C Major Scale Pos 2 - 'Jazz' Vs 'Rock'

Hi there, this week I am demonstrating C major scale, 2 fingerings for the scale which come in handy when playing certain styles of music as the title implies.

There are 5 positions of major scales but there are also 2 fingerings in each position that are very popular with guitarists and so I will show you both. The 'jazz' version has easy accessibility to the notes which is what you want when playing this pure improvisation music style. The 'rock' version enables the guitarist to play the scale rapidly which is common in many rock, hard rock and metal guitar solos.

Observe the fingerings for each scale. Start and end on the red notes. Numbers are fingers as follows: 1 = index 2 = middle 3 = ring 4 = pinky.

This is the "jazz" fingering:

And this is the "rock" fingering.

Start by playing the scales ALL DOWNSTROKES. You have to get used to the left hand fingering first, get it memorized then once you have that, I want you to alternate pick both scales which means start on a downstroke then play and upstroke and continue this pattern to completion of the scales.

Below is the tablature for the scales (click to enlarge):

I have included an exercise for each scale to give you something to do after you have it memorized. The 'jazz' version I have written out what are called 3rds in the scale. This breaks up the scale and is a little more interesting than just running up and down the scale and also trains your ear to recognize intervals of a 3rd.

For the 'rock' version of the scale, I included a legato exercise. Only the first note of each grouping will be played with a downstroke, the rest of the notes will be either hammered on H or pulled off P.

Here is the video demo:

Enjoy!

Comments

[tlrigot]

that stuff was really helpfull to me if i could get tabs and scales to learn would be helpful

[makuka]

love it

[renegade420]

Nice introduction into the use of modes. You accurately show the tonic note (C) in red. The jazz example begins in the mixolydian (5th mode) which moves through (by default) the Ionian (1st mode). In the Rock example you start from the same point (G, the fifth note of the scale) but extend it up in whole steps to the 7th fret (a fuller version of a pentatonic). The Rock mode is more in line with a relative minor scale (A minor) though it is still technically a major scale. Again, nice example of the influence of "position" on scale expression.

[gamabunta8]

thx for this.i'm gonna learn this right away.this is helpful for beginner like me.