Guitar with notebook of chords and lyrics

Basics of Guitar Modes

Guitar modes can be a confusing topic. In this lesson we’ll take a simplified look at the major scale modes and see if we can bring some clarity to the concept.

Sheet music

Parallel Scales

Parallel scales are scales that share the same root note, or tonic. It’s easy to confuse them with relative scales, which share all the same notes, but have a different tonic note. In this lesson we’ll take a look at what parallel scales are, how to figure out the notes of the parallel scale, and common uses for the scales.

Man playing acoustic guitar

G Major Scale on Guitar: Positions & Theory

In this lesson we’re going to take a deep dive into the G major scale on guitar. We’ll look at the intervals and notes that make up the scale, the five positions and patterns for the scale, chords that are built from the G major scale, and also look at some song examples based in the key of G major.

3 notes minor scale featured image

3 Notes Per String Minor Scale Patterns

In a previous lesson, we looked at the 3 notes per string major scale, which is a way to outline major scale patterns across the fretboard using 3 notes on each string. In this lesson we’re going to do the same thing with the minor scale and build out the 3 notes per string minor scale patterns.

Double stops played on guitar
D major scale hero image of guitar

D Major Scale on Guitar: Positions & Theory

In this lesson we’re going to take a deeper look at the D major scale, which is another commonly used scale in popular music. We’ll take a look at the notes, intervals, scale positions and chords that make up the key of D major.

Let it be hero image EMI., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
C major scale theory

C Major Scale on Guitar: Positions & Theory

In this lesson we’re going to dive into the ever popular C major scale. This scale is very common and is used as the key center of countless songs. It’s happy sounding scale and typically one of the first scales guitar players learn.

Warren Haynes - Soulshine songwriter, Allman Brothers Band pitpony.photography [CC BY-SA]