Learn Every Major Scale

This lesson will focus on learning every major scale in first position on the guitar. By using this method you should begin to firmly establish your "map" of the fretboard and reinforce the strength of your musical foundation.

Click on a scale to access guitar tab and video.

C Major = zero sharps/zero flats

ORDER OF FLATS

F Major = one flat

Bb Major = two flats

Eb Major = three flats

Ab Major = four flats

Db Major = five flats

Gb Major = six flats

Cb Major = seven flats

ORDER OF SHARPS:

G Major = one sharp

D Major = two sharps

A Major = three sharps

E Major = four sharps

B Major = five sharps

F# Major = six sharps

C# Major = seven sharps

As you are practicing, be aware of the fret you are on, the name of the note and the finger you are using. "Play it & say it" is a good guiding principle to remember when practicing. This will help you to associate and memorize the notes on the fretboard with the scale you are learning.

Some things to keep in mind...

There are seven scales which use sharps [#] and seven which use flats [b]. The number of sharps or flats which a scale uses is written on the staff following the Treble Clef and is known as the Key Signature.

After the Key Signature is the Time Signature, which resembles a math fraction. The top number of the Time Signature tells you how many beats are in a measure while the bottom number tells you the type of note (quarter, half, whole, etc.) which receives the beat.

The scales move progressively in order of sharps or flats. This simply means that the first major scale will have zero sharps (or flats) the second will have one, the third will have two and so on. C is the only major scale which uses neither sharps or flats, therefore it is the first one.

If you are playing the major scales correctly you will ALWAYS hear the familiar sound of: DO RE ME FA SO LA TI DO

LESSON OBJECTIVE:

To become familar with playing each of the 12 major scales in first position.

PRACTICE:

1. Play through all the sharp scales first, starting with C major. Then memorize the fingering for each one so that you can play from the C scale through the C# scale without looking at the tab.

2. Play the C major scale again. Then go through all the flat scales from F through Cb. Memorize the first position fingering for each flat scale.

3. Download the Twelve Keys of Music and Time Signatures PDF files. Keep them with your practice materials so you can use them as references when you need them.

LEARN MORE:

Right Click and choose Save Target As to download these files to your computer so that you can print them out...

Twelve Keys of Music PDF

Time Signatures PDF

Previous Lessons...

How The Strings Are Identified
Tuning The Guitar
Introducing The Guitar Fretboard
How to Read Guitar Tab
The Importance of Rhythm
Two Easy Minor Chords
Building Guitar Scales

STUDENT FEEDBACK...

I want to say a big thank you for your guitar lessons... I started learning guitar some ten years ago while serving as a Christian missionary in Ivory-coast. However, I could not go far due to lack of learning resources (all I could play was C F G) but, with your lessons, believe me I can now play all the major chords. I can not thank you enough. My prayer is that the good Lord will increase you and cause his face to shine on you. Once more,thank you! ~ Joe

I was very impressed by your approach... You must be a very good teacher. May God bless you. Have a good day. ~ Dustan Kangave

I bought a book to learn guitar, but you seem to be more helpful than my book. Thanks

Kathy Not sure if you will see this but I want to say you have the most understandable Guitar learning site I have come across. I wish you were local I would have you as my teacher, you are excellent.

thank you SO much for taking the time to put together this site!! i am learning the guitar and this is so helpful~ thanks again :)

Thank you very much, I have been surfing the net looking for some answers to some blues playing questions I had and bingo, found them and much more on abclearnguitar.com Great Website!!!!

just the way guitar lesson should be easy to use and read. thank you

Hey, First, I'd like to tell you that your instruction makes *way* more sense than several (read all) of the others I've seen. There was always some point I missed (or that just was not explained). Yours are clear so far, and seem to be very thorough. Last year, at the National Old Time Fiddlers contest in Weiser, ID, I purchased two raffle tickets to win one of several Godin acoustic guitars. This year... the same (thinking that if God wanted me to learn how to play, then He would make it very clear). ...and He did. ...and I did win. So now I have the seemingly daunting task of learning how to play. I am excited about it, and hope that this won't wear off as time progresses. I figured on a goal of being able to play in our church's praise band. Thought you might appreciate hearing this (ongoing) story. Thanks for your willingness to share your God-given talents. George

Your program was awsome!!!

I really enjoyed the lessons you have posted and learned how to move from chord to chord better by using them.