First Position Major Scales - Set 1
First Position Major Scales (Set 1) Video Transcription
Hello friends. Chris with BeginningGuitarOnline.com here. Today we're going over first-position major scales. If you're playing with a pick, I'd encourage you to use all downstrokes at first. If you're playing with your fingers, alternate the fingers.
C Major
Here we have C Major.
The C Major scale has no sharps or flats.
G Major
The G Major scale has one sharp on the seventh scale degree (F#).
In our G Major scale here, we'll begin on the open 3rd string and ascend to the high G found on the 3rd fret 1st string. You'll notice I'm using my pinky on the top. Do try to use your pinky.
D Major
And here we have D Major.
The D Major scale has two sharps: F# and C#.
Here we have D Major with an alternative fingering. You'll notice I used my pinky on the 4th fret of the 3rd string to play the note B instead of the open 2nd string. It allows me to continue that symmetry of the fingers.
This alternate finger pattern for the D Major first position scale uses the B on the fourth fret of the G string rather than the open B string.
A Major
And here we have A Major.
A Major features three sharps: F#, C#, and G#.
E Major
And here we have E Major. You'll notice the finger pattern is exactly the same as A Major.
E Major features four sharps: F#, C#, G#, and D#.
B Major
B Major features five sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, and A#.
And here we have B Major. You'll notice B Major involved no open strings.
F Major
And here we have F Major.
F Major features one flat: Bb.
You'll notice that the F Major fingerings did not involve the pinky finger at all. Here is an alternative F Major fingering that uses the pinky and will really help you through speedy passages in the future.
This alternative fingering uses your pinky, or fourth finger, to fret the D on the 3rd fret of the B string.
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