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How to Play The Major Scale Guitar Guide for Beginners and Intermediate

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The major scale is often called the MOTHER OF ALL SCALES, because all other scales, modes, intervals, chords and harmony in western music can be derived from it. It’s your main reference for all things making music.

If you want to makes sense of what you are actually playing and learn to understand, analyze, create, and be able to play any chord, progression, solo, song or anything else that involves your guitar playing you need to know the major scale. It’s equally valuable for the rhythm guitar player and lead guitar player.

The major scale is also a perfect warming up and dexterity exercise to start your guitar practice with. Two for the price of one.

MAJOR SCALE SOUND
We all know the famous “Do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do” melody you learned in preschool. This is the actually the major scale we are talking about here. And it’s important that you know what it sounds like, recognize it, and know how to sing it along.

MAJOR SCALE CONSTRUCTION
The major scale contains 7 notes starting with the root note (1) and the scale is followed by the octave of the root note: 1(root) 2 3 4 5 6 7 + 8 (8 is the octave and is the same note as the root, only an octave higher, so 8 equals 1). Every other western scale, chord or progression formula is compared to and can be derived from the numbering system of the major scale: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

WHOLE HALF NOTE SCALE FORMULA
To form a major scale on a single string we use the Whole-Half step formula: “W-W-H-W-W-W-H”, where “W” = Whole step (2 frets) and “H” = Half step (1 fret). So going one fret up the neck is a half step, and going up two frets equals a whole step. You can construct a major scale on any note, and on any string using this formula.

For example: Let’s start on a G-note (Low E-string/6th string, 3rd fret), now go up a whole step to an A (note), then up a whole step to B, up a half step to C, up a whole step to D, a whole step to E, a whole step to F# and finally up a half step to G. So the notes of the G major scale are: G A B C D E F# G ( 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8/1).

If you want to know how to find any note on the fretboard check out
Learn the Guitar Fingerboard Thoroughly in 16 Days

OPEN G MAJOR SCALE
An open major scale means you are playing a major scale that also uses open strings. It’s the perfect scale for beginners, but also the intermediate player has to have this one memorized. See TABS below.

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Top 30 Best Intermediate Guitar Fingerpicking Songs

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There’s something hypnotic and soothing about playing fingerpicking songs. Beautiful melodies and harmonies are all integrated in fingerstyle arrangements. Once you’re in the flow of fingerpicking you can play on and on and on. A perfect moment to forget about everything and just be one with your guitar.

Of course, in order to get there you first have to practice. But also practicing in itself is a joy. Overcoming the obstacles and challenges in a fingerpicking song can be really exhilarating. The hard work pays off and gives you a song to play for the rest of your life.

Guitar playing is a win-win situation. You play for yourself but you also make other people happy if you play for them. Fingerpicking is just magical.

Intermediate Guitar Fingerpicking Songs

Today we have 30 beautiful fingerpicking songs for the intermediate guitar player. From pop fingerpicking hits to classics and golden oldies.

If you’re a beginner, first start here: Top 20 Easy Guitar Fingerpicking Songs For Beginners.

Now on the intermediate fingerstyle songs. Each song title contains a guitar video lesson. The “Chords” link shows you the chords and lyrics to the song and “Tabs” will give you the tablature notation for the song.

Pick one and start your practice session now. Enjoy!

Video lessonArtistChordsTabs
1 BlackbirdPaul McCartneyChordsTabs
2 The boxerSimon and GarfunkelChordsTabs
3 Tears in heavenEric ClaptonChordsTabs
4 Every breath you takeThe PoliceChordsTabs
5 Never going back againFleetwoodmacChordsTabs
Video lessonArtistChordsTabs
6 Dust in the windKansasChordsTabs
7 More than wordsExtremeChordsTabs
8 Landslide FleetwoodmacChordsTabs
9 Good RiddanceGreendayChordsTabs
10 Fire and rainJames TaylorChordsTabs
Video lessonArtistChordsTabs
11 Let it goJames BayChordsTabs
12 Stop this trainJohn MayerChordsTabs
13 Leaving on a jet planeJohn DenverChordsTabs
14 Stairway to heaven Led ZeppelinChordsTabs
15 BloomThe paperkitesChordsTabs
Video lessonArtistChordsTabs
16 Nothing else matters MetallicaChordsTabs
17 Just BreathePearl JamChordsTabs
18 Safe and soundTaylor Swift. ftr. The Civil Wars.ChordsTabs
19 Tenerife seaEd SheeranChordsTabs
20 Street spiritRadioheadChordsTabs
Video lessonArtistChordsTabs
21 Road trippinRed Hot Chili PeppersChordsTabs
22 Homeward boundSimon and GarfunkelChordsTabs
23 Shape of my heartStingChordsTabs
24 YesterdayThe BeatlesChordsTabs
25 I won’t give up Jason MrazChordsTabs
Video lessonArtistChordsTabs
26 Let her goPassengerChordsTabs
27 Classical GasMason WilliamChordsTabs
28 Silent LucidityQueenrycheChordsTabs
29 You’ve got a friendJames TaylorChordsTabs
30 I see fireEd SheeranChordsTabs

The Intermediate Path to Learning Guitar

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The-Intermediate-Path-to-Learning-Guitar

After a considerable period of time and regular guitar practice you will pass the stage of the beginner and move up to a more intermediate guitar level. You’ve acquired all the basic skills and you’re looking forward to take things to the next step. But what does that actually mean, intermediate level? What should you be practicing now to take it even further?

A lot of guitar players start out all excited in the beginning. They learn how to play songs, fingerstyle, some riffs and solos, but then lack the persistence to follow through. They lean back in their comfort zone, practice less and improvement becomes meager. The basics are solid, but it becomes difficult to maintain the same eagerness and passion to grow into an even better guitar player.

So how do you go from the beginner path to the intermediate path and keep walking? How do you keep that same spirit and pace of improvement to get to the next level? Well today, we’re showing you the intermediate path of learning guitar. The path of progress and becoming the guitar player you set out to be.

Here are the keys:

Level up your chords

Work on learning, memorizing and applying new chords. Learn slash chords to create smooth transitions between chords. Work on a vocabulary of jazz chords that are also often used in pop, rock and blues music like Maj7, Maj6, mMaj7, Min6, m7b5 and dim7 chords.

Apply the chords to songs and keep using them so they are fully integrated into your playing. Learn the chords you already know and new chord types in different positions on the neck to become more versatile and free in your playing.

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11 Ways To Skyrocket Your Guitar Playing!

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11-Ways-to-Skyrocket-Your-Guitar-Playing

Somewhere down the road in your guitar learning journey there’s a chance your playing gets stuck in a rut. You might play the same things over and over and find it hard to get out of that vicious circle. You need a boost and get outside of that box. So how do you do that? How do you get passed that bridge and get to the next level?

Today we got 11 ways to get you out of that rut, juice up your skills and skyrocket your playing.

Let’s take off!

1 – Get the right tools for the job

First, make sure you’re playing the right guitar. Some musicians stick with a guitar just because…. But playing the right guitar is not to be underestimated. Your appreciation for a guitar is a personal thing. Your personality, your taste and style of playing needs to resonate with a guitar. That’s no bull. The way a guitar feels, sounds and fits is really important. The right guitar can motivate and boost your playing enormously.

We all have different preferences and specific needs for a particular guitar type (classical, acoustic or electric), body shape (Acoustic: Dreadnought, Grand Auditorium, Orchestra Model, Jumbo, etc. or Electric: Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster, Superstrat, Gibson Les Paul, Gibson SG, etc.), neck shape/width, string gauges, and so on. You need a guitar that feels right against your body, right in your arms, hands, fingers and one that fits your frame.

Adjusting the action of your guitar can also make a huge difference to your playing. “Action” is simply how close the strings are to the fretboard. A lower action can make your guitar a lot more comfortable and fun to play. Be careful, a very low action can cause fret buzz, so make sure it is done correctly.

If you’re playing electric guitar, your amp (with gain/distortion) is just as important as your guitar. Your sound and playability will fully depend on it. The sound of an amp is also very personal. The choice of your amp will depend of what style of music you’re playing, your preferences (distortion, effects, analog or digital) and whether it’s for practice, studio or stage use.

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