Connect Major Scales Across The Neck

To fluidly connect major scales across the neck you need to practice switching between them in different ways.

My favorite way to learn and master new scale patterns is by using the exercise that I demonstrate in today’s video lesson.

You can practice any new scale this way. All you need to do is alternate between ascending & descending on each shape, shifting to the next shape at the bottom or top of the previous one.

The trick is that you want to keep your practice session in time. That way it feels musical for you to practice your scales.

What I did in this video was modify how I played each shape on it’s last string. That is always either on the 1st string, or the 6th string.

By omitting one note I was able to create a looping rhythm. Two bars for each shape.

Creating a full loop like this will help you apply your scales more easily. This is because you are already used to practicing them in a confined rhythmic framework. You are playing each shape as its own 2 measure phrase.

Something Important To Pay Attention To

I mention in the video and want to reiterate here, that you should be focusing on your accents as you practice this.

You want to feel the scales you are playing in either two or four note groupings. Then you accent the first note of each grouping.

This is so unbelievably important, I really can’t overstate it.

If you align your timing while you practice (not just this, but everything) you are going to see great results.

Focus hard on the rhythm you are playing, being careful to feel the right groupings. In 4/4 time your groupings will be made up of 2 or 4 notes.

As you get more advanced you can play with other groupings, but this is the most important thing to pay attention to.

You’ll want to make sure you have the notes right at a slow tempo, and then start focusing on the accents.

Learn to connect major scales across the neck like a boss