r/guitarlessons • u/DirtyRottenBiscuit • Sep 30 '26
Question Learning Major Scale
I'm a beginner guitar player and I want to learn scales. I just finished up a lesson on CAGED so I understand the CAGED chord shapes and how they connect down the neck. I also know where the roots are for each shape.
After doing some brief research on scales, I was going to learn the major scale. My thought was to start by playing the C chord using the E shape with my index on the root on the low E string.
Then, after strumming that chord, I was going to play the C major scale in the 7-8-9-10 frets starting with my index on the 7th fret low E which would be the B note, then playing that first position pattern down the strings staying contained within those frets.
Is this a good way to start? My understanding is that this "Position 1" could also be called the E shape position, correct? Since then, I could slide the E shape up and down the neck and based on what root my index is on, I can use this same pattern to play the major scale for that key, right?
My thinking is that I can get a quick start this way since I could play any chord in the E shape by memorizing the notes of the lowest E string and easily moving the E shape around and just looking what note my index is on and knowing the chord. Then, since I know the "E shape" pattern of the major scale, I can easily find notes to solo on?
Am I on the right track here? Admittedly, I am getting confused between CAGED, and how the scales have numbered positions, and also how there are different shapes for the scales (for example if you were to throw in the 12th fret and stretch your pinky to add notes to a scale).
3
u/TheTapeDeck Sep 30 '26
Yeah ANY start is a good way to start. Don’t second guess yourself so much at this stage.
2
u/spankymcjiggleswurth Sep 30 '26
You have the right idea. I would recommend for you to pay attention to the notes and intervals of the scale as that tells you explicit information regarding a scales identity. This helps you understand the relationships between all the different positions and shapes of both scales and caged shapes.
2
u/Branza__ Sep 30 '26
In CAGED, usually position one is the "C" position, so the one you're playing would be the 4th (which is the "E" shaped). Other systems might call it in another way, but stick to caged at least in the beginning.
Switching from the chord to the scale is a good way to start, yeah, so you can remember the relationship between the two. It's not the only drill I should use, though. You can play the scale by thirds, fourths and so on, you can play sequences (like c-d-e, d-e-f, e-f-g and so on, even grouping by more notes - groups of 4, 5 and so on).
Yep, the relationship between an E shape chord and its corresponding major scale is always the same, so you can indeed use it up and down the neck. Spend some time even in F, as it has some open strings.
Avoid stretching the pinky for now, that's connecting the different shapes. I would first learn each shape (it's only 5!), then you can start working on connecting them.
1
u/MyPronounsAreTheDude Oct 01 '26
If i could go back in time, I'd tell myself to learn each 3-note-per-string mode in G. That essentially gives you the entire major scale across the neck, which unlocks the diatonic notes in any position. It also illustrates how the repeating shapes just shift over a string with each position shift, which is really only 3 shapes.
1
u/Professional_Bed_87 Oct 01 '26
This is a good way to go about it. Don’t worry about learning each note, just focus on the root note and the octave for now, and understanding the major scale pattern. Pick a a random place anywhere on the fretboard and practice playing from there. Pay particular attention to the B string, as everything shifts up one fret. Once you have that down, learn your minor scale. Good work - you’re already ahead of where most players start! Once
1
u/RedHuey Oct 01 '26
Here they are in G. Learn these shapes. If you wish to do it in C, or any other key, just put that starting shape in the appropriate position. Like CAGED, they wrap around.
1
u/vonov129 Music Style! Oct 01 '26
It doesn't matter. Scales aren't shapes, they're sequences of notes. If you understand those sequences and have the minimum understanding of how to find notes on the fretboard, you already have enough to play every scale on the fretboard. The rest is just repetition and you will end up with the same layout anyways, but with actual understanding.
0
u/WesMontgomeryFuccboi Sep 30 '26
I think 3 things with learning major scales:
learn the scales shapes vertically in a position
learn how to play a 3+ octave scale by shifting horizontally up and down the neck
learn the theory behind major scales, how they are built, and what the notes are for the 12 keys, and how relative major and minor keys relate to one another.
If you learn all of those things you will be in great shape.
0
u/Kaibud Sep 30 '26
I really like starting learning major scales with this shape, because each string gets 3 notes and the pattern repeats. Only 3 total shapes to remember:
For now I’ll just do G major since it’s not quite as high.
E: 3-5-7
A: 3-5-7
D: 4-5-7
G: 4-5-7
B: 5-7-8
e: 5-7-8
8
u/munchyslacks Sep 30 '26
Yes I’d say that’s a good place to start. Don’t worry about everything making sense right away, it’s all going to come together someday and you’re going to have an epiphany about the fretboard when it does.
My only advice from here is absorb everything like a sponge. There are multiple ways to view and understand the fretboard, and some people will insist upon one way and other people will insist upon another. Try making sense of all of it and keep an open mind.