Getting Started
Scales are a group of music notes played in a certain order based on how far apart the notes are from each other.
How to Read Guitar Scale Diagrams
Guitar scale diagrams are a learning tool used to find the pattern of notes to play a certain scale, and where the notes would appear on the fretboard of the guitar.
An introduction to playing scales on guitar for beginners. This lesson focuses on different types of basic scales.
Major Scales
The major scale is a 7 note scale that other guitar scales, modes, and guitar chords are based off of.
The Major Pentatonic Scale is a 5 note scale that uses the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th notes of the major scale.
The Major Blues Scale is an extension of the Major Pentatonic Scale that adds the 3♭ (flat third) note to the scale.
Other names for this scale are the Gypsy Major, Byzantine Scale, Mayamalavagowla, Bhairav Raga, or Arabic (Hijaz Kar).
Minor Scales
Natural minor scales can be played using the same notes as a major scale starting on the 6th note of the major scale.
Harmonic minor guitar scales are very similar to natural minor guitar scales with the exception of 7th note.
The minor pentatonic guitar scale is a five note scale popular in rock lead guitar riffs and soloing.
The blues scale is an extension of the minor pentatonic scale, adding the 5♭ (flat fifth) of the scale referred to as the "blue note".
Other names for this scale are Hungarian Gypsy Scale or Double Harmonic Minor Scale.
How to Use Guitar Scales
Learning to improvise with major scale melodic patterns.
Melodic Minor Pentatonic Scale Patterns
This lesson shows how to start making the guitar "talk" using different patterns of notes.
Connecting Minor Pentatonic Scale Patterns
This lesson focuses on connecting surrounding patterns of the Minor Pentatonic scale across the fretboard.
