When to Use Pentatonic Verse Major Scale Patterns

"When guitar soloing, how do I know when to use a pentatonic scale or major scale?"

As taught in Fretboard Theory, each chord, progression or song has a corresponding pentatonic and major scale that can be played over it. It's your choice whether you use one over the other or combine them. If you're trying to copy a song, then follow what the song does. Minor scales use the same patterns as major scales.

Cult of Personality Tab C Major Scale Guitar

"Cult of Personality" by Living Colour is a great example of using C major scale patterns for guitar. The main riff uses G Mixolydian mode (a.k.a. the "Dominant scale"). Additionally this example demonstrates how to develop alternate picking (or cross picking) technique, accuracy, fluidity and speed. Get free guitar tab when you sign up for a free preview of Fretboard Theory at: http://guitar-music-theory.com

Playing Major Scale Patterns Over Minor Keys

So to confirm what you said when playing over a minor key, I can still use the major scale without flatting any note or without raising any note.  The same applies with other modes.  Is that correct?

Yes. Minor keys use the same scale patterns and chords as major keys, you just phrase everything around a different scale degree like vi. Em is simply G major scale patterns. Am is C major patterns, etc. This is covered in Fretboard Theory Chapter 7: Roots, Keys and Applying Scales.

Third Stone From the Sun Tab A Major Scale Guitar

This guitar lesson is a great example of using A major scale patterns played in the style of "Third Stone From the Sun" by Jimi Hendrix. This is the octave guitar riff at 0:42 which is based in E mixolydian mode. You'll also learn about guitar modes and creating modal scale sounds. Get free tab for this song excerpt when you sign up for a preview of the book Fretboard Theory at: http://guitar-music-theory.com

No Woman No Cry Chords Scales For Guitar How to Solo

An instrumental guitar jam played in the style of "No Woman No Cry" by Bob Marley. Learn about the chords and progression used in this song, plus how to apply pentatonic and major scale patterns over it. This guitar theory lesson is suitable for intermediate and advanced players who want to learn more about the inter-workings of music. No tab is available for this song, but you can play along with the jam track at: http://guitar-music-theory.com/music-theory-songs/NoWomanNoCry-JamTrack.mp3

The Man Who Sold the World Tab F Major Scale Guitar

This guitar lesson is a great example of using F major scale patterns played in the style of "The Man Who Sold the World" by Nirvana. This is the chorus bass line which begins at 0:45. Guitars tuned down 1/2 step to Eb. Suitable for beginner level plays who are getting started with playing scales. Get free tab for this song excerpt when you sign up for a preview of the book Fretboard Theory at: http://guitar-music-theory.com

Rhiannon Tab A Minor Scale Guitar

This guitar lesson is a great example of using A minor scale patterns played in the style of "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac. This is the opening guitar riff which includes double-stops, major thirds, minor thirds, and fifths. You can also use this song as a play along jam track to practice connecting major scale patterns for guitar. Suitable for intermediate level players and up. Get free tab for this song excerpt when you sign up for a preview of the book Fretboard Theory at: http://guitar-music-theory.com

Accurate & Complete Guitar Tab
To get the complete, accurate, fully licensed and legal guitar TAB for this song go to: http://www.unitedwetab.com/Guitar-Tab/Fleetwood-Mac/Rhiannon/11067?_dcs=DS20

This blog has moved to: http://www.guitar-music-theory.com/blog/

I Want Candy Tab D Major Scale Patterns Guitar Picking Exercise

This guitar lesson is a great example of using D major scale patterns played in the style of "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow. This is the opening riff which makes for a great guitar picking exercise. This song also includes a key change and Mixolydian mode. Suitable for intermediate level players and up. Get free tab for this song excerpt when you sign up for a preview of the book Fretboard Theory at: http://guitar-music-theory.com

How to Play Crazy Train Tabs A Major Scale Guitar

The guitar riff to "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne (with guitarist Randy Rhoads) is a fairly easy example of using A major scale patterns on the fretboard. With everything revolving around the sixth scale degree F#, this produces Aeolian mode (a.k.a. natural minor scale). You can also use the song as a jam track to practice over.

Get the guitar tab for this excerpt when you sign up for a free preview of Fretboard Theory: http://www.Guitar-Music-Theory.com

CCR Down On the Corner Tab Guitar C Major Scale

"Down On the Corner" by Creedence Clearwater Revival is a great example of using the major scale patterns taught in Fretboard Theory. It's one of the easiest major scale songs to play because the tempo isn't too fast. It's perfect for guitarists who are just getting started with major scale melodies, riffs, lead guitar solos and bass lines. This version can be played on either acoustic or electric guitar. Get free tab for this song excerpt when you sign up for a preview of the book Fretboard Theory at: http://guitar-music-theory.com

Wild World Chords Tab Cat Stevens Guitar C Major Scale

"Wild World" by Cat Stevens is a great example of using the major scale patterns taught in Fretboard Theory. It's one of the easiest major scale songs to play because the run is simply the C major scale played backward. It's perfect for guitarists who are just getting started with major scale melodies, riffs, lead guitar solos and bass lines. This version can be played on either acoustic or electric guitar. Get free tab for this song excerpt when you sign up for a preview of the book Fretboard Theory at: http://guitar-music-theory.com

The Man Who Sold the World Tab F Major Scale Guitar

"The Man Who Sold the World" by Nirvana is a great example of using F major scale patterns for guitar. Get free guitar tab when you sign up for a free preview of Fretboard Theory at: http://guitar-music-theory.com

Cult of Personality Tab C Major Scale Guitar

"Cult of Personality" by Living Colour is a great example of using C major scale patterns for guitar. The main riff uses G Mixolydian mode (a.k.a. the "Dominant scale"). Additionally this example demonstrates how to develop alternate picking (or cross picking) technique, accuracy, fluidity and speed.

Get free guitar tab when you sign up for a free preview of Fretboard Theory at: http://guitar-music-theory.com

Third Stone From the Sun Tab A Major Scale Guitar

"Third Stone From the Sun" by Jimi Hendrix is a great example of using A major scale patterns for guitar. The main riff uses guitar octave shapes and E Mixolydian mode (a.k.a. the "Dominant scale"). Desi shows you how to use this example to practice making modal sounds.

Get free guitar tab when you sign up for a free preview of Fretboard Theory at: http://guitar-music-theory.com

Stay Together For the Kids Tab D Major Scale Guitar

"Stay Together For the Kids" by Blink 182 is a great example of using D major scale patterns for guitar. The opening riff uses alternate picking technique and a 1 5 6 5 chord progression (D A/C# Bm A). Additionally, this song can be used as a play-along jam track to practice playing and connecting major scale positions on the guitar fretboard.

Get free guitar tab when you sign up for a free preview of Fretboard Theory at: http://guitar-music-theory.com

Rhiannon Tab A Minor Scale Guitar

"Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac is a great example of using A minor scale patterns for guitar (C major). The opening riff includes double-stops, third intervals and a 6 4 chord progression. Additionally, this song can be used as a play-along jam track to practice playing and connecting major scale positions on the guitar fretboard.

Get free guitar tab when you sign up for a free preview of Fretboard Theory at: http://guitar-music-theory.com

La Bamba Guitar Tabs C Major Scale

"La Bamba" by Los Lobos is a great example of using C major scale patterns for guitar. The opening riff includes double-stops, third intervals and a 1 4 5 chord progression. Additionally, this song can be used as a play-along jam track to practice playing and connecting major scale positions on the guitar fretboard.

Get free guitar tab when you sign up for a free preview of Fretboard Theory at: http://guitar-music-theory.com

Island in the Sun Tabs Weezer Solo G Major Guitar Scale Patter...

The lead guitar solo to "Island in the Sun" by Weezer is a great example of using G major scale patterns on the guitar fretboard. You can also use the song as a backing jam track to practice playing and connecting major scale patterns for guitar.

Get the guitar tab for this excerpt when you sign up for a free preview of Fretboard Theory: http://guitar-music-theory.com

Do I Need to Memorize Guitar Major Scale Pattern Shapes?

I have worked thorough the guitar pentatonic scale patterns and have them down pretty well. I seem to find the guitar major scale patterns more difficult to remember. Do I need to learn them by shape or can I just build a scale as I go by knowing the scale degrees and steps? Also, do I need to have the major scales down "pat" before I can move on to other music theory topics?

The key to understanding how music works on the guitar fretboard is visualizing shapes and patterns and how they connect. Since everything in music stems from the major scale, knowing guitar major scale patterns is foundational to guitar theory.

I recommend you follow the instruction laid out in Fretboard Theory Chapter 5: The Major Scale. Memorize the 5 patterns on the guitar neck, and then practice connecting them forward and backward in order to complete the whole scale template. Once you can accomplish this in the original key I illustrate the patterns in, transpose the scale to new keys by shifting the template to new fretboard positions. Use the songs listed on page 73-74 to practice with. This way, you can hear the melodic characteristics of the major scale as you review the patterns (this will make practicing a lot more enjoyable).

After you can complete the scale template forward and backward in various keys, the next step is to learn lots of major scale songs. Melodies, riffs, lead guitar solos, and even bass lines will all demonstrate how to apply the patterns in musical context. And listeners will appreciate hearing something familiar too!

Play Until Yer Fingers Bleed!
Mr. Desi Serna (Google me!)
http://www.Guitar-Music-Theory.com
Pentatonic/CAGED/Progressions/Modes

How to Learn Guitar Major Scale Patterns

Guitarists of all levels play melodies, riffs, lead guitar solos and bass lines using major scales. The notes of the major scale cover the whole fretboard. To learn this scale template, players break it up into smaller pieces. In this article I'm going to explain to you how this process works and address common issues concerning patterns, fingerings, picking and transposing. With this information you'll understand the process that eventually leads to you successfully using and applying major scales, and developing a strong knowledge of guitar theory.

Major Scale Patterns
When learning the major scale, players break up the notes into positions or patterns. Usually this is done with five pieces but there are other ways to do it. It really doesn't matter how you break up the whole major scale template as long as you can put the pieces together and complete the whole guitar fretboard. Also, different major scale patterns are not different scales. They're the same notes in different positions.

To see the major scale patterns illustrated on a neck diagram just go to Google.com and search "major scale patterns." Several web sites will come up that post versions of the patterns for free. Or, see my book Fretboard Theory Chapter 5: The Major Scale.

Memorize Scale Patterns
As you learn major scale patterns be sure to focus on only one at a time. Visualize the pattern on the fret board and play up and down it until you have it completely memorized and your fingers know where to go without thinking. You don't need to start or end on the root, but rather touch on every possible note available in the position you're covering.

Major Scale Fingering
There are no correct or perfect ways to finger major scale patterns, but there are some bad habits to avoid. Don't do something silly like play through a whole pattern with only one or two fingers. This will make you look and sound like a hack. God gave you several fingers for a reason. Use them! Try to get three or four fingers involved. You should be able to cover a position by keeping your hand still and then reaching with your fingers. It's good to settle on something and then be consistent as you practice, but you'll no doubt use other fingerings when you start actually playing music especially when techniques such as slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs and bends are involved.

Alternate Picking
While you're at it, alternate your pick. You'll spend a lot of time rehearsing major scale patterns. Don't reinforce a negative habit by plunking through everything with downstrokes. Kill two birds with one stone by developing alternate picking technique while you learn scale patterns. Choke up on the pick, keep your hand planted on the guitar and alternate continuously without skipping or repeating any strokes. Be sure to rest your hand just above the string you're picking. As you move across the strings, your hand should slide over and rest upon the strings you're not playing to keep them quiet.

Reference Chord
Every time you learn something new on the fret board you should try to peg it to something familiar. This is the key to developing a good working knowledge of music theory especially when applying guitar theory to the fret board. You can apply this pegging idea by associating major scale patterns to reference chords. For example, pattern one (as it's usually taught) can be played right around an "E form" barre chord. Pattern two fits together with a "D form" barre chord. Pattern three with a "C form" and so on. If you know how to navigate the fretboard with chords, and you associate them to major scale patterns, then you'll be able to instantly jump into the major scale in any position. To learn more about chord forms look up the "CAGED Template Chord System."

Connecting Major Scale Patterns
After you complete a pattern, move to the next position and repeat the whole learning process with the new pattern. After you memorize a new position go back and review the others before it. Continue with this process until you've covered the whole fretboard. Then, practice connecting the patterns in both directions across the neck. In other words, connect pattern one to pattern two, two to three, three to four, four to five, then reverse yourself by connecting pattern five back into pattern four, four into three, three into two, and two into one. You may have room to move backward from the pattern one you started at. Try it.

As you move from one pattern to the next, notice how a portion of each is reused in the new position. Visualizing how these pieces connect is the key to navigating the fretboard, understanding how music elements are combined, and developing a knowledge of guitar music theory.

Transposing Major Scales
Once you've completed the whole major scale template in one key you can transpose by simply shifting it to a new starting position. Don't let the fret numbers throw you off. Instead, focus on the shape of the pattern and the feel of the fingering. Connect all the patterns in this new key until you run out of fretboard or can't play any higher. Don't forget to cover the area before pattern one begins. Complete this process through all twelve keys. When you're done, you'll surely have the patterns down pat!

More to Come
Look out for future guitar lessons where I'll explain great ways to practice and helpful ways to begin applying the major scale to music and songs. You'll need this information in order to complete the major scale learning process, and moreover to develop a good knowledge of guitar theory.

Guitar Major Scale Podcast
Listen to free audio lessons on major scales and guitar theory at the links below.

Guitar Major Scale Podcast at iTunes
Guitar Major Scale Podcast at TalkShoe.com

Play Until Yer Fingers Bleed!
Mr. Desi Serna (Google me!)
http://www.Guitar-Music-Theory.com
Scales, Chords, Progressions, and More