Scale Diagrams and Patterns

All scales taught in this course with fretboard diagrams, TAB, finger patterns, and root note markers.

Finger numbering: 1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring, 4 = pinky

Diagram key:

R = root note
Numbers = finger to use
O = open string
Fret numbers on the left

C Major Scale — Open Position

Introduced: Session 14
Used in: Sessions 14, 19, 23
Notes: C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
Key signature: No sharps or flats
Pattern: Whole - Whole - Half - Whole - Whole - Whole - Half

Fretboard Diagram (One Octave: Low C to High C)

String: E A D G B e

│ │ │ │ │ │

Open │ │ │ │ O │ B(O) on B string

│ │ │ │ │ │

Fret 1 │ │ │ │ 1 │ C(1) on B string ← ROOT

│ │ │ │ │ │

Fret 2 │ │ │ │ │ │

│ │ │ │ │ │

Fret 3 │ 3 │ │ │ │ C(3) on A string ← ROOT

│ │ │ │ │ │

Full Diagram — All Notes in Open Position (Frets 0-3)

       E     A     D     G     B     e
       │     │     │     │     │     │
  O    │     │     │    [G]    B     E
       │     │     │     │     │     │
  1    F     │     │     │    [C]    F
       │     │     │     │     │     │
  2    │     B     E     A     │     │
       │     │     │     │     │     │
  3    G    [C]    F     │     D     G
       │     │     │     │     │     │

[C] = Root note (C)

TAB — Ascending and Descending

Ascending (low to high):
e|---------------------|--0--1-----|
B|---------------0--1--|-----------|
G|-----------0--2------|-----------|
D|------0--2--3--------|-----------|
A|--3------------------|-----------|
E|---------------------|-----------|

Descending (high to low):
e|--1--0---------------|-----------|
B|-------1--0----------|-----------|
G|-----------2--0------|-----------|
D|---------------3--2--0-----------|
A|------------------------3--------|
E|---------------------|-----------|

Fingering Guide

String	Fret	Note	Finger
A	3	C (root)	3
D	0	D	Open
D	2	E	2
D	3	F	3
G	0	G	Open
G	2	A	2
B	0	B	Open
B	1	C (root)	1

Practice Tips

Start at 60 BPM, one note per beat
Use alternate picking (down-up-down-up)
Say each note name aloud as you play it
Keep fingers close to the fretboard when not fretting

Am Pentatonic Scale — Box 1 (Open Position)

Introduced: Session 16
Used in: Sessions 16, 18, 22, 23
Notes: A - C - D - E - G
Formula: 1 - b3 - 4 - 5 - b7 (minor pentatonic)
Five notes, no half steps — ideal for improvisation and soloing

Fretboard Diagram — Box 1

       E     A     D     G     B     e
       │     │     │     │     │     │
  O   [E]   [A]    D     G     │     E
       │     │     │     │     │     │
  1    │     │     │     │     C     │
       │     │     │     │     │     │
  2    │     │     E    [A]    │     │
       │     │     │     │     │     │
  3    G     C     │     │     D     G
       │     │     │     │     │     │

[A] = Root note (A)
[E] = Also playable (extends the pattern)

TAB — Ascending and Descending

Ascending (low to high):
e|---------------------------0--3--|
B|---------------------1--3-------|
G|-----------------0--2-----------|
D|-----------0--2-----------------|
A|-----0--3----------------------|
E|--0--3--------------------------|

Descending (high to low):
e|--3--0--------------------------|
B|-------3--1---------------------|
G|-----------2--0-----------------|
D|---------------2--0-------------|
A|-------------------3--0---------|
E|------------------------3--0----|

Fingering Guide

String	Fret	Note	Finger
E	0	E	Open
E	3	G	3
A	0	A (root)	Open
A	3	C	3
D	0	D	Open
D	2	E	2
G	0	G	Open
G	2	A (root)	2
B	1	C	1
B	3	D	3
e	0	E	Open
e	3	G	3

Practice Tips

Start at 60 BPM, one note per beat
The root notes (A) are your “home base” — start and end phrases on them
Try hammer-ons from open to fret 2 or 3 for a bluesy sound
Use this scale to improvise over Am, C, and Em chord progressions
Works over any 12-bar blues in A minor

Scale Comparison

Feature	C Major	Am Pentatonic
Notes	7 (C D E F G A B)	5 (A C D E G)
Position	Open (frets 0-3)	Box 1 (frets 0-3)
Sound	Bright, complete	Bluesy, rock-friendly
Best for	Melodies, sight-reading	Improvisation, soloing
Introduced	Session 14	Session 16

Relationship Between the Two Scales

Am pentatonic is a subset of C major (all 5 notes appear in C major)
C major has two extra notes: F and B
Same fretboard region, different root notes
If you know one, you are already partway to knowing the other