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Scales: The Major Scale
All major scales have tones and semitones arranged in the following order:
Degrees: I II III IV V VI VII VIII
All major scales have tones and semitones arranged in the following order:
Degrees: I II III IV V VI VII VIII
| I |
| III |
| IV |
| V |
| VI |
| VII |
| VIII |
| II |
| E |
| semi-tone |
| C |
| semi-tone |
| C |
| D |
| G |
| F |
| A |
| B |
Notes continue to repeat at higher frequencies
and come down to lower frequencies
Two-Octave C Major Scale
Notes - Elementary Rudiments for Guitar - Section 2 - Scales
| See Guitar Technique for more information as to the proper procedure to practice scales on the guitar. |
The notes or degrees of a scale are usually marked using Roman numerals. If you play this scale on a
piano, you would notice that only white keys are used. In order to produce a major scale, the semitones
need to be in their proper order (III-IV and VII-VIII). All other intervals need to be whole tones such as I-II, II-III,
IV-V, V-VI, VI-VII).
If you try starting with any other white note on the keyboard, you will soon discover that the semitone intervals
are no longer in their proper order. The only semitone intervals using the white keys are E to F and B to C.
In order to play the major scale in other keys we would need to use the black keys.
piano, you would notice that only white keys are used. In order to produce a major scale, the semitones
need to be in their proper order (III-IV and VII-VIII). All other intervals need to be whole tones such as I-II, II-III,
IV-V, V-VI, VI-VII).
If you try starting with any other white note on the keyboard, you will soon discover that the semitone intervals
are no longer in their proper order. The only semitone intervals using the white keys are E to F and B to C.
In order to play the major scale in other keys we would need to use the black keys.
On the guitar this is easily solved by keeping the same pattern as we move up or down the finger board. For
example: Instead of beginning with a C on the 3rd fret of the 5th string (A), move up two frets (or one whole
tone to the fifth fret on the 5th string) to the D and play the same pattern
example: Instead of beginning with a C on the 3rd fret of the 5th string (A), move up two frets (or one whole
tone to the fifth fret on the 5th string) to the D and play the same pattern
| E |
| C |
| C |
| D |
| G |
| F |
| A |
| B |
| True Middle C |
| E |
| C |
| D |
| G |
| F |
| A |
| B |
| st |
| st |
| st |
| st |
| semi-tones (st) |
 |
| Frets |
| 1 |
| 3 |
| 5 |
| 7 |
| Strings |
| E |
| A |
| G |
| D |
| B |
| E |
 |
| Frets |
| 3 |
| 5 |
| 7 |
| 9 |
| Strings |
| E |
| A |
| G |
| D |
| B |
| E |
| 2 |
| 4 |
| 2 |
| 1 |
| 4 |
| 1 |
| 3 |
| 1 |
| 3 |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 4 |
| 1 |
| 3 |
| 4 |
Left Hand Fingering
The small numbers next to the dots on
fingers to use when playing this scale.
The small numbers next to the dots on
fingers to use when playing this scale.
| fret of the 5th string (A). However, this is not the same frequency that is played on the below middle C in order to facilitate sight-reading on the fingerboard. True middle C on the guitar is found on the 1st fret of the 2nd string (B). In other words, the true range of the guitar extends from the open E 6th String (1 octave and 4 intervals below true middle C) on the F Clef to the B on the 22nd fret on the 1st E string (one octave and six intervals above middle C) on the G Clef. Knowing this fact will become critical when playing with other instruments. This series will follow the traditional approach to reading the guitar; all notes will be played one octave below true middle C. |
| Frets |
| 1 |
| 3 |
| 5 |
| 7 |
| Strings |
| E |
| A |
| G |
| D |
