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String Skipping Major Scales Three Notes Per String
Pro Tips:
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Pro Tip:
Use Alternate picking.
Try to play all the notes evenly.
When you are ready try to say the key of each mode out loud as you play them.
This String Skipping Major Scales Three Notes Per String exercise is an awesome way to spice up your soloing, so many players such as, Randy Rhoads, John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, and many others all use a variety of these patterns to build solos.
In this lesson, I’m going to show you a major scale workout that helps you get the seven positions of the major scale memorized and under your fingers, increases left-hand strength, delivers some great-sounding sequences and also includes string skipping.
This exercise covers the seven patterns of the major scale all starting from the note B. You will be changing keys seven times here. There are many technique aspects of this exercise that will help you to improve your soloing and single note playing, as well as Alternate picking
What we are doing here is using the same tonic note and changing the appropriate intervals to make each mode. The big benefits are is that you are forced to learn these intervals and play them all in the same position on the guitar. This will help you significantly when your playing over chord changes.
Ionian Major Scale B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A# B (B Major Scale)
Dorian: B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A, B (A Major Scale)
Phrygian: B, C, D, E, F#, G, A, B (G Major Scale)
Lydian: B, C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B (F# Major Scale)
Mixolydian: B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, B (E Major Scale)
Aeolian/Natural minor scale: B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A, B (D Major Scale)
Locrian: B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B (C Major Scale)
Here are the Intervals for each mode.
Ionian/Major Scale: Root, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th
Dorian: Root, 2nd, b3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, b7th
Phrygian: Root, b2nd, b3rd, 4th, 5th, b6th, b7th
Lydian: Root, 2nd, 3rd, #4th, 5th, 6th, 7th
Mixolydian: Root, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, b7th
Aeolian/Natural minor scale: Root, 2nd, b3rd, 4th, 5th, b6th, b7th
Locrian: Root, 2nd, b3rd, 4th, b5th, b6th, b7th
Having these interval formulas memorized is the key to having a good understanding of modes.
Being able to play the correct patterns for each mode in position on the guitar is the other big challenge. And that’s what we are here to improve on!
I recommend that you work on each mode separately at first, then use the videos and the backing tracks to get better at moving from scale to scale.
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
