Guitar Scales

Introduction

The guitar is a 5 octave instrument; this means you can play the Major or minor scales (one octave) in 5 different positions across the fret board.

Scales are a series of notes that are divided by tones on the instrument. The distance in pitch between any two individual notes in music is called an interval.

All scales are built following certain patterns across the fret board. These steps are known as tones and semi-tones. The first note in the scale is called the root note and this defines what key the scale is in.

The Major Scales Theory

The C Major Scale is played across the strings. This scale is written ascending then descending. This is how scales should be practiced, not forgetting to use alternate picking with the right hand.

This C Major scale outlines the C Major chord:

C D E F G A B C

e|--------------------------------|
B|------------0-1-0---------------|
G|--------0-2-------2-0-----------|
D|--0-2-3---------------3-2-0-----|
A|3---------------------------3---|
E|--------------------------------|

• Major Scales exist in the Western musical world and follow the "do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do" pattern.
• There are 12 different keys and 12 different notes within each of the keys. Both Major and natural minor scales have 7 notes in them.
• The first scale that is usually learnt is the C major scale, containing 7 notes C D E F G A B and the eighth note C. The key of C has no # or b (sharps or flats).
• Scales always start with the root note (also know as the tonic note). This starting note defines the name of the scale. The scale starts at this bass note and then is played all the way up to the top note. The first note for example is C running through D E F G A B and finally C again completing the one octave scale.

The Natural minor Scale Theory

• The difference between the Major scale is a total of 3 notes being flattened to create the minor scale.
• The first two notes in the natural minor scale are the same as the major scale.
• The third note in the scale determines whether it's going to be a Major or minor scale in terms of intervals; either playing the Major 3rd or the minor 3rd.
• The 6th and 7th intervals in the Major scale are then also flattened to achieve the natural minor scale.

For example:

In the key C Major scale, 'E' is the third step in the Major scale:

(C, D,) E, (F, G, A, B)

• In the natural minor scale the third note is flattened, therefore in the C natural minor scale the 'E' note would become 'Eb'. E is known as the Major 3rd in the C Major scale. Eb is known as the flattered 3rd in the C natural minor scale.
• The 6th note is also flattened from A to Ab.
• The 7th note is also flattered from B to Bb.

Major Scale Formula: Root note, T, T, T, ST, T, T, T, ST.
Natural minor Scale Formula: Root note, T, ST, T, T, T, ST, T, T.

C Natural minor Scale with Interval Names:

C = Root note
D = major 2nd
Eb = minor 3rd
F = perfect 4th
G = perfect 5th
Ab = minor 6th
Bb = minor 7th
C = 1st octave

C D Eb F G Ab Bb

e|----------------|
B|--------------1-|
G|--------0-1-3---|
D|--0-1-3---------|
A|3---------------|
E|----------------|

Root note = C
Minor 3rd = Eb
Perfect 5th = G

The notes pre-selected for any minor chord are the 1st, b3rd and 5th intervals taken from the minor scale in the key of C. It is the C, Eb and G notes that fall on these particular intervals. These notes form the C minor chord:

A Natural minor Scale Formula:

Root note, T, ST, T, T, T, ST, T & T

A = Root note
B = major 2nd
C = minor 3rd
D = perfect 4th
E = perfect 5th
F = minor 6th
G = minor 7th
A = 1st octave

A Natural minor Scale:

A B C D E F G A

e|------------------|
B|------------------|
G|------------0-2---|
D|------0-2-3-------|
A|0-2-3-------------|
E|------------------|

Relative Scales

The C major scale and the A natural minor scale share the same notes. The A natural minor scale starts on the 6th step of the C Major scale which is the A note. Every Major chord has a relative minor chord/scale. In the key of C major the relative minor scale is A minor. A minor's relative Major scale is C.

Every Major scale has a relative minor scale and every minor scale has a relative major scale - relatively speaking! Both the Major and minor scale in this context would contain the same notes.

• minor scale starts on the 6th step of the Major scale.
• Major scale starts on the 3rd step of the natural minor scale.

C D E F G A B C

C Major Scale:

e|------------------|
B|--------------0-1-|
G|----------0-2-----|
D|---0-2-3----------|
A|-3----------------|
E|------------------|

C D E F G A B C

A Natural minor Scale (the 2nd octave):

e|---------0-1-3-5-|
B|---0-1-3---------|
G|-2---------------|
D|-----------------|
A|-----------------|
E|-----------------|

A B C D E F G A

Major and Natural minor Scales

It is important to learn the sounds and recognise the interval shapes of both the Major and minor scale, this will give a good step forward in understanding these two very important scales.

Major Scales:

Here are the notes for every Major scale, it is worth practicing them to learn the sound of the Major scale.

Eg following the steps/formula used to build the Major scale, here are three examples A Bb and B, the first three on the major scale table, theses scales are going along the fret board, below is a two octave major scale going across the fret board.

A Major Scale (1 octave):

e|------------------| 
B|------------------|
G|------------------|
D|------------------|
A|0-2-4-5-7-9-11-12-|
E|------------------|

A/B/C#/D/E/F#/G#/A

Bb Major Scale (1 octave):

e|-------------------| 
B|-------------------|
G|-------------------|
D|-------------------|
A|1-3-5-6-8-10-12-13-|
E|-------------------|

Bb/C/D/Eb/F/G/A/Bb

B Major Scale (1 octave):

e|-------------------| 
B|-------------------|
G|-------------------|
D|-------------------|
A|2-4-6-7-9-11-13-14-|
E|-------------------|

B/C#/D#/E/F#/G#/A#/B

A Major Scale (2 octave):

It shares the same notes as the A Major scale going along 1 string, it is conveniently based in 1 position requiring less movement from the fretting hand.

e|---------------------------4-5-4---------------------------|
B|-----------------------5-7-------7-5-----------------------|
G|-----------------4-6-7---------------7-6-4-----------------|
D|-----------4-6-7---------------------------7-6-4-----------|
A|-----4-5-7---------------------------------------7-5-4-----|
E|-5-7---------------------------------------------------7-5-|

A/B/C#/D/E/F#/G#/A

Minor Scales:

Here are the notes for every natural minor scale, it is worth practicing them to learn the sound of the natural minor scale, this scale is also called the 7 note diatonic scale

Eg; following the steps/formula used to build the natural minor scale, here are three examples A, Bb and B, they are the first three scales on the table, the scales are along a single string.

A Natural minor Scale (1 octave):

e|-------------------|  
B|-------------------|
G|-------------------|
D|-------------------|
A|O-2-3-5-7-8-10-12--|
E|-------------------|

A/B/C/D/E/F/G/A

Bb Natural minor Scale (1 octave):

e|------------------|  
B|------------------|
G|------------------|
D|------------------|
A|1-3-4-6-8-9-11-13-|
E|------------------|

Bb/C/Db/Eb/F/Gb/Ab/Bb

B Natural minor Scale (1 octave):

e|-------------------|  
B|-------------------|
G|-------------------|
D|-------------------|
A|2-4-5-7-9-10-12-14-|
E|-------------------|

B/C#/D/E/F#/G/A/B

A Natural minor Scale (2 octave):

It shares the same notes as the A natural minor scale going along 1 string, it is conveniently based in 1 position requiring less movement from the fretting hand.

e|-----------------------------5------------------------------|
B|-----------------------5-6-8---8-6-5------------------------|
G|-----------------4-5-7---------------7-5-4------------------|
D|-------------5-7---------------------------7-5--------------|
A|-------5-7-8-----------------------------------8-7-5--------|
E|-5-7-8-----------------------------------------------8-7-5--|

A/B/C/D/E/F/G/A

The Major and minor Pentatonic Scales

All these scales are demonstrated in the key of A, they are all positioned around the 5th fret.

A minor pentatonic - is a 5 note scale based from the a natural minor scale. The A natural minor scale has 7 notes, drop the 2nd note (B) and the 6th note (f) creating the A minor pentatonic scale

A minor Pentatonic Scale along 1 string (1 octave):

e|---------------|
B|---------------|
G|---------------|
D|---------------|
A|-0-3-5-7-10-12-|
E|---------------|

A/C/D/E/G/A

A minor Pentatonic Scale (2 octaves):

e|---------------------5-8-5---------------------|
B|-----------------5-8-------8-5-----------------|
G|-------------5-7---------------7-5-------------|
D|---------5-7-----------------------7-5---------|
A|-----5-7-------------------------------7-5-----|
E|-5-8---------------------------------------8-5-|

A/C/D/E/F/G/A

A Pentatonic Major Scale Across 1 String:

This is a 5 note scale based from the A Major scale. The A Major scale has 7 notes, drop the 4th note (D) and the 7th note (G#) creating the A Major pentatonic scale.

e|--------------| 
B|--------------|
G|--------------|
D|--------------|
A|-0-2-4-7-9-12-|
E|--------------|

A/B/C#/E/F#/A

A Major Pentatonic Scale (2 octaves):

e|--------------------2-5-2-------------------|
B|----------------2-5-------5-2---------------|
G|------------2-4---------------4-2-----------|
D|--------2-4-----------------------4-2-------|
A|----2-4-------------------------------4-2---|
E|--5---------------------------------------5-|

The Blues scale

The Blues scale is just like the minor pentatonic scale but has 6 notes, instead of 5 notes.

In the key of A, the note added is Eb/E flat or D#/D sharp,

Which is found in the 6th fret on the A string and also at the 8th fret on the G string which creates the 2 octave A Blues scale.

A Blues Scale Along 1 String:

e|-----------------|
B|-----------------|
G|-----------------|
D|-----------------|
A|-0-3-5-6-7-10-12-|
E|-----------------|

A/C/D/D#/E/G/A

A Blues Scale (2 Octaves):

e|-------------------------5-------------------------|
B|---------------------5-8---8-5---------------------|
G|---------------5-7-8-----------8-7-5---------------|
D|-----------5-7-----------------------7-5-----------|
A|-----5-6-7-------------------------------7-6-5-----|
E|-5-8-------------------------------------------8-5-|

A C D D# E G A

5 Scales That Every Guitarist Should Know

The minor pentatonic
The blues scale
The natural minor scale
The major scale
The major pentatonic scale

The following scales are in the key of A and they are all positioned around the 5th fret.

A minor Pentatonic Scale:

e|---------------------5-8-5---------------------|
B|-----------------5-8-------8-5-----------------|
G|-------------5-7---------------7-5-------------|
D|---------5-7-----------------------7-5---------|
A|-----5-7-------------------------------7-5-----|
E|-5-8---------------------------------------8-5-|

A Blues Scale:

e|-------------------------5-------------------------|
B|---------------------5-8---8-5---------------------|
G|---------------5-7-8-----------8-7-5---------------|
D|-----------5-7-----------------------7-5-----------|
A|-----5-6-7-------------------------------7-6-5-----|
E|-5-8-------------------------------------------8-5-|

A Natural minor Scale:

e|-----------------------------5------------------------------|
B|-----------------------5-6-8---8-6-5------------------------|
G|-----------------4-5-7---------------7-5-4------------------|
D|-------------5-7---------------------------7-5--------------|
A|-------5-7-8-----------------------------------8-7-5--------|
E|-5-7-8-----------------------------------------------8-7-5--|

A Major Scale:

e|---------------------------4-5-4---------------------------|
B|-----------------------5-7-------7-5-----------------------|
G|-----------------4-6-7---------------7-6-4-----------------|
D|-----------4-6-7---------------------------7-6-4-----------|
A|-----4-5-7---------------------------------------7-5-4-----|
E|-5-7---------------------------------------------------7-5-|

A Major Pentatonic Scale:

e|--------------------2-5-2-------------------|
B|----------------2-5-------5-2---------------|
G|------------2-4---------------4-2-----------|
D|--------2-4-----------------------4-2-------|
A|----2-4-------------------------------4-2---|
E|--5---------------------------------------5-|

Guitar Solo Techniques

It is important to incorporate lead guitar techniques into your solos, basically adding a few tricks too the scale to make it sound more interesting. All examples are given using the A minor pentatonic scale

1. String bending - the idea is to take one note from the scale and bend it up to the next note in the scale, it is worth taking time learning to bend to the create pitch. There are 2 main types of bends, tone bends and semi tone bends.

Full tone bends, bending the note of D up to E, playing the D note in the 7th fret, bending it up to the E note which is in the 9th fret. Is known as a full tone bend

e|---------------------------------| this is a classic rock n roll whole

B|------5-------5------5-------5---| tone bend, lead guitar lick (Chuck
G|--7(b)---7(b)----7(b)---7(b)-----| Berry style) 
D|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|

E|---------------------------------|

Semi-tone bend, bending the note of E up a semi tone to the note F, sometimes written in tab form as a ½ tone bend

Reinforced bends are achieved by using an efficient amount of fingers to execute a string bend this will help the control of the bend, allowing more expression.

When bending don't just use finger or hand strength, use the strength of the arm from the elbow downwards.

2. Vibrato - creates intensity to a note, there are two main types of vibrato

The finger is loosely holding down the note on the guitar, by Rotating the wrist back and forth, the pitch of the note being fretted is then altered and a sustain is achieved.

The finger is loosely holding down the note on the guitar, by moving the finger up and down across the fret board, moving the note subtly in and out of tune.

3. Slurs - involve generally at least two fingers, a slur is used to create a second note for the price of one by either applying or removing a finger, the picking hand only needs to make contact with the string only once.

Hammer on - holding down a note with the index finger eg; the A note at the 5th fret, then striking the string with the picking hand, now the string is vibrating quickly bring down finger 4, onto the C note with the finger tip, 'hammering' the note down. In tab form the hammer on is written with a (h) symbol to indicate a 'hammer on'.

H h h h h

e|-5-8--------------------|
B|-----5-8----------------|
G|---------5-7------------|
D|-------------5-7-5-7----|
A|------------------------|
E|------------------------|

A C E G C D G A G A

Pull off - is literally the reverse of the hammer on technique, starting off with two fingers on the fret board, striking the string with the picking hand, pulling off the 4th finger from the C note on the same string, exposing the note behind being held down by finger 1 the A note in the 5th fret, the 'pull off' is achieved by pulling the finger of the string in a downwards motion,

P p p p p

e|-8-5-------------------|
B|-----8-5---------------|
G|---------7-5-----------|
D|-------------7-5-7-5---|
A|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|

Trills are a combination of hammer on and pull offs.