G Major Scale & E Minor Scale for Guitar – The Whole Neck!
Here’s all the patterns of the G Major Scale. Yup, its also the E Minor Scale (and 5 other ‘modes’, too). I’m constantly showing this to students — its massively useful for jamming in virtually all genres. You can play these same patterns in any key by sliding them up and down the neck. You can also divvy these patterns up in different ways – just trying to keep it simple. Pick, say, a pattern a month (or 3) and learn it well. Jam on songs in G major or E Minor. Start with the open and 12th position. (Notice its the same pattern). Have Fun!!!!
Your ‘Rock’ Scale – the A Minor Pentatonic Scale!!!
Your ‘Rock’ Scale – the A Minor Pentatonic Scale!!!
Its also your ‘Country’ scale, the C Major Pentatonic Scale.
Save the image above print it, frame it, and stick on your wall!!!
This is just a 5 note scale: A C D E G — its the same in any pattern.
On all the patterns just play 2 notes per fret. (Notice the Low E string is thick in the drawing.) As you can see, they all overlap.
Start w/ the (blue) 5th position. That’s all you need to get started jamming.
It gives you 80% of the effect w/20% of the effort!!
When you’re ready to use more of the neck and really progress, try a new pattern per month or so. I’d do the (purple) open position and then the (red) 2nd position. Then fill in the rest. Notice the open and 12th (both purple) position patterns are really the same pattern, just an octave apart.
Jam w/ this stuff and have fun. Lay down a chord progression on a recording or a looper – or jam w/ a buddy – and jam over it w/ any of these patterns.
Try rock progressions in A or A Minor (i.e.) //: A / C / D / D ://
Try Folk/Country progressions in C major. (i.e.) //: C / F / G / G ://
This video walks you through the patterns. Have Fun!!!