Major Scale Fingerings (3-Note)
Hi. This is Hub Guitar.
We're going to advance our knowledge of the 7-note scales on the guitar by learning patterns to play these scales using three notes per string. Using these patterns, we can practice the scales with economy picking, which will allow us to improve our efficiency. Every third note will be followed by a fourth note which costs nothing to play, because it uses the energy of the previous note in a sort of follow-through stroke.
Watch my picking hand as I play this example. You can see that when I get to the third note, I can continue my downward motion to play the next note because the next note is on the next string. Playing three-note-per-string patterns lets you exploit this relationship.
So we are going to show you all three notes starting from F Ionian. Now we are going to do G Dorian. Now we are going to do A Phrygian. Now we are going to do Bb Lydian. Now we are going to do C Mixolydian. Now we are going to do E Locrian.
Great, so learn these scales, and be sure to play them using economy picking. This will add more options to your playing, and give your right hand more flexibility and freedom in picking.
These 7 scale fingerings are built using a strict 3-note-per-string pattern, which is more consistent than other scale patterns you might have seen. Because many scale patterns have a mix of two notes per string on some strings and three notes per string on others, the picking pattern for those scales is difficult to decide, and many players will simply use alternate pickingAlternate picking is a technique making use of a strict up-and-down picking pattern with no variations. It can, however, be played both forward (down-up-down-up) and backward (up-down-up-down)..
Since these scale patterns have three notes per string, you can play them using economy pickingEconomy picking is a technique where notes on a repeated string are played using alternate picking, but when switching to the next string, you will use something like sweep picking where two consecutive strings are played with the same picking motion..
These scale fingerings cover a broader range than the fingerings you’ve learned so far. They have several advantages: they can be played using economy pickingEconomy picking is a technique where notes on a repeated string are played using alternate picking, but when switching to the next string, you will use something like sweep picking where two consecutive strings are played with the same picking motion.; and they help you start to connect the scale fingerings together. Remember, scale patterns are arbitrary. Each scale can be divided into different patterns or the guitar can be seen as one massive scale. Memorize these patterns.
3-Note Per String Ionian (Major) Scale Pattern
3-Note Per String Dorian Scale Pattern
3-Note Per String Phrygian Scale Pattern
3-Note Per String Lydian Scale Pattern
3-Note Per String Mixolydian Scale Pattern
3-Note Per String Aeolian Scale Pattern
3-Note Per String Locrian Scale Pattern
Key Tasks
- Memorize all 3-note scale patterns.
- Use the patterns to build your economy picking
- Compare the patterns to the 2-note scale patterns. Is there an easy way to remember both sets of patterns?
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.