Play the major scale on the guitar
The major scale is the most fundamental and universal of all scales. Its bright and joyful character makes it the foundation of most Western music.
Intervals table
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root | Major second | Major third | Perfect fourth | Perfect fifth | Major sixth | Major seventh |
| 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 |
| — | +2 | +2 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +2 |
Theoretical construction
The major scale is built from a specific series of intervals: a major second (2 half steps), another major second, a minor second (1 half step), then three major seconds, and finally a minor second to return to the octave. This structure creates the degrees I-II-III-IV-V-VI-VII that form the basis of tonal harmony. The third degree (major third) is particularly important as it gives the scale its major character.
Position examples
Example with A Major
The 2 Main Positions
This scale can be played in 2 main positions on the fretboard. The first position starts from the root on the low E string, the second from the root on the A string. These two positions allow you to cover the entire neck and represent the most common shapes used by guitarists.
Position 1
Position 2
Position 3
Position 4
Position 5
