In an earlier lesson we looked at how to play the major scale on guitar. In this lesson let’s take a look at the C major scale in multiple positions along the fretboard.
Why Learn this Scale in other positions?
Learning this scale all over the guitar will open up a lot more options for you musically.
This is especially good for improvisation and for chord construction further up the neck in addition to increasing your understanding for song writing/composition.
It will also help you to learn the notes of the fretboard.
The C Major Scale Positions
let’s start out in the open position and then look at the other positions up the neck.
For all of the tablature below I will show a pattern which has you playing all of the notes in the position and will also have you playing up and down the scale. This is much more useful than just playing the 7 notes of the scale.
Open C Major Scale
e:----------------------------0--1--3--3--1--0--------------------------| B:-------------------0--1--3--------------------3--1--0-----------------| G:-------------0--2--------------------------------------2--0-----------| D:----0--2--3---------------------------------------------------3--2--0-| A:-3--------------------------------------------------------------------| E:----------------------------------------------------------------------| e:---------------------------------| B:---------------------------------| G:---------------------------------| D:---------------------------------| A:-3--2--0-----------------0--2--3-| E:----------3--1--0--1--3----------|
C Major Starting on 3rd fret A string
e:----------------------------------3--5--7--7--5--3--------------------| B:-------------------------3--5--6--------------------6--5--3-----------| G:----------------2--4--5--------------------------------------5--4--2--| D:-------2--3--5--------------------------------------------------------| A:-3--5-----------------------------------------------------------------| E:----------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:----------------------------------------------------------------------| B:----------------------------------------------------------------------| G:----------------------------------------------------------------------| D:--5--3--2-------------------------------------------------------------| A:-----------5--3--2--------------------2--3----------------------------| E:--------------------5--3--1--1--3--5----------------------------------|
C Major Starting on 8th fret E string
e:--------------------------------------5--7--8--8--7--5----------------| B:-----------------------------5--6--8--------------------8--6--5-------| G:--------------------4--5--7--------------------------------------7--5-| D:--------------5--7----------------------------------------------------| A:-----5--7--8----------------------------------------------------------| E:--8-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:----------------------------------------------------------------------| B:----------------------------------------------------------------------| G:--4-------------------------------------------------------------------| D:----7--5--------------------------------------------------------------| A:----------8--7--5-----------------------------------------------------| E:-------------------8--7--5--7--8--------------------------------------|
C Major Starting on 8th fret E string number 2
e:----------------------------------------------------------10--12--13--| B:----------------------------------------------10--12--13--------------| G:-----------------------------------9--10--12--------------------------| D:------------------------9--10--12-------------------------------------| A:-------------8--10--12------------------------------------------------| E:--8--10--12-----------------------------------------------------------|
e:--13--12--10----------------------------------------------------------| B:--------------13--12--10----------------------------------------------| G:--------------------------12--10--9-----------------------------------| D:-------------------------------------12--10--9------------------------| A:------------------------------------------------12--10--8-------------| E:-----------------------------------------------------------12--10--8--|
Other Major Scales
The great thing about these scales (apart from the open scale) is that you can play the same patterns starting on a different note if you want to play a different major scale.
For example if you take the ?C Major Starting on 3rd Fret A String” above but start it on the 5th fret A string but otherwise play the same pattern you would have a D major scale.
Where to from here?
Practice practice practice!
I recommend practicing this by playing alternating down up strokes with your pick or finger. This is good practice for using your right hand.
Thanks for reading and I hope this lesson will be helpful for learning the C major scale and other major scales.
If you aren’t sure and are interested in learning how the major scale is constructed then check out the link below.
