.
COMMON SPEED SCALES
By: Dondi Ledesma
Back to Index
Finger Position Guide (optional)
1 = Left hand index finger
2 = Left hand middle finger
|
3 = Left hand ring finger
4 = Left hand little finger
|
R = root note (root chord of scale)
.
Major Scale
_______ _______
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| This is an example of
R->0_0_|_| 1_1_|_| a major scale starting
|_|_0_0 |_|_1_1 from the third fret of
0_0_0_0 2_2_2_2 string no. 4 which is
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| G. I will refer to it
0_0_0_0 4_4_4_3 now as the root note
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| of this scale.
|_|_|_0 |_|_|_4
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
Notes Fingering Guide
Practice tip : Practice on other keys by moving up and down string no. 4 (E-string)
Example : to do the scale in A major ; start from the fifth fret or one whole step from
the root note above (move 2 frets higher).
.
Minor Scale
_______ _______
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| This is an example of the
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| Aeolian scale in A minor.
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| The root is in the 5th
R->0_0_0_0 1_1_1_1 fret which is A.
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| [Am]
0_0_0_0 3_3_3_3
0_0_|_| 4_4_|_|
|_|_0_0 |_|_4_4
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
Notes Finger Guide
Practice tip : Practice on other keys by moving up and down string no. 4 (E-string)
Example : to do the scale in Ab minor ; start from the fourth fret or one half step
below the root shown above (move 1 fret lower).
.
Seventh scale
_______ _______
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| This is an example of the
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| Mixolydian scale in Ab minor.
R->0_0_0_| 1_1_1_| The root is in the 4th
|_|_|_0 |_|_|_1 fret which is Ab.
0_0_0_0 2_2_2_2 [Ab7]
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
0_0_0_0 4_4_4_3
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_0 |_|_|_4
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
Notes Finger Guide
Practice tip : Practice on other keys by moving the root note (on E-string) up or down
the fretboard. Example : To do the scale on A7, move first finger one fret higher
or one half step up.
.
Minor Seventh Scale
_______ _______
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| This is an example of the
R->0_0_0_0 1_1_1_1 Dorian scale in G minor.
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| The root is in the 3rd
0_0_0_0 3_2_2_2 fret which is G.
0_|_|_| 4_|_|_| [Gm7]
|_0_0_0 |_4_4_3
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_0 |_|_|_4
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
Notes Finger Guide
Practice tip : Practice on other keys by moving the root note (on E-string) up or down
the fretboard. Example : To do the scale on Fm7, move first finger two frets lower
or one whole step down.
.
Aeolian Scale Starting from 2nd or 2frets above root
Dondi Ledesma
_______ _______
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| This is an example of the
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| Aeolian mode in A minor.
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| The root is in the 5th
R->|_|_|_| |_|_|_| fret which is A.
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| [Am]
0_0_0_0 1_1_1_1
0_0_|_| 2_2_|_|
|_|_0_0 |_|_3_3
0_0_0_0 4_4_4_4
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
Notes Finger Guide
Practice tip : Practice on other keys by moving the root note (on E-string) up or down
the fretboard. Example : To do the scale on Gm, move first finger two frets lower
or one whole step down. (Visualise root 2 half steps lower.) Note scale and fingering pattern.
.
Mixolydian Scale Starting from 6th or 3 frets below root
Dondi Ledesma
_______ _______
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
0_0_0_0 1_1_1_1 This is an example of the
0_0_|_| 2_2_|_| Mixolydian mode in A minor.
|_|_0_0 |_|_3_3 The root is in the 5th
R->0_0_0_0 4_4_4_4 fret which is A.
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| [A7]
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
Notes Finger Guide
Practice tip : Practice on other keys by moving the root note (on E-string) up or down
the fretboard. Example : To do the scale on B7, move first finger two frets higher
or one whole step up. (Visualize root 2 half steps higher.) Note scale and fingering pattern.
.
Ionian scale starting 5 frets above root or starting on 3rd.
Dondi Ledesma
_______ _______
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| This is an example of the
R->|_|_|_| |_|_|_| Ionian mode in G .
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| The root is in the 3rd
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| fret which is G.
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| [G] or G major
0_0_0_0 1_1_1_1
0_0_|_| 2_2_|_|
|_|_0_0 |_|_3_3
0_0_0_0 4_4_4_4
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
Notes Finger Guide
Practice tip : Practice on other keys by moving the root note (on E-string) up or down
the fretboard. Example : To do the scale on A major, move first finger two frets higher
or one whole step up. (Visualize root 2 half steps higher.) Note scale and fingering pattern.
.
WHOLE TONE SCALE (Example).
Dondi Ledesma
_______ _______
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| This is an example of the
R->0_|_|_| 1_|_|_| Wole tone scale playing
|_0_|_| |_1_|_| The root is in the 3rd
0_|_0_| 2_|_1_| fret which is G.
|_0_|_0 |_2_|_1 [G] Whole tone
0_|_0_| 4_|_2_|
|_0_|_0 |_4_|_2
|_|_0_| |_|_4_|
|_|_|_0 |_|_|_4
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
Notes Finger Guide
Practice tip : Practice on other keys by moving the root note (on E-string) up or down
the fretboard. Example : To do the scale on A major, move first finger two frets higher
or one whole step up. (Visualize root 2 half steps higher.) Note scale and fingering pattern.
.
CHROMATIC SCALE (Example).
Dondi Ledesma
_______ _______
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| This is an example of the
|_|_|_| |_|_|_| Chromatic scale. We will
|_|_|_0 |_|_|_1 start in B as the root
|_|_0_0 |_|_1_2 which is the 7th fret.
|_0_0_0 |_1_2_3 [Chromatic]
0_0_0_0 1_2_3_4
0_0_0_| 2_3_4_|
0_0_|_| 3_4_|_|
0_|_|_| 4_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
|_|_|_| |_|_|_|
Notes Finger Guide
Practice tip : Practice on other keys by moving the root note (on E-string) up or down
the fretboard. Example : The Chromatic scale has many variations and you can use or start
from any note you like. Note scale and fingering pattern.
Top
Back to Index