Kids Guitar -- Lead Guitar -- Major Scale Forms

We're gonna do another lesson about using major scales for lead playing, but this time we're gonna start using scale forms.

We're gonna start with a form that I call "Form 1". It just so happens that because of where on the neck I'm starting this form, it's a G major scale at this location.

Look at the first picture below. We're gonna play this baby in the 2nd position which means:

1st finger for all of the 2nd fret notes
2nd finger for all of the 3rd fret notes
3rd finger for all of the 4th fret notes
4th finger for all the 5th fret notes

Practice this 2-octave scale (G-G-G) forwards and backwards and memorize it. Play with all down picks and also play it with alternate picking. Gradually increase your speed (tempo) to see how fast you can play it.

Then record (or have someone play) these progressions over and over.

G C D G
G Bm C D G
G Em C D G
G Em Am D G

Play the scale over these progressions, then start messing with the order of the notes that you play. See if you can create a few licks out of this.

Now look at the next picture. You can see that you have a choice for G major Form 2.

Both forms are in the 5th position. On the 1st version, you have to temporarily skip to the 4th position on a couple of the strings. The 2nd version needs you to stretch your pinky on a couple of the strings. The choice is yours. I would try to do it both ways.

Do the same thing with this form that you did with Form 1 -- record chord progressions and play them back while you mess with the scale.

Now try the same thing while you CONNECT the two forms and make it as 1 form. This is often done by sliding either your 1st or 4th finger up or down to set up your new position.

Okay. So now we can play some kind of lead "thing" in G major. What about the rest of the keys.

Just like chord forms, scales can also be looked at as forms and are movable by (you guessed it) the chromatic scale.

So if I move Form 1 up 1 fret, I am now in the 3rd position playing in G#/Ab.

Move it up 1 more fret, and I am playing in the 4th position in the key of A.

Keep moving it up and down the neck of your guitar. Remember: Everything repeats at the 12th fret -- just an octave higher.

Now as you get better and better at this -- and it will take some time -- try to make your "messing around" with the scale less "scale sounding". Remember, the scale is just the starting point. If you just play scales, that's exactly what it will sound like. You want to create "licks" out of these scales, not just play scales.

So... Don't just sit there -- start practicin'!
Professor Bruno Noteworthy