Closed Position C Major Scale

The C major scale uses the notes of: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and C and learning to play these notes from a closed position allows the guitar player to change keys with ease.

The "1" means the index finger on the left hand; the "2" means the middle finger on the left hand; the "3" means the ring finger on the left hand; and the "4"means the pinky finger on the left hand.

E string: \______________________________
B string: |____|____ _|______|_____|_____|__
G string: |____|____1 |______I___3_|___4_|__ Notes A, B, and C
D string: |____|____1 |____2_|_____|___4_|__ Notes: E, F, and G
A string: |____|______|____2 |_____|___4_|__. Note: C and D
E string: |____|____ _ |_____|_____|______|
..............nut.....fret.........fret.......fret.......fret.......fret

Because this pattern contains no open strings, it is easy to move this pattern down the neck of the guitar or even to make it start on the 6th string rather than the 5th string as listed above. The first four notes of the above pattern make up what is sometimes called the first "tetrachord" of a major scale. The second four notes make up the second "tetrachord", but if considered only on their own merit they form the first four notes of a G major scale.

What this means is that when you play the above pattern you can think of it as playing the C major scale or you can think of it as the first four notes of the C major scale and then the first four notes of the G major scale. If this pattern is started on the sixth string then you are playing the first four notes of the G major scale. The G major scale uses the F# as the major 7th of the major scale.

A great deal of confusion is created in the way that these two scales overlap and interact. A common chord progression might use the C chord, the F chord, and the G7th chord. The C chord uses the notes of C, E, and G - notes from the C major scale. The F chord is composed of the notes: F, A, and C also notes from the C major scale, the G7th chord is made of the G, B, D, and F notes - also notes from the C major scale, but it is essential to point out that the F note is not part of the G major scale. The F note is the "dominant 7" of the G major scale.

This means that if you play the C major scale from the closed position and are playing in the key of C major and you switch to the G major scale, in order to stay true to the C major scale and key you might consider staying instead in the G dominant 7th scale. The ability to play with knowledge is important because it gives us methods of planning the music we play.

As you move this pattern down the neck, the amount of stretch your fingers need to make, is reduced. The pattern, as now described, can not be moved to start on the fourth string because the standard tuning of the guitar is different on the treble strings. There are many patterns that can be used that use closed position, so this only presents us with the need to learn other patterns. You may find it exciting to play a song in such a closed position and then simply move down the neck to play it again in another key instantly.