Learn how to play major scale shapes on the guitar with my simple, yet comprehensive guide and video. Learn the different positions and patterns to unlock endless possibilities for creating solos and riffs.
Table of Contents
Video Lesson
Here’s the accompanying video lesson on my YouTube channel.
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Major Scale Shapes Guitar Tabs and Notation
This can technically be broken down into 5 total major scale shapes/ patterns/ types:
- 3 notes-per-string major scale shapes (NPS = Notes-Per-String)
- Major scales on a single string, which can be created by applying the major scale formula
- The most common major scale shape, often found in guitar scale books and popular guitar method books. This is titled “common major shape 2” in the guitar tabs.
- The CAGED shapes/ patterns
- A 2 notes-per-string major scale shape
The example shown in the tab as “major shape 3 NPS” is what happens when you play a 3 NPS shape and stop at the octave.
Major Scale Shapes Guitar PDF (Printable)
Learn More
Major Pentatonic Scale Charts for Guitar | All 12 Positions: Learning the major pentatonic scale, and looking at it in all 12 positions on the fretboard, will give you a greater understanding of fretboard visualization, improvisation, soloing, and guitar scales as a whole.