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Major Scale Exercises for Guitar Don't Get Boxed In
Before we go on to look at some major scale exercises for guitar, you
need to familiarise yourself with the different major scale positions
and shapes - There's a lesson in the theory section that introduces you to the major scale - right here!.
OK, this lesson is about using the major
scale. Don't fall into the trap, like so many guitarists do, of simply
playing the major scale in sequence (1 2 3 4 5 6 7..etc.) - this will
start to sound pretty dull after a while. The good news is, by merely
shuffling the notes in the major scale around a bit, and putting them
into your own sequence, you instantly get something 10 times more interesting.
The major scale is the basis of western music and is "compatible" with
most simple chord progressions. Compatible? Well, some of the more
exotic, harsher sounding scales require you to know when certain
"off-notes" can be played against certain chord changes. The major
scale is a safe place to start your lead guitar experimentations - and
hey, most of today's rock/pop music uses the major scale almost
religiously, so it's generally a well loved scale in popular western
music.
When you're ready, grab your guitar, warm up, and let's begin with some simple major scale exercises!...
Major scale exercises - the basic pattern
There are eight main major scale shapes you
can learn, based around the 5 main chord shapes (also known as barre
chord shapes): A C D E and G. They're all on this page (opens in separate window for you). I'd recommend you learn at least the patterns on the E and A strings.
Here's the major scale shape most guitarists get to know the best - the "boxed" scale...

Now, that scale shape (like all scales) is movable meaning you can shift it up or down depending on the key the song is in. E.g. with a song in the key of A you could simply play the major scale in that same key. The scale shape above starts on the low E string, so A would be at fret 5 - if you then use the scale in that position, with the lowest note on the note A the whole scale is in the "key of A", or "key of A major" to be exact!
Moving in "3rds"
What makes a scale a scale? - Intervals - the spaces between notes. By
spacing our major scale intervals in certain ways we can create more
dynamic guitar licks. One example is to set the scale's intervals in 3rds - so from the major scale you would play notes 1, 3, 5, 7 etc.
What that creates is an arpeggio - the notes of the major 13th chord played seperately rather than as a chord. More on that another time.

Note: Take care when using the 11th tone in the diagram above (also known
as the 4th) - this tone is part of the 3rd intervals of the major scale, but
it's an odd one that is most often used as a passing tone. In other words, don't
linger on it for too long over the tonic chord (which in this case is A major).
It may sound perfect, however, when the backing chord changes!
You can of course mix it around a little, with interval playing
followed by straight runs from the full scale shape. We'll worry about
using effective techniques like bending, hammer ons etc. another time!
First, practice the scale and your own harmony, starting slow and
gradually speeding up. Use this online metronome.
Try your own movement involving 3rd intervals over the backing track
below - still in A major. Experiment with the scale's notes. Create
something that sounds right for you.
>> Click to play backing track
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Using other major scale shapes
Remember, you can learn all 8 of the main major scale shapes on this page.
Let's work on a couple of these and then try and link a few shapes
together so we have some out-of-the-box freedom for our runs. You will
see the difference it makes.
The "boxed A shape" major scale
Again, this scale shape is covered on the major
scale page, but here it is for your reference complete with the most
commonly used fingering...
So it's basically just the same major scale, but the lowest root note lands on the A string.
Below is a D major scale exercise over a D major chord progression, so all we have to do is align that A string root note of the scale to the 5th fret - which is the note D!
Click the tab to hear...
I've
deliberately kept it to a minimum for this particular lesson, but I've
used some techniques in there (bending, hammer-ons, slides etc.) which
you can learn in a separate section on the lead guitar hub page. This
lesson is just about using the major scale to create a harmony over a chord progression.
Now try playing the scale yourself over the backing track below (same
one I played over). Try different intervals in the scale (e.g. move in
"3rds" like we looked at before), move up AND down the scale and skip
strings.
Remember, use the online metronome to start slow and gradually speed up.
>> Click to hear backing track
The "descending E shape" major scale
As the name suggests, this scale shape leans more to the left of the root note which gives it that descending direction...
If
you know your modes, you may notice this is the same scale shape as
mode 6 - Aeolian. More on modes back on the main lead guitar page.
Now, let's again put this scale shape to practical
use. Try the fingering I've suggested on the diagram above and play
around with the scale. Try spacing out the intervals, up and down runs,
and string skipping - one note per string like an arpeggio. Don't worry about bends, slides and other techniques, this lesson is just about using the major scale!
We're in the key of D major, so in that diagram above, the note on the fat E string would be at fret 10 because that's the note D...uh...believe it or not.
>> Click to hear backing track
Here's a simple lick I made earlier using that same scale and pattern...
click diagram to hear
I was using the same fingering as suggested in the scale diagram above
- each note in the scale has a finger assigned to it. We'll come to
changing fingers for certain techniques another time.
All these are good major scale exercises, getting you moving around the scale shapes.
Piecing major scale shapes together
From the major scale exercises above we now have 3
shapes we can string together. This will allow us to play "out of the
box" - it'll give us more freedom when we come to learn slides, bends,
note relationships etc. Generally, it's good to loosen up and travel
around the fretboard a bit. You'll see why.
So, using the shapes from this lesson, if we want to work in the key of C# (C sharp) major, this is how the pattern would appear (the light green squares being the point at which the 3 scale shapes start)...

So, using that joint pattern, try playing around with a lead
harmony over the C# major backing track below - I've cranked the
distortion up for this one :o)...
>> Click to hear backing track here
At first it can be difficult to make shapes join up seamlessly
in your playing, but try not to think of them as scale shapes "stuck
together", but rather one big scale. This will come with time!
The good news is, if you've followed this lesson,
you're now able to play outside the box and venture a bit with the
major scale. Of course, you can string together more than 3 scale
shapes and create one large scale from fret 1 right up to fret 24 -
more on this later. It's not as difficult as you might think. Always practice with a metronome to build up your speed! Here's the link again: online metronome.
There's more on speed exercises back on the main lead guitar page.
Thanks for your time and see you soon!
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