How to Read Guitar Scale Diagrams

Guitar scale diagrams show the pattern of notes to play a scale, and where the notes would appear on the fretboard.

A scale diagram represents the fretboard of a guitar. Just like a guitar tab, the bottom line of the guitar scale diagram represents the low E string.

Guitar Scale Diagram Showing the G Major Scale on the Guitar Fretboard

The red dot on the 3rd fret low E string shows the root note G. Follow the arrows in order to play the notes of the G Major scale on the guitar. The second red dot on the 5th fret of the D string is the octave root note.

Guitar Tab for the Scale Diagram Shown:

G Major Scale
e|--------------------------|
B|--------------------------|
G|--------------------------|
D|-----------------2--4--5--|
A|--------2--3--5-----------|
E|--3--5--------------------|

This Scale Diagram Shows the Entire G Major Scale

The G Major Scale Patterns on the Guitar Fretboard