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...

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...

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...

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

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)...

>> 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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