Unlock the secrets of the A Major Scale and elevate your guitar skills with these 5 essential shapes! Whether you’re aiming for fluid soloing, fast licks, or mastering intermediate guitar techniques, learning these patterns is the key to success.
Why Learn the A Major Scale?
The A Major Scale is foundational for creating melodies, improvising solos, and understanding modes like Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Mixolydian, and Aeolian. By mastering these shapes across the fretboard, you’ll gain the versatility to navigate any musical context.
The A Major Scale: 5 Shapes Across the Neck
Shape 1
Start in the open position
and build your confidence with these frets:
e|-------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------4-6-7-----------|
D|-------------------4-6-7-------------------|
A|----------4-5-7----------------------------|
E|-4-5-7-------------------------------------|
Pattern
Continued:
e|-------------5---7-------------------------|
B|--5---7------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------|
Shape 2
Shift to the 6th position for more depth:
Pattern
e|-------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------6-7-9-------------|
D|-----------------6-7-9---------------------|
A|------------7-9----------------------------|
E|-7-9-10------------------------------------|
Continued:
e|----------------7-9-10---------------------|
B|-----7-9-10--------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------|
Also learn to Play:
A5 Chord on Guitar
Shape 3
Explore the 9th position for extended range:
Pattern
e|-------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------9-11-12----------|
A|--------------9-11-12----------------------|
E|-9-10-12-----------------------------------|
Continued:
e|--------------------------9-10-12----------|
B|-------------9-10-12-----------------------|
G|----9-11-----------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------|
Shape 4
Move into higher octaves with this pattern:
Pattern
e|-------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------11-12-14---------|
A|-----------11-12-14------------------------|
E|-12-14-------------------------------------|
Continued:
e|-------------------------------------------|
B|----------------11-13-14-------------------|
G|-11-13-14----------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------|
Shape 5
Conquer the 14th position and beyond:
Pattern
e|-------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------14-16-------|
A|---------------14--16-17-------------------|
E|14-16-17-----------------------------------|
Continued:
e|-------------------------------------------|
B|---------------14-15-17--------------------|
G|13-14-16-----------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------|
Learn and Memorize Each of These Patterns. Alternate Pick Up and Down and use A Metronome. Start off Slow and Gradually Build up Speed. Play each Pattern Over and Over Then Break Down Putting Patterns Together etc. These Patterns are Key To Good Intermediate Guitar Playing or Finger Exercises and Scale Patterns You can Turn into Licks etc. Try A Combination of these Notes from Each Pattern and make up Your Own Licks.
Benefits of Learning These Shapes
- Develop fast and fluid solos.
- Strengthen finger dexterity and muscle memory.
- Lay the groundwork for creating complex licks and improvisation.
🎸 Remember: Practice, practice, practice! Consistency and dedication will unlock your full potential as a guitarist. Use these patterns not just as exercises but as tools to unleash your creativity.
– Ryan Dean Lindgren
Guitarist, Crimes In Graceland