Scale Pattern

Let’s look at the scale and its chords in a different way. On guitar you only need to know the pattern for one key. All the rest are a simple matter of moving the pattern, up or down, to the right place on the neck. Capische?

The scale and the number of each step:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (1)
C D E F G A B C

Chords:
C Dm Em F G Am B dim C

The main chords of the key are 1, 4, 5, and 6. In C: C F G Am
90% of the time the chord you’re looking for will be one of those. LISTEN!
Learn to recognize those chords and their relationships when you hear them.

So what? Start with your first position chords: E A D G C (F) and figure out 1 6 4 5 for each.

Then, using barre chords, work each set up and down the neck. Pay particular attention to the main rock barre chords E and A. (E will be a little difficult because of the C#m that doesn’t seem to have an easy nearby position. In F, though, the Dm (6) is nearby and that pattern moves up the neck with no change.)

I hope you get something out of this. Keyboards nowadays play rhythm accompaniments that you can play along with. This is most helpful when you want to practice some leads and get some idea of “phrasing.”

I’ve stressed this before and to a lot more people than you. Get your rhythm practice! Most people dismiss this advice and that’s why their timing sucks. TIME IS FUNDAMENTAL TO MUSIC!

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