------2-o---------------------
d---------------4-2-1-o-------------
a-----------------------3-2-o-------
e-----------------------------3-2-o-
Additions may occur anywhere, but another common addition is between the fourth and fifth scale degrees both in major or minor.
e---------------------------o-1-2-3---
b---------------------o-1-2-3---------
g-----------------o-2-----------------
d---------o-2-3-4---------------------
a---o-2-3-4---------------------------
e-3-----------------------------------
e-3-2-1-o-----------------------------
b---------3-2-1-o---------------------
g---------------2-o-------------------
d-------------------4-3-2-o-----------
a--------------------------4-3-2-o----
e---------------------------------3---
Minor with an added raised fourth
e-------------------------------------o-
b-----------------------------o-1-3-4---
g-----------------------o-2-3-----------
d---------------o-1-2-4-----------------
a-------o-1-2-3-------------------------
e-o-2-3---------------------------------
e-o-------------------------------------
b---4-3-1-o-----------------------------
g-----------3-2-o-----------------------
d-----------------4-2-1-o---------------
a-------------------------3-2-1-o-------
e---------------------------------3-2-o-
These additions can also convert a fixed scale into a scale appropriate for efficiency style picking. For example, G in the Ionian Position with an added raised fourth on the G string becomes
e-------------------------------3-5-7-
b-------------------------3-5-7-------
g-------------------4-5-6-------------
d-------------4-5-7-------------------
a-------3-5-7-------------------------
e-3-5-7-------------------------------
e-7-5-3-------------------------------
b-------7-5-3-------------------------
g-------------6-5-4-------------------
d-------------------7-5-4-------------
a-------------------------7-5-3-------
e-------------------------------7-5-3-
Efficiency additions continue to the other positions.
e-------------------------------5-7-8-
b-------------------------5-7-8-------
g-------------------5-6-7-------------
d-------------5-7-9-------------------
a-------5-7-9-------------------------
e-5-7-8-------------------------------
e-8-7-5-------------------------------
b-------8-7-5-------------------------
g-------------7-6-5-------------------
d-------------------9-7-5-------------
a-------------------------9-7-5-------
e-------------------------------8-7-5-
e-----------------------------------7-8-10-
b----------------------------7-8-10--------
g----------------------7-8-9---------------
d---------------7-9-10---------------------
a--------7-9-10----------------------------
e-7-8-10-----------------------------------
e-10-8-7-----------------------------------
b--------10-8-7----------------------------
g---------------9-8-7----------------------
d---------------------10-9-7---------------
a----------------------------10-9-7--------
e-----------------------------------10-8-7-
e-----------------------------------------8-10-12-
b---------------------------------8-10-12---------
g-------------------------9-10-11-----------------
d-----------------9-10-12-------------------------
a---------9-10-12---------------------------------
e-8-10-12-----------------------------------------
e-12-10-8-----------------------------------------
b---------12-10-8---------------------------------
g-----------------11-10-9-------------------------
d-------------------------12-10-9-----------------
a---------------------------------12-10-9---------
e-----------------------------------------12-10-8-
e----------------------------------------------10-12-14-
b-------------------------------------10-12-13----------
g----------------------------10-11-12-------------------
d-------------------10-12-14----------------------------
a----------10-12-14-------------------------------------
e-10-12-14----------------------------------------------
e-14-12-10----------------------------------------------
b----------13-12-10-------------------------------------
g-------------------12-11-10----------------------------
d----------------------------14-12-10-------------------
a-------------------------------------14-12-10----------
e----------------------------------------------14-12-10-
e-------------------------------2-3-5-
b-------------------------3-4-5-------
g-------------------2-4-5-------------
d-------------2-4-5-------------------
a-------2-3-5-------------------------
e-2-3-5-------------------------------
e-5-3-2-------------------------------
b-------5-4-3-------------------------
g-------------5-4-2-------------------
d-------------------5-4-2-------------
a-------------------------5-3-2-------
e-------------------------------5-3-2-
The scales listed so far have grown organically from typical playing, but other scales also exist. Avant Garde artists like Frank Zappa invented their own scales and patterns. Computer generated combinatorics can produce a list of all possible scales within given parameters.
The document, "All Possible Scales in a Fixed Position" is a list of the 3,302 scales possible from one set of chromatic notes up the fretboard two octaves. This list is devoid of musical context, so my be more useful just as an intellectual exercise or as sight reading than any practical purpose. The list contains 3302 open position scales, and then the same scales in a moveable form in the first position. All the single position patterns shown so far are in the list somewhere, but without musical context, picking out useful scales would be difficult. The last also does not contain alternate fingerings or shifts to other positions as found in the manually constructed lists. The list could continue up the fretboard, but the scales up the fretboard would just be shifted versions of the same 3302 patterns. If they were continued up the fretboard to one full octave above, 42,926 different scales are possible, not counting shifts and alternate fingerings. Continuing up a full 24 fret fretboard would yield 66,040 scales, plus their shifts and alternate fingerings.
Another possible set of scales would be unbalanced scales, with different notes in different octaves. For example, play a major scale in the lower octave and then a minor scale in the next octave. Any of the 3302 patterns could combine with themselves for 10,903,204 possible combinations for just one position or 218,064,080 combinations up the fretboard. All the possible combinations of three octave scales would be 36,002,379,608 for a single shift set or 252,016,657,256 up the fretboard. Since an extended neck on the guitar can handle one four octave pattern, the number of scale combinations in a four octave shift would be 118,879,857,465,616, so get practicing if you want to learn them all.
Anyone who has learned all the naturally occurring scales in all the positions in all the keys has an amazing amount of knowledge under their fingertips. The truth is that very few people would have the ability or the desire to learn them all. And learning patterns is not the end goal anyway. Music that just runs through scales becomes boring quickly. Instead, practice the scales so that whatever music happens in the mind is already in the muscle memory. If the fingers can do any pattern, then anything the mind thinks or the ear hears has a place to express itself.
After learning the basic scales, move on to the Scale Weaves and Arpeggios section.
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