Scale Positions
Notice, we have marked all the notes of the C major scale. Now playing some phrases has become a very easy task for us. We just keep the diagram in front of us, and we don't even need to know what key we are playing in. We will just randomly hit some notes, and every note will fit.
But what happens if the friend plays Bm - Em - G - D. This progression comes from the D Major scale. We can't use the notes we marked and used for the previous progression. Does that mean we'll have to take out a peice of paper and mark out all the notes again for D Major?
Suppose we mark the up again. Mark the notes for 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th frets. Here are the notes marked for your conveinience:
You will most definitely have noticed that the pattern of the notes marked was the same as in the C major scale. The only difference is that it has moved a whole step forward. Note, the key moved a whole step forward (from C major to D major), and so did the pattern of notes.
This pattern of notes is called a scale position. Scale positions are movable, and therefore the same for every scale.
For an exercise, figure out on which fret this position would begin for F major and A major.
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Comments
rajan
2009-06-22 13:53:33
ur site z wonderful.bt i m nt getting hw u show notes for c n d on dis page.plz understand me.
maujood
2009-06-22 23:22:58
@rajan: first, tell me if you can answer these two questions ..
1. Can you name the notes on the C Major and D Major scales?
2. Can You name the notes all over the fretboard?
rajan
2009-06-22 23:50:18
sir m a beginner,m nt getin wat u r saying.plz mak me undrstand ur q.
if u start frm e 1st acc. to dis page for c major den notes are f n g.m i right?plz mak me undrstand.
maujood
2009-06-23 05:16:39
@rajan: Well, maybe this concepts are a bit difficult to understand. If you didn't get my question, then you're probably having some problems with the basic concepts of notes and scales. Review the following lessons, if you missed them, and get back to this one:
1. http://www.guitarnationlive.com/lesson.php?lesson_name=notes_on_the_guitar
2. Also, read the lessons on 'Intervals' and 'Scale Basics' on http://www.guitarnationlive.com/theory.php
Read them carefully! Use a paper and pencil to work things out, if necessary. You should be able to understand the two questions I asked earlier after carefully going through these lessons.
rajan
2009-06-23 07:20:08
Thanku sir,i ll again go through dose chapters.n den i ll talk to u.
Thanku sir!
rajan
2009-07-09 04:48:07
sir,in scale positions,in c maj. scale,a note u hav missed-3rd string, 4th fret-B note,Y U nt mark dat note in given scale?
one more thing,plz clear to me dat y u said it z D major scale.chords are bm,em,g,d.hw u say it z major scale?it hav minor chords.bt i dont knw to find d MAJOR key by minor chords.plz clear it to me.
maujood
2009-07-09 16:02:54
@rajan: I haven't marked the 4th fret of the 3rd string (B note) because i've already marked that note on the open 2nd string. There's no need to mark the note twice.
and as far as the chords are concerned, i think you'll find your answer in the 'scales and chords' lesson.
toireeGuift
2009-12-11 14:51:06
Looks like you are a real pro. Did you study about the issue? *lol*
Dust
2010-06-04 13:11:28
Explanation is ezy to understand..but i can't understand abt ur figure..plz do clearly to understand for us...I really want to know abt Scale..going to crazy..