Scales for guitar

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If you want to understand music, scales is a good place to start. Intervals is the formal place to start, but if you ask me, either is fine.

There are 12 musical notes. 12 keys. You can play a scale in any key; so you have 12 options for any scale.

You don't need to memorize every key; but it's a good idea to learn common ones (that would be the first few blogs in the series). Since guitar scales are movable, you can learn one shape, then slide it up and down the neck as well. More on that later.

We start with the C major scale. The post talks about what a scale is, what the C major scale is, what notes is has, what chords it has (and what a chord is), and common chords in the scale. C is a good place to start because it's everywhere. C major has the same notes as A minor scale, so once you know C major scale (even in just one octave), you automatically know the A minor scale.

Core Guides

We've written these in the sequence you'd want to learn them (circle of fifths; if you're familiar with that term).

Read these with a guitar in hand so you can see and hear how each position sounds:

  • C Major Scale Notes and Chords: C major scale. We talk about what notes are in the C major scale, some positions, chords, and common chord changes. With playable tabs and examples.
  • G Major Scale Notes and Chords: Then we learn about the G major scale. We talk about how it's different from C, positions, what chords, common chord changes. With playable tabs and examples.
  • D Major Scale Notes and Chords: On to G. Scale notes, chords, tabs, interactive fretboard, hands-on stuff.

Fun Scales