MODULE 8
C MAJOR Scale EXERCISES & MOVEABLE SCALES

In this module you will explore some theory based around the Major Scale. At level 1 you will have explored the basic C Major scale in open position. Here you will discover a great exercise to practice to really get those fingers moving and help you develop dexterity to play a bunch of fun riffs. 

FINGER POSITIONS

This is a fun exercise to practice to really get those picking fingers and individual note fretting fingers into shape. 

This exercise requires use of the C, E & A strings only so you will just need the following fingers for plucking:
  • C STRING - THUMB
  • E STRING - INDEX FINGER
  • A STRING - MIDDLE FINGER
For fretting, you should use fingers 1, 2 and 3 to play the corresponding frets on each strings. 
  • FRET 1 - INDEX FINGER (1)
  • FRET 2 - MIDDLE FINGER (2)
  • FRET 3 - RING FINGER (3)

C MAJOR SCALE - FINGER GYM EXERCISE

EXERCISE: Take your time getting used to the movement of the C scale pattern to make sure you are using the correct fingers for fretting and plucking. The notes you are playing are 8th notes (quavers) which means you play two notes to every one beat. You can count each bar as: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

C SCALE - FINGER GYM @ 50BPM

The video below plays plays at  a speed of 50BPM using 8th notes, meaning that you play two notes per beat. Have a listen to hear what the finger gym exercise sounds like. 
To make it a little easier to get started, try this exercise using quarter notes to begin with. This is what they look like in tab form:
Now download the PDF below for full instructions and some stretching tips before starting and have a go starting at 60BPM and gradually getting up to 100BPM. 
Take your time with this and make a note of where you get up to each time you try it. Before long, you should be able to play at all speeds. Once you reach the 100BPM as quarter notes, you are essentially playing the same speed as the 50BPM as 8th notes!

MOVEABLE SCALES

​Once you have masted the C Major Scale exercise, you can literally play the same exercises in any key by moving up the fretboard. The illustration below shows you how you can play the D major scale using the same pattern as the C Major scale but starting at the 2nd fret on the C string, which gives you a D note:
Each of the notes have now moved up one semitone so the C becomes a D, the D and E, the E and F# and so on. The distance between the notes of the pattern are the same as the C major scale, except instead of playing the open strings for C, E & G, you need to fret those strings at fret 2 for D, F# and A. ​They are the notes that make up a D Major chord. 
​
Once you get used to this try moving the pattern up two more frets to play the E Major scale and so on. 

Download the PDF below for more information about the D Major Scale, then watch the video below to see how you can transpose the same scale pattern to any key in the level 2.2 course. Coming soon.
That's a bit of theory out the way, now  it's time to put them into practice with some fun riffs.
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