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"Major Scale On Guitar: Best Major Scale Exercises"

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Learning the major scale on guitar is easy! Use major guitar scale exercises for improved finger independence, speed, and finger strength.

Major scale on guitar -- Ionian scale

The major scale is sometimes known as the "Ionian" scale or mode. This is it's scientific name and is used in music theory to describe the nature of the major scale.

The major scale on guitar is your most fundamental scale -- It is the scale from which all other guitar scales come!

Like the minor scale, the Ionian scale is a great place to start learning music theory!

...But don't worry, you we won't be drilling boring music theory in this lesson. We will focus more on building finger strength, learning how the major scale is used for soloing, and checking out some great exercises.

G major guitar scale

The G major guitar scale is one of the most important scales. It promotes finger independence!

Play the G Major scale like this:

Click tablature to enlarge:

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Major scale fingering

ARNOLD says:

"Follow my fingering for the best results! Use the second position when playing this scale! Don't remember? It's simple. Spread your fingers out so they line up with frets 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively. That's:

• Index = notes on fret 2
• Middle = notes on fret 3
• Ring = notes on fret 4
• Pinky = notes on fret 5

Got it? GOOD!"

Arnold is right. That's all playing "in the second position" really is. Just lining up your fingers so you use the correct ones on the span of frets used in the scale.

For that matter, any time you play a scale or melody that only uses a fret span of four frets, you can play it in THAT position, where your four fingers line up on four frets in a row!

Major scale exercises

OK. Now that we have learned how to play the major scale on guitar, let's learn some cool exercises to go along with it. These will help you learn the scale pattern even better!

Major scale exercise #1:

The all-time BEST major scale exercise is what they call "the G major scale in thirds". It's quite challenging at first, but stick with it and it will help you build strength and speed!

Stay in the second position!

Click tablature to enlarge:

Major scale exercise #2:

This next exercise goes through the G Major scale three notes at a time. Check it out!

Click tablature to enlarge:

Strawberry Cupcake the Groupie says:

"Don't forget to use alternate picking when you play these exercises!"

Major scale exercise #3:

Now try our major scale exercise #3. It's probably the most difficult of the three exercises, so take your time.

Click tablature to enlarge:

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Things to know about guitar scales -- Music theory and fretboard notes

Learning how to play a guitar scale is just half the fun. It helps to learn all you can about the theory behind the scales...

What is this theory, you ask?

The place to begin is by learning your fretboard note names, most importantly, the name of the scale's "root" note.

A root note is simply the starting point of your scale. In our G major guitar scale above, it is the G note. As a matter of fact, the starting note of any scale is always the same name as the name of the scale!

As you learn your fretboard notes, you can play a major scale in ANY key, because all you have to do is shift the scale up or down the frets.

For example, try playing the G Major scale two frets higher, starting on the fifth fret. This simple shift will result in a brand new scale -- the A Major scale!

Click tablature to enlarge:

Learning the names of your notes on your sixth string is the best starting place. Check out Learning The Guitar Fretboard -- Your Roadmap To Boosting Your Speed And Increasing Muscle Memory!

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