Understanding Guitar Scales and Arpegios
is an intergral part of guitar playing

This guitar lesson will help you understand guitar scales and arpegios.

There are two part in this guitar instruction on scales so do proceed to Part II when you get to the end of this lesson.

Working the scales through all 12 keys is a must to developing and understanding the fretboard. So commit these guitar scales to memory, till you can approach them effortlessly.

We will begin with the Cmajor, covering just an octave.

All the notes can be played with a down stroke.

1. Strike the 5th string, 3rd fret C note. The left hand 3rd finger is used to hold the note.

2. Move down and play the 4th string open D note.

3. On the same 4th string, hold down and play the 2nd fret E note using the 2nd finger of the right hand.

4. Still on the same string, hold down and play the 3rd fret F note with the right hand 3rd finger.

5. Go down and play the 3rd string G note.

6. On the same 3rd string play the 2nd fret A note with the right hand 2nd finger.

7. Lastly play the 2nd string open B note, than proceed to the 1st string 1st fret C note to complete the scale .

In the above understanding guitar scales example, open strings are also employed.

There are three open strings used : D, G and B. The rest are fretted. Also note that only the first three frets are used. If you prefer reading the guitar tabs, the explanation is also the same.

For left hand fingerings, you can try out your own approaches.

Click here to download the Sharp Keys pdf file.

Now practice the various guitar scales below.

Key of D major: 2 sharps - F#, C#

The first 3 notes, D open, E, and F# are played on the 4th string.

The 4th note is on the third string open G and the 5th note is on the second fret A note which is also on the 3rd string.

The 6th note B, 7th note C#, and 8th note D are all on the 2nd string.

Key of G major: 1 sharp - F#

The first note G is played on the 6th string 3rd fret.

The 2nd note Open A is played on the 5th string.

On the same 5th string 2nd fret we have the B note and 3rd fret C note.

Now go to the 4th string for the open string D note, on the same string fret the 2nd fret E note, stretch to the F# 4th fret same string.

Finish off at the 3rd string G note.

Key of A major: 3 sharps - F#, C#, G#

The 1st note open A is played on the 5th string.

The next note B is held on the 2nd fret same string.

The C# note is held at the 4th fret same string.

On the 4th string the D open note is played followed by the E note 2nd fret, then the F# on the 4th fret all on the same string.

The G# note is played on the 3rd string 1st fret followed by A note 2nd fret of the same string.

Key of E major scale: 4 sharps - F#, C#, G#, D#

First three notes played on the 6th string.

The first E open note followed by F# 2nd fret then G# on the 4th fret.

The next 3 notes are on the 5th string. Starts with A open string followed by B note 2nd fret then C# note on the 4th fret.

The last two notes are played on the 4th string.

The D# note is on the 1st fret followed by the E note on the 2nd fret.

More guitar scales to practice:

Key of B major scale: 5 sharps - F#, C#, G#, D#, A#

First two notes are played on the 5th string. The B note played on the 2nd fret and C# note on the 4th fret.

Next three notes are played on the 4th string, D# note on the 1st fret E note on the 2nd fret and F# note on the 4th fret.

Next two notes are played on the 3rd string. G# note on the 1st fret and A# note on the 3rd fret and last open note B on the 2nd string.

Key F# major scale: 6 sharps - F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#

The first two notes are on the 6th string. F# note on the 2nd fret and G# note on the 4th fret.

Next three notes are on the 5th string. A# on the 1st fret, B note on the 2nd fret with C# note on the 4th fret.

Next three notes are played on the 4th string. D# note on the 1st fret, E# note on the 3rd fret and F# note on the 4th fret.

Key of C# major scale: 7 sharps - F#,C#,G#,D#,A#,E#,B#

Begin on the 5th string 4th fret C# note.

Move to the 4th string to play the next 3 notes, D# note on the 1st fret, E# note on the 3rd fret and F# note on the 4th fret.

Go to the third string for the next two notes, G# on the 1st fret and A# on the 3rd fret.

Lastly go to the 2nd string, B# on the 1st fret and C# on the 2nd fret.

We've now covered the basic major guitar scales in one octave in all the sharp keys.

Now proceed to Understanding Guitar Scales Part II