In Jazz, the major scale is usually broken up into different modes (scales) beginning on each individual note of the scale. There are seven different notes in a major scale and each of these notes can be used as the starting note for a different mode. Using modes to play over chord progressions enables you to find the best group of notes to play over each particular chord. Modes will be explained in detail later in the book. In the meantime, here is an exercise to help you become familiar with the positions of all of the notes within the open position fingering of the C major scale. These are the starting notes for the seven modes, so it is important to be able to find them all instantly.
Once you are comfortable finding all the notes individually, practice starting on each note and playing all the notes from one octave to the next, as shown in this example. Once you can play the notes ascending, practice them descending as well.