LEARN EVERY MAJOR SCALE

This lesson will focus on learning every major scale in first position on the guitar. By using this method you should begin to firmly establish your "map" of the fretboard and reinforce the strength of your musical foundation.

ORDER OF SHARPS:

C Major = zero sharps.
G Major = one sharp.
D Major = two sharps.
A Major = three sharps.
E Major = four sharps.
B Major = five sharps.
F# Major = six sharps.
C# Major = seven sharps.

ORDER OF FLATS

F Major = one flat.
Bb Major = two flats.
Eb Major = three flats.
Ab Major = four flats.
Db Major = five flats.
Gb Major = six flats.
Cb Major = seven flats.

As you are practicing, be aware of the fret you are on, the name of the note and the finger you are using. "Play it & say it" is a good guiding principle to remember when practicing. This will help you to associate and memorize the notes on the fretboard with the scale you are learning.

Some things to keep in mind...

There are seven scales which use sharps [#] and seven which use flats [b]. The number of sharps or flats which a scale uses is written on the staff following the Treble Clef and is known as the Key Signature.

After the Key Signature is the Time Signature, which resembles a math fraction. The top number of the Time Signature tells you how many beats are in a measure while the bottom number tells you the type of note (quarter, half, whole, etc.) which receives the beat.
The scales move progressively in order of sharps or flats. This simply means that the first major scale will have zero sharps (or flats) the second will have one, the third will have two and so on. C is the only major scale which uses neither sharps or flats, therefore it is the first one.
If you are playing the major scales correctly you will ALWAYS hear the familiar sound of: DO RE ME FA SO LA TI DO

LESSON OBJECTIVE:

To become familar with playing each of the 12 major scales in first position.

PRACTICE:

1. Play through all the sharp scales first, starting with C major. Then memorize the fingering for each one so that you can play from the C scale through the C# scale without looking at the tab.
2. Play the C major scale again. Then go through all the flat scales from F through Cb. Memorize the first position fingering for each flat scale.