What a scale is, in one paragraph
A scale is a set of notes that sound good together, built from one root note (the one that feels like home). Play the notes in order from the root and you are playing the scale. On guitar the notes just form patterns on the neck, and the patterns move: the same shape starting on a different fret gives you the same scale in a different key.
The 4 scales to learn first
| Scale | Notes | Formula | Sounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor pentatonic (A) | A C D E G | 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7 | Bluesy, rock |
| Major pentatonic (C) | C D E G A | 1 2 3 5 6 | Bright, country |
| Major (C) | C D E F G A B | W W H W W W H | Happy, familiar |
| Natural minor (A) | A B C D E F G | W H W W H W W | Darker, moody |
Notice that A minor pentatonic and C major pentatonic hold the same notes, and so do A natural minor and C major. Four scales, but really two sets of notes. That is why this list is smaller than it looks.
1. Minor pentatonic: start here
Five notes, no awkward intervals, and it is what most rock and blues solos are built from. Learn one box shape, then you can play it in any key by sliding it.
Here is the first box in A minor, at the 5th fret. Index finger on fret 5, ring finger on 7, pinky on 8:
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| High E | 5 · 8 | A · C |
| B | 5 · 8 | E · G |
| G | 5 · 7 | C · D |
| D | 5 · 7 | G · A |
| A | 5 · 7 | D · E |
| Low E | 5 · 8 | A · C |
The full walk-through, with all five positions, is in our A minor pentatonic scale guide. The other key beginners meet first is E minor. E minor pentatonic is E G A B D, and its first shape sits in open position: frets 0 and 3 on the low E, B and high E strings, and frets 0 and 2 on the A, D and G strings. The same shape repeats at the 12th fret. All five positions are in our E minor pentatonic scale guide.
For the bigger picture, including why the shapes link up, see the pentatonic scale on guitar.
2. Major pentatonic: the same shapes, a brighter home
You already know it. C major pentatonic (C D E G A) uses exactly the same frets as A minor pentatonic; only the root changes. Play the box above but land on the C notes (fret 8 on the high E and low E strings) and it sounds sunny instead of bluesy. One shape, two moods.
3. The major scale: the one every other scale is compared to
The major scale is the do-re-mi scale. Its pattern of whole and half steps (W W H W W W H) is the yardstick theory uses for naming everything else. The easiest place to see it is C major in open position:
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| B | 0 · 1 | B · C |
| G | 0 · 2 | G · A |
| D | 0 · 2 · 3 | D · E · F |
| A | 3 | C |
Play it from the A string fret 3 up to the B string fret 1: C D E F G A B C. Learn the sound first; moving it up the neck comes later. When you are ready, the CAGED system shows how five chord shapes tile the whole neck, and each one carries a major scale with it.
4. Natural minor: the major scale's dark twin
A natural minor (A B C D E F G) has the same notes as C major, started from A instead of C. That is the "relative minor" idea: every major key has a minor key that shares its notes. The simplest way to see it is along one string: on the A string, frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 12 give A B C D E F G A. The circle of fifths guide lists every major key with its relative minor.
A sensible order to learn them
- Week 1 to 2: A minor pentatonic, Box 1 only. Play it up and down slowly while saying the note names aloud.
- Week 3: Improvise over a single Am chord using Box 1. End phrases on A.
- Week 4: Use the same box starting on the C notes over a C chord (major pentatonic).
- Month 2: Open-position C major, then A natural minor.
- After that: Add the other pentatonic boxes, then the blues note (the ♭5) and the modes.
Common beginner mistakes
- Learning shapes without note names. A shape you cannot name only works in one place. Say the notes as you play.
- Racing through all five boxes. One box you can improvise in beats five you can only recite.
- Practicing with no chord or backing track. A scale only sounds like music against something. Even one strummed chord is enough.
- Never checking the tuning. A slightly flat string makes every scale sound wrong.
Seeing the scale on the neck
Fret tables only go so far. It is far easier to learn a scale when you can see it lit up on the fretboard with the root marked. That is what Fretkit does: pick a root and a scale, and the notes appear across the neck for guitar or bass. The scale list includes minor and major pentatonic, blues and the seven modes. It also has a tuner and a circle of fifths. Fretkit will not teach you to play, so the practice is still yours, but it takes the guesswork out of where the notes are. The app is free to start; some features are part of a paid tier.
See any scale across the whole neck
Fretkit lights up scales, chords and the circle of fifths on a fretboard you'll want to look at, plus a fast tuner. Free to start, for iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Get Fretkit on the App StoreFrequently asked questions
What guitar scale should a beginner learn first?
The minor pentatonic scale. It has five notes, one easy box shape, and it covers most rock and blues soloing.
How many scales do I need to know?
Four will carry you a long way: minor pentatonic, major pentatonic, major and natural minor. Between them they use only two sets of notes in any given pair of relative keys.
What is the difference between a scale and a key?
A scale is a set of notes. A key is the home note and the chords built from the scale. A song "in C major" mostly uses the notes of the C major scale.
Do I have to learn scales to play guitar?
No, but they help you with soloing, writing riffs and understanding why chords fit together. Even one pentatonic box makes improvising much easier.