In order to create your own melodies, you will need to develop the ability to hear sounds in your mind before you play them, as well as the technique to reproduce these sounds on your guitar. A good way to become familiar with the sound and possibilities of a scale is to practice sequences.
A sequence is a repetitive pattern in which the rhythm remains the same, while the pitches are repeated higher or lower, usually within a specific scale. Practicing sequences will help you become more familiar with the scale you are learning. It will also enable you to create melodies more easily, instead of just running up and down the scale. Here are some sequences within the C major scale.
This sequence uses intervals of a 3rd. You can hear the difference this makes. Intervals will be discussed in detail later in the book.