Scales
The C major scale uses only the natural notes: C, D, E, F, G, A and B, with no sharps or flats. Choose a position below to see where those same notes sit on different parts of the neck. Diagrams follow the left- or right-handed setting at the top of the page.
Choose a position
Open position
The easiest place to start. The open strings do part of the work, so your fingers only need the first three frets. Use the finger with the same number as the fret: index on the 1st fret, middle on the 2nd, ring on the 3rd.
Where to find C: the 3rd fret of the A string and the 1st fret of the B string.
Notes on each string, low to high: Low E: E F G · A: A B C · D: D E F · G: G A · B: B C D · High e: E F G
2nd position
Your first finger covers the 2nd fret, with one finger for each fret up to your pinky on the 5th. The box reaches one fret further, to the 6th, for the F on the B string: stretch your pinky or shift your hand up a fret to play it. This position overlaps with open position, so the notes will feel familiar.
Where to find C: the 3rd fret of the A string and the 5th fret of the G string.
Notes on each string, low to high: Low E: G A · A: B C D · D: E F G · G: A B C · B: D E F · High e: G A
5th position
Your first finger sits on the 5th fret, with your pinky reaching the 8th. The box also reaches one fret lower, to the 4th, for the B on the G string: stretch your first finger back one fret to play it. The frets are a little closer together here, so expect your hand to feel more compact than in open position.
Where to find C: the 8th fret of the low E string, the 5th fret of the G string, and the 8th fret of the high e string.
Notes on each string, low to high: Low E: A B C · A: D E F · D: G A · G: B C D · B: E F G · High e: A B C
7th position
Your first finger sits on the 7th fret, with your pinky reaching the 10th. The low E string starts on B here, one note below the C on the 8th fret.
Where to find C: the 8th fret of the low E string, the 10th fret of the D string, and the 8th fret of the high e string.
Notes on each string, low to high: Low E: B C D · A: E F G · D: A B C · G: D E F · B: G A · High e: B C D
9th position
Your first finger sits on the 9th fret, with your pinky reaching the 12th. This box also stretches one fret higher, to the 13th, so you can reach the C on the B string and the F notes on the outer strings. Slide your pinky up one fret to play them.
Where to find C: the 10th fret of the D string and the 13th fret of the B string.
Notes on each string, low to high: Low E: D E F · A: G A · D: B C D · G: E F G · B: A B C · High e: D E F
12th position
The same shape as open position, one octave higher. The pattern of notes repeats at the 12th fret, so what you learned in open position works here too.
Where to find C: the 15th fret of the A string and the 13th fret of the B string.
Notes on each string, low to high: Low E: E F G · A: A B C · D: D E F · G: G A · B: B C D · High e: E F G
- C, the root note
- Other notes in the scale
- Open string
- 1fr, 2fr and so on are fret numbers
Drawn for left-handed players: the thickest string (low E) is on the right.Drawn for right-handed players: the thickest string (low E) is on the left.
How the positions fit together
Each position overlaps its neighbours. Together, these six positions cover the neck from the open strings up to the 15th fret, and every C major note in that range appears in at least one of them. The 12th position repeats the open position one octave higher, so the pattern starts over from there.
Practice tips
- Start with open position. Move up one position at a time once the last one feels comfortable.
- In every position above open, use one finger per fret: first finger on the first fret of the box, and so on up to your pinky.
- Play slowly. Start at 60 bpm, one note per click, up and down for 5 minutes in each position.
- Say each note name out loud as you play it, and use the amber C notes as landmarks.
Other major scales
A · A# / Bb · B · C# / Db · D · D# / Eb · E · F · F# · G · G# / Ab