Major Scale Fingerings
Hi. This is Hub Guitar.
We're going to play seven different fingerings for the diatonic scales. So that just means the major scale, and every mode if that. A mode is just when you move the scale up and play it from another note other than the root. It has a deeper musical meaning than that, but that's all we need to think about for now.
Here's are the seven scales.
So learn all of these patterns, and apply them to all keys. Once you've really mastered these scales, your playing will be leaping forward to a new level.
These 7 guitar fingerings represent the most commonly played patterns on the guitar, including the major scale, the minor scale, and 5 other “modes” that can be used to develop a command over the most common patterns on the instrument.
One of the most crucial tasks for any guitar player is to memorize these seven major scale fingerings. These patterns can be conceived of as 7 different fingerings for the major scale, or they can be thought of as “modes”—scales based on reordering the notes of the major scale. Don’t worry too much about the names of the modes. Just focus on memorizing the patterns.
These are the 2 or 3 note-per-string patterns. They are chosen for this level because they require fewer stretches than the 3-note-per-string patterns.
Pattern 1 – Ionian (Major Scale)
Pattern 2 – Dorian
Pattern 3 – Phrygian
Pattern 4 – Lydian
Pattern 5 – Mixolydian
Pattern 6 – Aeolian (Minor Scale)
Pattern 7 – Locrian
Key Tasks
- Memorize the 7 scale patterns.
- Practice the patterns using strict alternate picking.
- For more of a work out with the 7 scales, see our diatonic sequences scale workout.
As the creator of Hub Guitar, Grey has compiled hundreds of guitar lessons, written several books, and filmed hundreds of video lessons. He teaches private lessons in his Boston studio, as well as via video chat through TakeLessons.