Like the pentatonic and Blues scales, there are five basic moveable fingerings for the major scale. These are shown below in the key of C (C Major Scale). Memorize each one, especially the positions of the root notes and then learn the sequences and examples shown on the following pages and experiment with them to create your own ideas.
C Form
A Form
G Form
E Form
D Form
Once you know the fingering for each scale form, practice each one using various sequence patterns as shown in the following examples. This helps you learn the scale more thoroughly as well as being good for your technique. This first one uses the A form.
The following example shows a 16th note sequence played in the G form.
This example shows a triplet run using hammer-ons and pull-offs played in the D form.
It is important to remember that scales are just the raw material for making music and are not an end in themselves. The purpose of learning all the forms and practicing sequence patterns is to become comfortable with them in order to make melodic statements. Once you are confident with the scale forms, experiment with various techniques (e.g. bends, hammer-ons, slides, etc) and create some of your own licks and solos from them. The following example shows a lick derived from the G form. Try out your own ideas from the major scale with the C Major/A minor Jam-Along track on the CD (CD2 ex 87 – page 236).