Guide

Guitar scales

A guitar scale is a set of notes played one after another, going up or down in a fixed pattern. Three scales cover almost everything a beginner plays: C major, G major and the minor pentatonic. Here is each one on the fretboard, with the fingers to use.

What is a scale?

A scale is a ladder of notes. Songs pick their melodies and chords from one scale, which is why they sound like they belong together.

  • The first note of the scale is its name. C major starts on C.
  • Major scales sound bright and settled.
  • Minor scales sound darker or sadder.
  • A pentatonic scale has five notes instead of seven, so it is hard to hit a wrong one.

The three scales to learn first

ScaleNotesWhy learn it
C majorC D E F G A BNo sharps or flats. Most songs on this site are in C.
G majorG A B C D E F#The home key of countless folk and campfire songs.
Minor pentatonicA C D E G (in A)The shape behind nearly every rock and blues solo.
Start at the top and work down.

C major scale in open position

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C major, open position. The number in each dot is the finger to use. 0 means an open string.

In words: A string: fret 3 (C). D string: open (D), fret 2 (E) and fret 3 (F). G string: open (G) and fret 2 (A). B string: open (B) and fret 1 (C).

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The same scale in tab, one note per beat.

In words: In order: A string fret 3 (C), D string open (D), D string fret 2 (E), D string fret 3 (F), G string open (G), G string fret 2 (A), B string open (B), B string fret 1 (C).

Tip

One finger per fret

Keep finger 1 over fret 1, finger 2 over fret 2, finger 3 over fret 3. Your hand stays still and only the fingers move.

G major scale in open position

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G major, open position. The F sharp on the D string uses your little finger.

In words: thick E string: fret 3 (G). A string: open (A), fret 2 (B) and fret 3 (C). D string: open (D), fret 2 (E) and fret 4 (F#). G string: open (G).

G major has one sharp, F#. That is the only note that changes from C major. Play both scales back to back and listen for it.

The minor pentatonic scale

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A minor pentatonic at the fifth fret. Two notes per string, fingers 1 and 3 or 1 and 4.

In words: thick E string: fret 5 (A) and fret 8 (C). A string: fret 5 (D) and fret 7 (E). D string: fret 5 (G) and fret 7 (A). G string: fret 5 (C) and fret 7 (D). B string: fret 5 (E) and fret 8 (G). thin e string: fret 5 (A) and fret 8 (C).

This is the most famous shape on the guitar. Slide the whole shape up or down the neck and it becomes a different key, with no new fingering to learn.

Watch out

Go slow and even

A scale played fast and uneven teaches your hand to be uneven. Pick every note at the same volume and the same distance apart. Speed comes later on its own.

How to practise scales

  1. 1

    Up, then down

    Play from the lowest note to the highest, then back. That is one round.

  2. 2

    Say the note names

    Out loud, while you play. It links the shape to the notes.

  3. 3

    Two minutes a day

    Short and daily beats one long session a week.

  4. 4

    Then find it in a song

    Melodies are scales in a different order. Spotting that is when scales start to make sense.

Hear a scale in a song

Try it now

Ode to Joy, melody mode

Ode to Joy uses the first five notes of the C major scale. Play it in Melody mode and watch which notes light up.

Open the song

Questions people ask

What guitar scale should I learn first?
C major in open position. It has no sharps or flats and matches the chords most beginner songs use. Learn the minor pentatonic next.
How many scales are there on guitar?
Dozens, but most music uses a handful: major, natural minor, and the major and minor pentatonic. Learn those and the rest are small changes.
Do I need scales to play songs?
Not to strum chords. Scales matter once you play melodies, solos or make up your own parts.

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