There is a lot of music in one scale pattern on the guitar

This will be elementary to many of you. I have found it very useful to think of the circle of 5ths in a linear way when applying it to the guitar. When I play a major, minor or pentatonic scale, I tend to break the neck of the guitar into 5 sections. There are basically 5 scale patterns that cover just about anything you can think of without considering diminished scales. Take a look at the attached chart. Remember, the key of C is your starting point. I included the pattern that starts on the 8th Fret in the Key of C. No Flats. No Sharps. If you want to play C Mix Lydian, go to the key of F and start the F scale on the C note. Or, just flat the seventh scale degree in the Key of C. Play this over a blues vamp. If you want to play C Dorian, play a Bb major scale and start on the C note or Play a C scale and flat the 3rd and 7th scale degree. The point is the pattern remains the same. For a wide variety of music, there is really only one scale pattern. It just depends on where you start playing it. Let me know your thoughts. dm

Attachments:

circleoffifths.pdf, 10 KB

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Permalink Reply by Paul Decker on February 25, 2009 at 9:01am

Thanks for the info.

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Permalink Reply by Tammie Jones on February 27, 2009 at 7:59pm

Doug, I printed the chart. As you know, it's all Greek ( well most of it anyway) to me. I play the circle of 5ths all the time in all the country stuff I do. Isn't it where you go from whatever chord you start on and 5 ahead? Like C, G ,D,A,E and so on? You know me......LAAAAZY. If I hear it and like it, I can probably finagle my way around to playing it. Gabe being in orchestra has been really good for me. If I start playing something because I know what it sounds like, he'll stop me and make me go back and at least attempt to read the music. We get to the same place, just from totally different directions. Oh, by the way, totally off subject, but do you know a lead to Wall of Denial by SR Vaughn? Tammie

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Permalink Reply by Andy Meehan on March 10, 2009 at 1:36pm

This is why I like playing guitar more than woodwinds. The geometry of the chords and scales makes perfect sense.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Melton on March 10, 2009 at 2:59pm

10 4 Andy. I think some instructors don't explain that as much as they should on the front end. Coming to the realization early on can save a lot of time. dm