* The above diagram is the Major Pentatonic Scale with the 4th and 7th degrees added in green and red. The result is the Major/Ionian Scale. It is important that you first learn the Major Pentatonic before learning this scale.
Important things to note:
- Also known as Ionian the 1st mode of the Major Scale. Ionian and the Major Scale are one in the same.
- Is used to solo over the Major I chord.
- Is same as Major Pentatonic Scale with the 4th and 7th degrees added.
For Example:
C D E G A C – Major Pentatonic Scale
1 2 3 5 6 1
C D E F G A B C – Major Scale.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1
- Is the most common scale in Western Music and is important to know because the basis of all Music Theory comes from it. In order to understand theory you should 1st memorize the notes to all 12 Major Scales. It sounds difficult but there are tricks to memorizing them.
Now Visit: Major Scale Practice
I’m still working on getting around the fretboard freely. I have work to do. I’m also working on the scales. What I have found interesting is the shape of a scale is repeated in different locations, for instance;
The C form on the D Ionian scale starts on the 2nd fret, this shape in the D Dorian is the D form which starts on the 12th fret. That same shape is the E form in the D Phrygiam starting on the 10th fret??? There is a connection buy I’m not seeing it, could you elaborate??
Ive got the Major and Minor Pentatonic but the others are a bit of a mystery as they just repeat in different places with different names!!
I think the confusion is caused becuase your not understanding minor form CAGED yet. That’s probably my fault, in the midst of all the info I’m putting up I have totally forgotten to explain minor pentatonics. I will explain a bit to you here and then I will post a couple pages to make it very clear. The minor pentatonic CAGED forms follow minor chord shapes: Cm, Am, Gm, Em, Dm. So when you are looking at Dorian scale stuff, because it is a minor scale it is being related back to a minor pentatonic scale using minor chord forms not the major ones you know. I’ll post a lesson on Minor Pentatonic CAGED form to clear up the confusion. Good question, thanks for your comment, it will clear up a loop hole in my explanation. I’ll let you know when it’s done.
Thank You,
By the way looks like memorizing the notes/ all the notes of the fretboard is a must. Have you posted anything that might make that task any easier???
Thanks Again>>
Ah! Sounds like doors are opening Dan. As you learn more you start to have realizations and you start to ask the right questions. You are correct but you mare not going to like my answer. I have seen videos of guys teaching their shortcut methods to learning the neck but I don’t think any of them are worth your time. But it depends on why you’re doing it. If you have no clue what most of the note names are on the neck then you could try my lesson on How to Find Any Note on the Guitar. That’s a good first step. Then thru constant use will start to know where things are. If that is the case, it sounds to me like you are an intermediate player but you are working in the deep end of the pool with all the scale stuff but lack a lot of the basics. That is fine, you are like 99.9% of every hobbyist guitar player out there. If I’m right, I would go back do all the lessons under all the Menu items. There’s not too many and they’re short and sweet. The only real deep end stuff on the site so far is the Scale section. If Im wrong, and you know that stuff and are really looking to “know ” the neck then the effective way to do it is to learn how to read music. The benefits are amazing! It would take too long to list but, I’ll write a blog about it. The short answer is there is just know way to learn the neck that will be useable once you are in a playing situation except for reading because it is done in a playing situation.
Sounds like fun. When you say menu—Can you be more specific?? The top of the page starts with HOME and goes to ABOUT. Was there a specific starting point you had in mind????
By the way my real goal is to play similar to Sharon Isbin. I bought her album Nightshade Round back in the 90s. I would be much closer but as is so often the case life got in the way. I also made it through Theory around the same time as I took a class at night. Again its been awhile. I’m fine with starting from the beginning if that’s what it takes!!!.
Thanks,
God Bless
The Menu is the bar across the top with all the Categories on it. Like Theory, Rhythm etc… I would start with the Basics(read the blogs there as well) and work your way to the right, skipping only Scales because thats not the basic info. I keep the lessons short and to one topic so it should go pretty fast. Then when you’re done you can go back and do your scales again and i think they will make more sense. I have since added all the individual minor forms, redid the page that shows all 5 together, and written a blog on why you one should learn how to read music. I still have some more work to do on Major Pentatonic forms.
Sharon Isbin is great! Thats a lofty goal, I like it! One thing I haven’t done is gear anything towards classical gtr specifically. I do have lots of training there and play classical as well but, in many ways it a whole different animal and is deserving of a whole site to itself. Maybe I will do some stuff on posture. When I get into finger style it will all come from classical technique and I will get very specific about how to do it. Let me know how its going and feel free to tell me about any typos or broken links if you come across any. Good luck!