Moving Guitar Scale Patterns Around
The Fretboard
There is a big difference between a scale pattern
and the actual scale. The actual scale is only 5
notes. When we are learning scale patterns we
are learning the location of the notes from the
scale as they appear on the fretboard. The same
5 notes repeat themselves over and over on the guitar's
fretboard. What we need to be able to do in order
to play from the scale is memorize these fretboard
patterns.
Remember that these are patterns. To play in different
key signatures we move the patterns around.
Below is the C Scale Pattern. It is called the
C scale pattern because the basic chord that the
scale pattern is built around is the C open chord.
It can be moved, as with all scale patterns to any
key. We use the root note (R) to tell us what key
we want to play in. Want to play in the key of E?
Place the root note on a E note on your guitar's
fretboard.
 
Examples
1. In the 1st diagram
we see the C scale pattern in the key of C#/Db,
because the root note is on the C#/Db note on the
4th fret of the A string.
2. In the 2nd diagram
we see the C scale pattern in the key of F, because
the root note is on the F note on the 8th fret of
the A string.
3. In the 3rd diagram
we see the C scale pattern in the key of A, because
the root note is on the A note on the 12th fret
of the A string. |
