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A major scale

It has 7 notes: A B C# D E F# G#. Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7.

Degree1234567
NoteABC#DEF#G#

Patterns

Strings run like tab: high e on top. Numbers are scale degrees; amber dots are the root.

Position 5Frets 1–5 · root A
eBGDAE1234567123456712345671
Notes per string (fret and degree)
  • e: 2 (6), 4 (7), 5 (1)
  • B: 2 (3), 3 (4), 5 (5)
  • G: 1 (7), 2 (1), 4 (2)
  • D: 2 (5), 4 (6)
  • A: 2 (2), 4 (3), 5 (4)
  • E: 2 (6), 4 (7), 5 (1)
Position 1Frets 4–7 · root A
eBGDAE456771234567123456712
Notes per string (fret and degree)
  • e: 4 (7), 5 (1), 7 (2)
  • B: 5 (5), 7 (6)
  • G: 4 (2), 6 (3), 7 (4)
  • D: 4 (6), 6 (7), 7 (1)
  • A: 4 (3), 5 (4), 7 (5)
  • E: 4 (7), 5 (1), 7 (2)
3 notes per string, from the rootFrets 5–10 · root A
eBGDAE5678910123456712345671234
Notes per string (fret and degree)
  • e: 7 (2), 9 (3), 10 (4)
  • B: 7 (6), 9 (7), 10 (1)
  • G: 6 (3), 7 (4), 9 (5)
  • D: 6 (7), 7 (1), 9 (2)
  • A: 5 (4), 7 (5), 9 (6)
  • E: 5 (1), 7 (2), 9 (3)
Position 2Frets 6–10 · root A
eBGDAE67891023456712345671234
Notes per string (fret and degree)
  • e: 7 (2), 9 (3), 10 (4)
  • B: 7 (6), 9 (7), 10 (1)
  • G: 6 (3), 7 (4), 9 (5)
  • D: 6 (7), 7 (1), 9 (2)
  • A: 7 (5), 9 (6)
  • E: 7 (2), 9 (3), 10 (4)
Position 3Frets 9–12 · root A
eBGDAE910111234567123456712345
Notes per string (fret and degree)
  • e: 9 (3), 10 (4), 12 (5)
  • B: 9 (7), 10 (1), 12 (2)
  • G: 9 (5), 11 (6)
  • D: 9 (2), 11 (3), 12 (4)
  • A: 9 (6), 11 (7), 12 (1)
  • E: 9 (3), 10 (4), 12 (5)
Position 4Frets 11–15 · root A
eBGDAE11121314155671234567123456
Notes per string (fret and degree)
  • e: 12 (5), 14 (6)
  • B: 12 (2), 14 (3), 15 (4)
  • G: 11 (6), 13 (7), 14 (1)
  • D: 11 (3), 12 (4), 14 (5)
  • A: 11 (7), 12 (1), 14 (2)
  • E: 12 (5), 14 (6)

Same notes, different home

These scales use exactly the same notes, centered on a different root.

Chords it fits

This scale in other keys

Other scales in A

Learn it in the course