Logged in as a Free Member.
You are logged in as a free Member and access to our content will be limited. Click here for info.
You are logged in as a Free Member
As a Free Member, you have limited access to our content so you can see how our site works. As a paid member of PracticeTheGuitar.com, you get full access to ALL of our content, including downloadable Backing Tracks. Become a paid member by clicking the button below.
Pattern 1 Major Scale 3 Notes Per String 4 Note Groupings
Pro Tips:
(Click here)
Pro Tip:
Make the legato parts at the same volume as the picked parts.
Use alternate picking.
Play everything as evenly as possible.
Three note per string major scale patterns are one of the important keys to unlocking the guitar fretboard. Working though these patterns with what I like to call ‘note groupings” is an awesome way to help you learn the notes in each scale, and on your fretboard, as well as a more interesting way to practice scales overall. This is the first pattern of the major scale, three notes per string, played in groupings of four notes. There are two sections of this exercise, the first time though uses alternate picking, the second time through employs legato playing using hammer-ons, and pull-offs.
The best way to keep track of how this pattern works is to think of it as four notes from every note in the scale. Keep in mind here that you are playing the G major scale in two octaves. You want to think (G A B C), (A B C D), (B C D E), (C D E F), and so on. This gives you a cascading type of sound through the scale that can be used in any solo, or melody line.
Playing through the first use straight alternate picking, down, up, down, up. For the second time though use hammer-ons when ascending through the scale, and use pull-offs depending backwards through the scale. The really big benefit with switching back and forth between the different picking styles is that this forces you to work on keeping the rhythm even when using either technique.
Free Demo Video
The video below is an example of the videos that are available for this exercise. For Paid Members, this section includes a commentary video that explains each exercise in full. Additionally, each exercise is also presented as videos where the exercise is played in 10+ tempos. Sign up today to get full access to all the videos.
Backing Tracks
Most exercises include backing tracks for you to practice with. They are also provided in the same tempos as the videos. Backing tracks are available for paid members only and are downloadable MP3 files.
Transcriptions
Every exercise includes a transcription in standard notation as well as guitar tab. The transcriptions are presented online and are also available for download as a PDF for printing or saving to your computer. The transcriptions are available for Paid Members of PracticeTheGuitar.com
