The Major Scale + Exercises

The major scale is a must know for any musician on any instrument. It has
every diatonic note within a key centre.
*Diatonic = Belonging to a key.

Here is one position of the major scale that is played within 4 frets:

All the notes on the fretboard in order of scale degrees (1, 2, 3 = C, D, E):

<= Left hand fingering

Remember to practice going up the scale (ascending) as well as coming

back down (descending) in order to familiarise yourself with its sound.

Practice Notes:
 Always practice with designated fingering for efficiency in playing
and strenghening of all fingers.
 Use a metronome; Start at a slow tempo (40bpm, 1 note per click)
Major Scale Exercise in thirds

There are endless patterns and ways to play/practice a major scale.

Playing in thirds is very common both in composition and
improvisation.

In this exercise, we play a note followed by the third note from it.
For example: C then E, D then F, E then G and so on as shown below.

Practice Notes:
 Remember to use designated fingering (see first page)
 Know what notes you are playing! Do not get lost in the pattern.
 Start at a slow tempo (40bpm, 1 note per click. Add 4 bpm each
round to gradually work your way up)
 Practice smart! Remember to take short rests and practice in
intervals. (Play 20mins, rest 5mins, play 20mins, rest 5 mins..)

Prepared by Jonathan Wong