Hi dear fellow guitar players, it’s time for the 5th position of the Major Scale series. The final CAGED shape position of the 5 positions. Also check out position 1, position 2, position 3, position 4 if you haven’t been able to do that yet. Now is the time to improve your skills and become an accomplished guitar player.

5th Position G Major Scale

We are going to learn the Major scale “5th position”, also referred to as the G-shape. Once you’ve practiced all these scale position thoroughly you have a broader understanding of the how the major scale works across the entire fretboard. The more you expand your knowledge of scales and music theory the more you will understand the overall picture of how music works and that will result into better playing, better soloing, better music composition skills, better everything guitar. So don’t waste your time and get to work.

See below for the scale diagram, tablature and guitar video lesson

Yes, it’s a gorgeous day today, it’s time for the 4th position of the Major Scale. This post is part of the G major scale series (position 1, position 2, position 3, position 4 up to this point) so if you haven’t checked out the previous lesson please do so. You can also dive into the lesson first and come back to the other lesson later. No problem.

4th Position G Major Scale

We are going to learn the Major scale “4th position”, also referred to as the A-shape which I will tell you all about in the video lesson. I will give explain everything in the utmost details with all the practice tips and tools to really make you own these scales inside out. You’re gonna have a blast!

See below for the scale diagram, TABs and video guitar lesson

I appreciate any feedback you have in the comments below.

Hey awesome people, how are you today? It’s time for the 3rd position of the major scale. We’re going to learn all 5 scale shape / positions related to the CAGED system to be able to play around the entire fretboard.

3rd Position Major Scale

Once you’ve learned the 1st position and 2nd position of the major scale thoroughly you can safely continue to learn the 3rd position, also referred to as the C-shape position of the major scale. (See video lesson).

Below are the TABS and the video lesson where I explain the entire scale shape / position with tricks and tips to really nail this one. Make yourself a nice cup of coffee or a profound cup of tea and start developing some solid guitar habits.

Have a great one!

Dear fellow guitar players, today I want to teach you how to play the 2nd position of the major scale. Learning the major scale is crucial if you want to become an accomplished guitar player.

2nd Position Major Scale

Once you’ve learned the 1st position of the major scale you can continue your journey by learning the 2nd position, also referred to as the D-shape position of the major scale. (See video lesson for more details on that).

Below are the TABS and the video lesson where I explain the entire lick slowly and in close up.

You’re gonna get a lot out of this.

Have fun!

Please share your feedback in the comments below or on Youtube. I read and reply to everyone of them. I’d love to hear from you!

Hi lovely people, today I want to teach you how to play the major scale, in particular the G major scale. The G major scale (1st position) is the best scale to start out with when you’re learning a major scale on the guitar, because of how it is positioned on the guitar.

Once you know how to play the G major scale you can move it up and down the neck to every key you like.

How to Learn the G Major Scale – 1st Position

• The best way to learn the major scale is by playing the 2 octave major scale.
• Memorize the notes of the major scale
• Learn the scale using the appropriate fingering
• Learn the scale also with one finger to become conscious of where the notes are on the neck.

Below are the TABS and the video lesson where I explain everything in full detail.

Please share your feedback in the comments below or on Youtube. I read and reply to everyone of them. I’d love to hear from you! 

Enjoy!

Other Major Scale Positions

You might also like:

G Major Scale – 2nd Position

G Major Scale – 3rd Position

G Major Scale – 4th Position

G Major Scale – 5th Position

Hi folks, today we’re going to dive into the one-octave major scales Part II. A nice, compact, clear and focused guitar lesson. If you haven’t learned the part I yet, you can check it out here: Effective One-Octave Major Scales and Why! Part I

Reminder Why You Want to Learn One-Octave Scales

Remember, you want to learn the one-octave major scale to easily identify the shape and structure of the scale, the notes within the scale, and the intervals. Moreover, the one-octave scale is easier to play for beginners and opens new doors, breeds new insights and improves the playing of intermediate guitar players.

Starting from the Root Note on the A-string

Today we are learning three major scale shape/patterns with the first (root) note starting on the A-string (5th string).

Tip: Learn and memorize the notes on the A-string so you can instantly recognize the key of the scale when you want to move the scale up or down the fretboard.

Major Scale Fingering

For the major scale examples and tablature below I’ve notated the fret-hand fingering. The numbers next to the notes on the note staff right above the tablature indicates the fret-hand fingers:

| 1 = index | 2 = middle finger |3 = ring finger | 4 = pinky |

How to read tablature? Check out How to Read Guitar Tabs – Tablature

The numbers in the yellow neck diagrams also indicate the fret-hand fingering. The neck diagrams also clearly show what the shape or pattern looks like. Learn to visualize and memorize the shape of each pattern.

Make sure you play the scale shapes using alternative picking. Strictly use alternating down and up strokes. The first note you play is a downstroke, the second an upstroke, the third one a downstroke, the fourth one an upstroke and so on.

Practice the scale in every Key

In the examples below we play the G major scale, but the goal is to learn these scale shapes/patterns in every key. Once you got the scale under your fingers learn the pattern in different keys. Just move the entire scale up or down the fret and change keys easily. Need more help with that? A more detailed explanation on this in Part I

Without further ado..

Enjoy!

MAJOR SCALE SHAPES – ROOT NOTE STARTS ON THE 5TH STRING

G MAJOR SCALE fingering / shape / pattern #4

G MAJOR SCALE fingering / shape / pattern #5

G MAJOR SCALE fingering / shape / pattern #6

Assignments Part II

• Learn to play each scale shape /pattern using alternate picking.
• Make sure you play every note clean and clear. Listen carefully.
• Visualize and memorize the shape of each scale pattern in your mind.
• Learn to play the scale shapes in different keys and be sure to know what key you’re playing in. Learn the notes of the string.
• Play the scales along with a metronome in different tempos.
• Re-practice the one-octave major scale patterns of Part I.
• Play all 6 one-octave scale patterns of Part I and II.
• Try to create some melody with each scale shape.

Have fun!

Wait up! In the Part III of the One-Octave Major Scales we’re going to learn one-octave scales starting on the D-string. We’re going up the strings! Make sure you nail these patterns before we move on. Start practicing your scales today.

Stick around!

P.S.
Share your comments below. I appreciate it and reply.

Get out of a rut! Master The Art of Blues and Rock Soloing and
Improvisation around The Entire Fretboard. Check out:

We all have tons of excuses to justify the times we don’t practice. We need to work, maintain our relationships, play with our kids, finish up tasks, exercise, eat and sleep. How in the world is there any time left?

How can you improve your skills amidst all of this, stay motivated and keep learning and growing when there are times when you can’t pick up the guitar?

Well, there are many places and times throughout the day where you can do some really valuable exercises to make huge changes in your guitar playing. I’ll first show you WHAT you can do, and then HOW and WHEN can you get better at playing guitar everyday, anywhere and anytime! Let’s check it out.

Memorizing the Notes on the Guitar

You can start by learning the notes on the guitar. Memorize where every note (all 12) are located on the guitar neck on every string. Start by memorizing all the “F” notes on all strings. Say out loud: The F note is located on the Low E-string, 1st fret | F on the A-string, 8th fret | F on the D-string, 3rd fret | F on the G-string, 10th fret | F on the B-string, 6th fret | F on the high e-string, 1st fret.

Try to visualize where the note is located on the neck while you’re naming the fret and string. Then pick another random note and repeat the exercise. Keep doing that until you know all 12 notes from the top of your head.

Memorizing Scales

Next, learn to name all the scale notes of each key out loud. Start with the C major scale: C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C, then the G major scale: G – A – B – C – D – E – F# – G, next the F major scale: F – G – A – Bb – C – D – E – F and so on. Just pick any key in random order, until you’ve gone through all 12 keys.

You can also do this with the natural minor scale, and every other scale. Just like the first exercise try to visualize where the notes of each scale are located on the strings.

Memorizing Chords and Progressions

You can also memorize all the chords you can derive from each major scale in every key. C major scale chords = C – Dm – Em – F – G – Am – Bdim , F major scale chords are: F – Gm – Am – Bb – C – Dm – Edim, G major scale chords: G – Am – Bm – C – D – Em – F#dim, and so on.

Do some chord structure exercises and learn to name the notes of every chord. C major chord = C – E – G, F major chord = F – A – C, G major chord = G – B – D, and so on. You can also do this with minor chords, dom7 chords, dim chord, etc.

Learning, memorizing and knowing the notes, the chords, the scales, the circle of fifths and fourths will help you grasp how the guitar works and understand the playing field. It will make guitar playing much more interesting, speed up the progress and connect the dots of everything you play. Take one exercise at a time. Just by doing one exercise consistently you will already reap the benefits.

Listen and Analyze Songs

While your playing songs on the radio “Listen and Analyze“. Learn to differentiate all the instruments and sounds in the song. Isolate each instrument and then really learn to listen to it. Focus solely on the guitar part, then the bass guitar part, the drums, keyboards, and different vocal parts.

Listen to the notes of each instrument, listen to the phrasing, the melody and the harmony. What do you hear? What do you notice? Listen with undivided attention. Do this with every song that comes along on the radio.

Visualizing

Visualizing is a very powerful tool in practicing and improving your guitar skills. You can close your eyes, stare at a blank wall or look up in the sky and visualize the guitar neck, visualize the strings, and the frets on the guitar and imagine where you place your fingers for each chord. Try to see it as clearly as possible.

Also think about what you want to accomplish with your guitar playing. What do you want to learn? What songs do you want to be able to play? Think about your next step. What’s the smallest step you can take to accomplish that step?

Visualize your guitar goals and aspirations vividly and as often as you can, so they become ingrained into your subconscious mind. This is a very powerful tool that has been used by many guitar legends (i.e. Steve Vai) and it keeps you on the right path.

Write it all out

If you happen to have a pencil and paper in your pocket you could write out all the notes, chords, chord formulas, chord progressions, scales, intervals, you name it. The great thing about writing is that it’s a very effective way to memorize, store and save the knowledge into the long term memory.

Anywhere and Anytime

Now when do we do all these exercises? Well, you can learn scale notes while you’re making use of the bathroom, when you’re brushing your teeth, when you’re having breakfast, or when you’re heading off to work.

You can learn the notes of the fingerboard when you’re at a boring event or every night in bed right before you fall to sleep. You can learn the chords of the major scale in the dentist or doctor’s waiting room.

Memorize chord notes during office breaks, while standing in line at the supermarket, when you’re going for a walk, a run, cycling or at the gym. You can listen and analyze songs with your headphones or AirPods on when you take the bus or wait for the train.

There are a million and one ways to improve your guitar skills without even lifting a finger, and they are very rewarding.

Implement and Thrive

Remember to implement these practices into your daily life. Make the best use of the useless moments that don’t have to be useless anymore. It’s gonna be fun from now on. These exercises will become addictive. Trust me, it’s a good addiction.

Before you head over to the next post or to another website and forget all about this, create a note in your phone or set an alarm to remind you to make these small but very effective guitar improvements throughout the day. It’s gonna change everything.

Go get ‘m!

The Min7 chord is a beautiful way to enhance the minor chord. It gives it some extra colour and depth. It sounds kind of contemplative and a bit more sophisticated than your standard minor chord. It’s a graceful chord.

The minor 7th chord is used widely in every style of music and today we’re going to learn how to play it in a different set of varieties and build it from the ground up.

We’re going to look at “open” Minor 7th chords (open strings involved), moveable Min7 chords (no open strings involved) with the root note starting at the Low E (6th string), A-string (5th string) and the D-string (4th string), and finally some more beautiful sounding min7 chords you might not have played before, but are an asset to your chord vocabulary.

MIN7 CHORD CONSTRUCTION – MUSIC THEORY

A minor chord consist of the root (1), flatted third (b3) and fifth (5) notes (1 b3 5) of the major scale. The minor 7th chord (min7) consists of the root (1), flatted third, fifth and flatted seventh notes (1 b3 5 b7) of the major scale. That means only the b7 is added to the minor chord.

For example, if you take the notes of the C major scale = C D E F G A B C
The C minor chord (Cm) consists of the notes: C Eb G (1 b3 5)
The C minor 7 chord (Cm7) consists of the notes: C eb G Bb (1 b3 5 b7)

Another example: A major scale = A B C# D E F# G# A
The Amin chord consists of the notes: A C E (1 b3 5)
The Amin7 chord consists of the notes: A C E G (1 b3 5 b7)

This way you can build or analyze any Min7 chord:

Note: In the chord diagrams above: the black dots above the nut are open strings, and the letters in the dots indicate the note names.

POPULAR MIN7 CHORD SONG EXAMPLES

A nice and clear example of a min7 chord song is “Long train running” by the Doobie brothers switching from Gm7 (root on the A-string) to Cm7 (root on the low E-string), Ain’t no sunshine by Bill Whithers uses the Am7, Dm7 and Em7 chord, but also the famous intro of Heart of gold by Neil Young starts off with an Em7 chord.

In just about every jazz song minor 7th chords are used. Listen to songs like All the things you are and Fly me to the moon that are enriched with min7 sounds.

“OPEN” MIN7 CHORDS

The chord diagrams below show the most common “open” Min7 chord shapes. “Open” means there are open strings played in the chord.
The numbers on the dots in the chord diagrams below indicate the finger positioning: 1 = index finger, 2 = middle finger, 3 = ring finger, 4 = pinky
The “x” on top means that string is muted. The “o” means you play an open string.

MOVEABLE MIN7 CHORD SHAPE (root note Low E-string)

The chord diagrams below shows a moveable Min7 chord shape. A moveable chord shape means you can move the entire chord shape up or down the neck to any key. The lowest note in the chord on the low E-string (6th string) is the root note and determines the name of the chord. 

You can see it’s the same Min7 chord shape each time, but it moves up the fretboard starting on the 1st fret, then to the 3rd fret, 5th fret, 7th fret and so on. (see the green fret numbers next to the diagram). Of course, you can also move up to F#m7 (2nd fret), G#m7 (4th fret), Bbm7 (6th fret) and so on.

If you take a look at the third diagram on the left, it has the root note on the Low E-string, 5th fret, which is an “A” note, so the name of the chord is Amin7. The root determines the name of the chord.

MOVEABLE MIN7 CHORD SHAPE (root note A-string)

The chord diagrams below are moveable Min7 chord shapes with the root note on the A-string (5th string). This is the lowest note in the chord and determines the name of the chord. Move the chord shape up or down the neck to any key.

MOVEABLE MIN7 CHORD SHAPE (root note D-string)

The chord diagrams below are moveable Min7 chord shapes with the root note on the D-string (4th string). Again, the lowest note in the chord (the root note) determines the name of the chord.

OTHER GRACEFUL MIN7 CHORD SHAPES

In the chord diagrams below you can see even more beautiful and ‘moveable’ minor7 chord shapes. You can move each chord shape up and down the neck and play them in any key you like. Listen to their unique sounds. Some of them have nice fingerings which often have my preference and are likely to stick with me.

PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENTS:

• Practice and memorize the open Min7 chords.
• Practice and memorize the Min7 moveable chord with the root on the 6th string in different keys.
• Practice and memorize the Min7 moveable chord with the root on the 5th string in different keys.
• Practice and memorize the Min7 closed chord with the root on the 4th string in different keys.
• Practice an Fmin7 with the root on the 6th, 5th and 4th string.
• Practice a Amin7 with the root on the 6th, 5th and 4th string.
• Practice every single chord name with the root on the 6th, 5th and 4th string using the cycle of fourths to go through all 12 keys.
• Listen to the popular minor 7th chord songs and try to recognize their minor 7th sounds.
• Incorporate your favorite min7 chords into your song practice so they become a part of your playing style.

If you have any questions or anything else, please leave them in the comments below. I appreciate it.

Stay safe!

I hope you are doing okay with everything that is going on now. These are crazy times, but we have to make the best of it. We have to help each other out while keeping a safe distance, be considerate of others, smile to people to relieve a bit of their burden, but with all that don’t forget yourself along the way. Being kind to yourself too. Have a bit of fun. Try to enjoy the present moment.

For those of you who stay at home, you might have some more time on your hands now to enjoy the guitar, develop a nice practice routine, and make some good progress. Well, here’s a great guitar workout for you…

Practicing melodic intervals really developed my skills to solo and improvise over major chord progressions. Just by going through the scale intervals on a regular basis you are training the muscle memory for your fingers and acquiring the vocabulary for your creative mind to help you shape your musical brain and come up with melodic ideas. It’s an exercise that is not to be underestimated.

In this lesson we are going to learn “melodic intervals in 3rds” following the major scale. We’ll practice these 3rd intervals over 5 different scale shapes/positions across the neck, so we’ve got a great workout for you! Don’t worry we’ll take it step by step.

Make sure you know the major scale in 5 shapes/positions before you start this lesson, but on the other hand you can also skip that for now if you just became excited to dive into this lesson. You can always come back to that later. I can imagine you want to try at least the first exercise to know what we’re talking about here. I totally understand.

Another upside is that the exercises will train your ear to recognize 3rd intervals. This will improve your aural skills, which is a important part of becoming an accomplished musician (Try to sing along the notes as you play the exercises). The practice of playing the intervals will also increase your dexterity. A win-win situation in many ways.

Music Theory 3rd Intervals

If you don’t like music theory you can skip this part, but you might pick up a thing or two that will eventually make you an awesome guitar player. I’ll keep it short this time.

An interval is the difference in pitch between two sounds. There are harmonic intervals and melodic intervals. Harmonic intervals are played simultaneously (two notes played together at the same time) and melodic intervals are played in sequence, one after the other. In this lesson we play melodic intervals.

For example we use the G major scale in 5 different shapes/positions. The G major scale consists of the notes : G A B C D E F# G. If you play a scale in thirds it means each note in the scale is followed by the third note in that scale. The first note G follows up by the third note B, then you play the second note of the scale A which follows up by a C and so on. So you get the notes: G-B, A-C, B-D, C-E, D-F#, E-G, G-B. These are a combination of major thirds and minor thirds, but before I get totally sidetracked I’ll go into that in another lesson. Promise! Now let’s focus on the practice.

How to Practice the Major Scale in 3rds

We all have different skill levels (beginner, intermediate, advanced) so I suggest you start with practicing the first shape / position 1. Practice it slowly. Make sure all the notes sound clean and clear. Memorize each exercise thoroughly and learn the scale ascending and descending.

Move on to the next shape when you can play the first shape comfortably and confidently off the top of your head. If you’re a beginner just learn the first shape/position 1. If you’re an intermediate or advanced guitar player you can learn all shapes, but take your time with it. Let it sink in. Become one with it. Enough said…

Enjoy the ride!

Major scale 3rd intervals – Shape / Position 1

Major scale 3rd intervals – Shape / Position 2

Major scale 3rd intervals – Shape / Position 3

Major scale 3rd intervals – Shape/Position 4

Major scale 3rd intervals – Shape / Position 5

Today we’re going to learn how to play Maj7 chords and how to build them from scratch.

The Major 7th chord is a mesmerising chord which is commonly found in jazz music, but also in pop music and world music it is regularly used to express a beautiful hypnotizing or dream-like sound.

We’re going to look at open Major 7th chords (open strings involved), moveable Maj7 chords (containing no open strings) with the root note located on different strings, starting at the Low E (6th string), A-string (5th string) and the D-string (4th string), and Maj7 bar / barre chords.

First things first, let’s take a look how to build a major 7 chord.

CHORD CONSTRUCTION / ANALYSIS

Major chords consist of the root, 3rd and 5th notes of the major scale (1 3 5). The major 7th chord (Maj7) consists of the root (1), 3rd, 5th and 7th notes of the major scale (1 3 5 7). That means the 7th note of the major scale is added to the major chord.

For example, if you take the notes of the C major scale = C D E F G A B C
The Cmaj7 chord consists of the notes: C E G B (1 3 5 7)

If you take the D major scale = D E F# G A B C# D
The Dmaj7 chord consists of the notes: D F# A C# (1 3 5 7)

This way you can build or analyze any Maj7 chord:

Note: In the chord diagrams above: the black dots above the nut are open strings, and the letters in the dots indicate the note names.

Here are some popular songs that use the major 7 chord:
Old friends by Paul Simon starting with Fmaj7 and Cmaj7, capo on 4th fret.
Something by The Beatles: Amaj7 chord (second chord of the verse)
Maybe tomorrow by Stereophonics: Ebmaj7 chord (first chord of the song) Under the bridge by the Red hot chili peppers: Emaj7 chord (at the end of each verse).

OPEN MAJOR 7TH CHORDS

The chord diagrams below show the most common “open” Maj7 chords shapes. “Open” means there are open strings played in the chord.
The numbers on the dots in the chord diagrams below indicate the finger positioning: 1 = index finger, 2 = middle finger, 3 = ring finger, 4 = pinky
The “x” on top means that string is muted. The “o” means you play an open string.

MOVEABLE MAJ7 CHORD SHAPE (ROOT NOTE LOW-E / 6TH STR.)

The chord diagrams below show a moveable Maj7 chord shape. A moveable chord shape means you can move the entire chord shape up or down the neck to any key. The lowest note in the chord on the low E-string (6th string) is the root note and determines the name of the chord.

You can see it’s the same Maj7 chord each time, but it moves up the fretboard starting on the 1st fret, then the 3rd fret, 5th fret, 7th fret and so on. (see the green numbers next to the diagram). Of course, you can also move up to F#maj7 (2nd fret), G#maj7 (4th fret), Bbmaj7 (6th fret) and so on.

If you take a look at the third diagram on the left, it has the root note on the Low E-string, 5th fret, which is an “A” note, so the name of the chord is Amaj7. The root determines the name of the chord.

Notes: Make sure you mute the A-string and high e-string. Press the root note with your first finger while gently placing (without pressing) that entire finger across the strings to mute the A-string and high e-string.

MOVEABLE MAJ7 CHORD SHAPE (ROOT NOTE ON A-STRING)

The chord diagrams below are moveable Maj7 chord shapes with the root note on the A-string (5th string). This is the lowest note in the chord and determines the name of the chord.

MOVEABLE MAJ7 CHORD SHAPE (ROOT NOTE ON D-STRING)

The chord diagrams below are moveable Maj7 chord shapes with the root note on the D-string (4th string). Again, the lowest note in the chord (the root note) determines the name of the chord.

Other Beautiful Maj7 chord shape variations

In the chord diagrams below you can see even more beautiful ‘moveable’ major7 chord shapes. You can move each chord shape up and down the neck and play them in any key you like. The two Maj7 chords on the right are Maj7 bar chords. Try all of them and hear for yourself which one you like best.

Assignments:

• Practice the open Maj7 chords and memorize them well.
• Practice and memorize the Maj7 moveable chord with the root on the 6th string in different keys.
• Practice and memorize the Maj7 moveabel chord with the root on the 5th string in different keys.
• Practice and memorize the Maj7 closed chord with the root on the 4th string in different keys.
• Practice an Fmaj7 with the root on the 6th, 5th and 4th string.
• Practice a Gmaj7 with the root on the 6th, 5th and 4th string.
• Practice every single chord name with the root on the 6th, 5th and 4th string using the cycle of fourths to go through all 12 keys.
• Incorporate the maj7 chords in your regular practice routine and use them in songs so they become second nature.
• Practice and memorize the other beautiful maj7 chord shapes and incorporate these into your playing as well.

Have a fabulous weekend!

If you have any questions or remarks, leave them in the comments. I’d appreciate it.