Moving scale patterns

Hello All,

You will all think this is a stupid question, but I've got myself into a real mental mess regarding moving scale patterns.

I've been following Chris S's scale tutorials and he says you can move patterns all over the fretboard.

I've tried moving patterns over (up, down and across) the fretboard and it isnt working!

A light has just switched on in my head. Am I correct in thinking that I cant move patterns across. Just up and down, keeping the pattern to the same strings?

I hope that makes sense!

How do you decide which scale shape to use?

Sorry to be such an idiot

Originally Posted by: aw.davies123

I've been following Chris S's scale tutorials and he says you can move patterns all over the fretboard.[/quote][p]Specifically which tutorials?

Originally Posted by: aw.davies123I've tried moving patterns over (up, down and across) the fretboard and it isnt working![/quote]

My guess is that you aren't accounting for the G to B string speed bump. :)[br][br]

[quote=aw.davies123]A light has just switched on in my head. Am I correct in thinking that I cant move patterns across. Just up and down, keeping the pattern to the same strings?

Yes, you can move the patterns along the strings, from nut to bridge, staying on the same sets of strings. But you have to adjust any pattern that crosses the G to B string because those strings are tuned differently than all the other sets of strings (4 frets apart instead of 5).

This is an image of the C major scale in 2 octaves. I'm using the root note in middle position. Notice that the pattern is exactly the same with one exception. When I cross from the G to the B string, the pattern has to shift up 1 fret. This is because all the strings are tuned 5 frets apart, except for the B string. The B string is tuned to the 4th fret of the G string. Notice that in the lower octave (red box) the 1st & 4th scale degrees are on the same fret. But an octave higher (blue box) the 4th degree is 1 fret higher (along with every other note on the B string)!

The result is that when we cross the G to B strings with scale patterns, we have to shift the pattern up 1 fret to make the correct notes sound.

I cover this as it applies to the major scale patterns in this tutorial.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=2643

[quote=aw.davies123]

How do you decide which scale shape to use?

Depends on the musical context. Which pattern is the easiest to play the notes you are trying to play? Which pattern sounds the best for that musical passage?

Make sense? Hope that helps!

Hi Chris,

Thanks for your reply and trying to explain things to me.

Im afraid I've got myself into a real mental mess regarding moving the patterns.

I've looked at your tutorials for Cmaj, Amin scale etc. all of them.

I've got a book showing 7 patterns for the Cmaj scale. I think I've got myself in a mess because I can't find your patterns in these book patterns.

I think I'm slowly sorting it out in my head! I was trying to move your pattern (eg. the open Cmaj scale across. for example starting the pattern on the f note, D string.

I realise now that this cannot work.

Are the scale shapes/patterns different for different notes. Eg. Cmaj and A maj?

Has Guitar ticks got diagrams of the scale shapes? I've had enough of my book!

You're welcome for the reply!

Originally Posted by: aw.davies123

I've got a book showing 7 patterns for the Cmaj scale. I think I've got myself in a mess because I can't find your patterns in these book patterns.[/quote]

I don't know what book you have. So I have no way to compare it to what you are referring to. But "7 patterns" sounds like they are referring to modes. I teach modes in a couple of more advanced tutorials.

I think it might be best to take a step back here & think about what you are trying to do with scales at this point in your learning process.

There's no good reason for you to be trying to learn 7 patterns of the major scale or cover the fretboard with patterns if you are still trying to understand the basic idea of what a scale is, how to play it & why to play it.

Are you working through the Fundamentals course? Do you understand the basic concept of the scale as an interval formula that you can apply in multiple places on the guitar?

Originally Posted by: aw.davies123I think I'm slowly sorting it out in my head! I was trying to move your pattern (eg. the open Cmaj scale across. for example starting the pattern on the f note, D string.

I realise now that this cannot work.

It works fine as long you adjust the pattern when it crosses the G to B strings. This image shows that if you play one octave of a major scale (C major in this case) on the A, D & G strings, then you get a certain pattern due to the interval formula of the scale & the tuning of those strings.

But if you play one octave of a major scale (F major in this case) on the D, G & B strings, then you have to adjust your pattern because the tuning is different from the G to the B strings. You have to move the part of the pattern that lands on the B string up one fret to account for the B string being tuned one fret lower than the other strings.

[quote=aw.davies123]Can I ask you. Why can't I find your scale patterns in my book patterns. I'm getting confused again!!!

Yes, you can ask me any guitar related question! :) But I need to know what book it is & how they demonstrate the patterns.

For what it's worth it might be about the modes. I cover the modes in these tutorials.

Modes of the Major Scale

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=370

Practicing Modes of the Major Scale

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=770

Hope that helps!

Many thanks Chris. You have helped me.

Yes a few steps back is called for!

I did help myself by writing out all the major scales, following the formula, and then fitting them into the patterns.

Hey Presto! it worked!

I must have got myself into a real mental mess and was stirring it up making things worse!

Thanks again.

Anthony

You're welcome!

Originally Posted by: aw.davies123

I did help myself by writing out all the major scales, following the formula, and then fitting them into the patterns.

Hey Presto! it worked!

Well done working it out! Keep practicing!