The major scale

The major scale is the reference point of Western music. You will learn its formula, play it in one position of the neck, and use it to play a real melody and to see where a chord's notes come from.

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

• State the major scale formula (whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half).
• Play the G major scale in position using one finger per fret.
• Use the scale to play a melody and to find the notes of a major chord.

The major scale is built from the root by going up in a fixed pattern of whole tones (W, two frets) and half tones (H, one fret):

W – W – H – W – W – W – H

From G: G (W) A (W) B (H) C (W) D (W) E (W) F♯ (H) G. The seven notes are the degrees 1 to 7, and the eighth is the octave.

Roots. The root, G, is the home note. The scale feels finished when it ends on G, and melodies in G major gravitate towards it.

Fingering. G major sits in one position with the first finger on fret 2. Each finger takes one fret: finger 1 on fret 2, 2 on fret 3, 3 on fret 4, 4 on fret 5. Rule: finger number is the fret minus one. Seventeen notes cover the six strings in this box.

Picking. Use strict alternate picking: down, up, down, up. Start with a downstroke on the root.

Chords from the scale. Pick every other note starting from the root: degrees 1, 3 and 5. For G major those are G, B and D: the G major chord. That is how major chords are built.

One octave, with fingers. Start with the first finger on the 6th string, fret 2 (the F♯ below the root).

1. Play G (6th string, fret 3, second finger) and A (fret 5, fourth finger).
2. On the 5th string play B (fret 2, first finger), C (fret 3, second) and D (fret 5, fourth).
3. On the 4th string play E (fret 2, first), F♯ (fret 4, third) and G (fret 5, fourth). You have reached the octave.

Now an application: Ode to Joy (Beethoven) uses only the notes G, A, B, C and D. The tab is on the G, B and D strings. Play it slowly and sing the note names.

e|-------------|------------|------------|----------|
B|------------3|--3---------|------------|----------|
G|---4--4--5---|-----5--4--2|--------2--4|--4--2--2-|
D|-------------|------------|--5--5------|----------|
A|-------------|------------|------------|----------|
E|-------------|------------|------------|----------|

Do these in order. Each one is small. Tick the ones you have practised.

• 1.One octave, slowly

  4 min · 50 → 70 BPM

  1. Put your index finger on fret 2 of the 6th string (the position starts at fret 2).
  2. Play G major ascending: 6th string 3, 5; 5th string 2, 3, 5; 4th string 2, 4, 5.
  3. Use alternate picking: down, up, down, up.
  4. Say each note name aloud as you play, then descend.

  You have it when

  • All eight notes ring clearly, up and down, at 70 BPM.
  I practised this one

• 2.Tempo ladder

  4 min · 60 → 90 BPM

  1. Play the full position (all six strings) up and down in eighth notes.
  2. Start at 60 BPM. If the run is clean twice in a row, raise the tempo by 5 BPM.
  3. Stop raising when mistakes appear. Note your top clean tempo.

  You have it when

  • You can play the full position up and down at 70 BPM cleanly.
  I practised this one

• 3.Ode to Joy

  4 min · 60 → 90 BPM

  1. Learn the tab shown in the lesson: it uses only the G, B and D strings.
  2. Play it slowly and sing or say the note names.
  3. Add a steady pulse with the metronome.

  You have it when

  • You play the melody smoothly and it is recognisable.
  I practised this one

• 4.Build the chord

  3 min

  1. Write out the G major scale: G A B C D E F♯.
  2. Take notes 1, 3 and 5: G, B, D. That is the G major chord.
  3. Do the same for C major (C D E F G A B): C, E, G.

  You have it when

  • You can say that a major chord is the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of the major scale.
  I practised this one

Start at 50 BPM with eighth notes: two notes per click. Move up in steps of 5 BPM only when every note is clean. A good first target is 80 BPM.

• Memorising the shape and not the formula. The shape shows you where; the formula W W H W W W H tells you why. Say the steps as you play.
• Using only the downstroke. Practise strict alternate picking from the start. It is slower at first and faster later.
• Playing notes without knowing which one is the root. The root is G. Play it with emphasis each time and end every run on it.

Every key's melody and chords come from its major scale. Playing a real melody, like Ode to Joy, shows the scale as a tune and not just a pattern. The same notes give you the chords in the key, which is the subject of Module 3.

Short version (10 minutes)

Play the G major scale in position, up and down, at 60 BPM, for five minutes.

Standard version (about 30 minutes)

Do all four exercises, then play the scale again starting on the open 6th string (E) and say how it is different.

• Formula: W W H W W W H.
• G major in position: frets 2 to 5, one finger per fret.
• Alternate pick from the first note.
• 1, 3, 5 of the scale make the major chord.

You are ready to move on when you can honestly say:

• I can say and play the major scale formula.
• I can play G major in position, up and down, at 70 BPM with alternate picking.
• I can play Ode to Joy and name the notes.