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Part 1 · Positional Major Scales

Positional Major Scale Patterns

Lesson Book page 5 Free preview

These are the six positional major scale patterns. The book draws them in the key of A; choose any key to see where each pattern falls on the neck. The root is shown in red, and the root that names the key is circled.

Pattern 12nd position
213413413413124134
2F♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯A

Root: 6th string, 5th fret

Pattern 24th position
412412413413424124
4G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯AB

Root: 6th string, 5th fret

Pattern 36th position
612412412412424124
6ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯

Root: 6th string, 5th fret

Pattern 49th position
912413413413124124
9C♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DE

Root: 5th string, 12th fret

Pattern 511th position
1112412412413424124
11DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯

Root: 5th string, 12th fret

Pattern 61st position
02402402412423024
EF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯ABC♯DEF♯G♯

Root: 5th string, open

Patterns 1, 2 and 3 are found from a root on the 6th string; patterns 4, 5 and 6 from a root on the 5th string. The number at the left of each diagram is the position: the fret under your pointer finger.

Scale root note locations

Patterns 1, 2 and 3 are placed by their root on the 6th string, and patterns 4, 5 and 6 by their root on the 5th string. Use these maps to find the root for any key.

Circle of scales

1 2 3 4 5 6

The patterns follow one another up the neck in this order: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and then pattern 1 again an octave higher. Whichever pattern you start from, the next one up the neck is the next number around the circle.