Scales up the fretboard, not down the neck

[supersnake52]

So ive been playing for about 2 years in janurary and i can play major and minor scales, but i can only do them down the neck.

Ive heard that its easier to make lines and improv if you know the scales on the fretborad, like playing the scale across the different strings.

How do i do this?

I have lessons, but im doing my GCSE music coursework in them because my guitar teacher helps me out a lot with it.

Thanks!

[Mingus]

Woah! Interesting that you know it up the board, I learned it across strings and do it up the board for fun/practice. If you've been playing two years like I have then putting it across strings shouldn't be much of a big deal.

[supersnake52]

ok fair enough, but how do i learn how do it?

is there a website that i can learn it from or something?

thanks

[Audiophage]

I find it better to figure these things out on your own.

[mutedeity]

Originally Posted by supersnake52

So ive been playing for about 2 years in janurary and i can play major and minor scales, but i can only do them down the neck.

Ive heard that its easier to make lines and improv if you know the scales on the fretborad, like playing the scale across the different strings.

How do i do this?

I have lessons, but im doing my GCSE music coursework in them because my guitar teacher helps me out a lot with it.

Thanks!

Have you learned how modes are relative to each other? How long have you been taking lessons?

[basslyon]

just remember that each string is 5 semitones appart.

so 8th fret estring = 3rd fret a string
A Minor
e--5--7--8----
a--5--7--8----
d--5--7-------
g-------------

A major
e--5--7----
a--4--5--7-
d--4--6--7-
g----------

those are your 1 octave shapes move them around appropriately

[RiddimKing]

"Ive heard that its easier to make lines and improv if you know the scales on the fretborad, like playing the scale across the different strings.

How do i do this?"

A very small nut in a small nutshell:

Starting on the E or A string pick the note representing the key you want to play in. For example, E string 3rd fret =G. For a G major scale, start with your middle finger on the G (call this the "2" (=2nd finger) then fret the note on the E string that lies under your pinky (=A, call this the "4"), then up to the A string, fret with the index finger at B (call this the 1(=first finger), then the middle (2nd) finger at C, then the pinky (4th finger) at D. Jump up to the D string, where the pattern is 1,3,4 (your pinky now lies over the high G, which is the octave). So, the major scale pattern from low to high is: 24, 124, 134. This pattern applied over any note on the E or A strings will give you the major scale in that key. For minor you have some options but 134, 134, 13 works, or 134, 13, slide down one fret and play 124 are the two most common. Another pattern which is useful for lots of popular music corresponds to the Mixolydian scale: here you'll finger 24, 124, 124. BTW, a teacher can show you how all these patterns hook up all over the fretboard, as well as the theory and terminology that will allow you to understand what you're playing, and to communicate it to others.

[DocBop]

If you know how to play major and minor scales on a single string up and down that neck that is great, something many don't bother to learn to do. Doing this you should have a good handle on how the scales are constructed, the pattern of whole-steps and half-steps.

Use that knowledge and now start playing the scales on two strings up and down. The it will go up the fretboard, but not as far. Thing of the scale basically in two halves. Like 7-1-2 cross string then 3-4-5 shift up and 6-7-8. Or 7-1-2 shift 3-4-5 cross string 6-7-8. Doing this you learn how to create scale from fragments and once you get a handle on that you can play a scale from any point any string on the neck.

Once you have scales on one string and two strings then doing scales on three string like most start with child's play. Learning scales like this will help immensely for Walking bass line, improv, taking bass lines and going up the neck instead of across for a fatter sounds.

When I started playing bass again after years away my teacher had me do this exercise. I did it for major and natural minor scales. Once I had them down solid on my own I then started playing modes the same way. Once you have major and minor down its simple to adjust the fragment to make whatever mode or scale you want or need.