The major scale in seven positions

You can already play the major scale in one position. But every major key covers the whole neck, and there are seven natural hand positions, one starting on each note of the scale. Learn them and you can play in any key, anywhere, and move between positions mid-phrase. The same seven shapes also give you the relative natural minor, so this one system covers both.

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

• Play the G major scale in seven positions, each starting on a different scale degree on the 6th string.
• Find the root notes in every position.
• Use the same seven positions to play E natural minor, and move them to other keys.

The pentatonic scale has five positions. The major scale, with seven notes, has seven: start the hand on each note of the scale in turn, on the low E string, and play every scale note within reach.

In G major (G A B C D E F♯), the notes on the low E string are at frets 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 and 14 (F♯ is also at fret 2). Each one is the start of a position:

• Position 1 from G (fret 3)
• Position 2 from A (fret 5)
• Position 3 from B (fret 7)
• Position 4 from C (fret 8)
• Position 5 from D (fret 10)
• Position 6 from E (fret 12)
• Position 7 from F♯ (fret 14, or fret 2 an octave down)

Each covers about five frets. Use one finger per fret, stretching the pinky (or reaching back with the index) for the outer notes. Neighbouring positions overlap: the upper notes of one are the lower notes of the next. That overlap is how you move across the neck.

Minor comes free. E natural minor uses exactly the same notes as G major, so these seven shapes are also the seven positions of E minor. What changes is the home note: start, end and rest on E.

Other keys. The shapes are movable. Slide everything up two frets and you are in A major (and F♯ minor).

Learning a position.

1. Put the index finger on the starting fret on the low E string.
2. Find every G in the window first and play only those.
3. Now play the full position slowly, low to high and back, one note per click at 60 BPM.
4. Say the degree number of each note as you play it. It is slow at first, and it is what makes the positions stick.

Moving between positions. Play position 1 up to the G on the D string (fret 5). Shift the hand up two frets and continue in position 2. Shifting on a root is the easiest place to start.

Hearing minor. Loop an E minor chord or let the open low E ring, and play position 6 starting and ending on E. Nothing about the fingering changes, but the scale now sounds minor.

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

• 1.Positions 1 to 3

  5 min · 60 → 80 BPM

  1. Position 1: index finger at fret 3 (G). Play every G major note between frets 3 and 7, low to high and back.
  2. Position 2: index at fret 5 (A). Play every scale note between frets 5 and 9.
  3. Position 3: index at fret 7 (B). Frets 7 to 11.
  4. In each position, say "root" whenever you play a G.

  You have it when

  • You can play each of the three positions up and down without a wrong note at 60 BPM.
  • You can point to every G in each position.
  I practised this one

• 2.Positions 4 to 7

  5 min · 60 → 80 BPM

  1. Position 4: index at fret 8 (C). Frets 8 to 12.
  2. Position 5: index at fret 10 (D). Frets 10 to 14.
  3. Position 6: index at fret 12 (E). Frets 12 to 16.
  4. Position 7: index at fret 2 (F♯). Frets 2 to 6. It is the same shape as at fret 14, an octave lower.
  5. Play each up and down, naming the roots.

  You have it when

  • You can play positions 4 to 7 up and down without a wrong note at 60 BPM.
  I practised this one

• 3.Same shapes, minor home

  4 min

  1. Hold a low E (open 6th string) or loop an Em chord.
  2. Play position 6 (frets 12 to 16), starting and ending on E instead of G. You are playing E natural minor.
  3. Do the same in position 1 and position 3, finding the Es first.
  4. Finally, move position 1 up two frets (index at fret 5) and play it as A major.

  You have it when

  • You can play E natural minor in three positions, starting and ending on E.
  • You can move a position to a new key by sliding the whole shape.
  I practised this one

Accuracy first: one note per beat at 60 BPM, saying the degree name when you hit a root. Go up to two notes per beat at 70 BPM once a position is automatic. This lesson is meant to be spread over several sessions: one or two positions per session is a good pace.

• Trying to learn all seven in one sitting. Learn one or two positions per session, and always revise the previous ones before adding a new one.
• Memorising dots without knowing where the roots are. Every position is anchored by its roots. Find the Gs first, then fill in the notes between them.
• Moving the hand within a position. Keep the index finger on its starting fret; use one finger per fret and stretch the pinky (or shift the index back one fret) for the outer notes.

Melodies and solos rarely stay in one box. Knowing all seven positions lets you start a phrase where it sounds best and move up or down the neck without losing the key. Revisit the melodic phrases lesson and play your four-bar melody in three different positions.

Short version (10 minutes)

Learn positions 1 and 2 thoroughly, naming the roots.

Standard version (about 30 minutes)

Do all three exercises over a week, adding one or two positions per session. Then play a one-octave G major scale starting in each of the seven positions.

• Seven positions: one starting on each scale degree on the 6th string.
• In G: frets 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 and 2 (or 14).
• Neighbouring positions overlap: the top of one is the bottom of the next.
• The same shapes play the relative minor; slide them to change key.

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

• I can play the G major scale in all seven positions at 60 BPM.
• I can find the root in any position without counting.
• I can use the same positions to play E natural minor and to change key.