Playing Scales

Finger assignments for this animated gif
First fret notes, use your index finger.
Second fret notes, use your second finger.
Third fret notes, use your ring finger for all notes on this fret.
Fourth fret notes, use your pinkie finger.

Additional pathways using the signature in the playground can be seen by clicking the colored buttons to the right.

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This exercise is the scale of C major. This is mainstream scale work.

This animation is in the key of C. You will use only the notes in the key but you will not play them in order. You are going to play four note bursts. But as you play through the animation, remember to try to use a smooth evenly spaced tempo. After a while you may start to place an accent on the first of the four notes. I do (sometimes).

Play this slowly. This can be tricky to switch strings correctly and hit the correct note. This exercise is medium to difficult. Remember, play this slowly.

These animated .gif files can be saved by clicking on the .gif with your right mouse button and saving the picture.

This is another scale run in the key of C. This one is conveniently located right on top of the first animation. Use your first, second and fourth fingers for all the notes except the notes on the high B and E string. For those notes use your first, third and fourth fingers.

These three scale pathways define the entire signature for the key of C. There are variations of all these scales available to you. In addition you can slice these pathways to create another set. But once you really get to know the signature, you may start to think of all these pathways as just another way to get around. If you would like to try to improvise, try using the entire range of pathways after you can play these fairly well. There are plenty of creative opportunities locked away in this.