contentsUnit 1 Introducing major scales 3

Unit 2 C major 4

Unit 3 G major 8

Unit 4 F major 12

Unit 5 Introducing minor scales 17

Unit 6 A natural minor 18

Unit 7 A harmonic minor 21

Unit 8 E minor 24

Unit 9 Arpeggios 28

Unit 10 Scale trail checklist 32

Guitar Basics Workouts provides players and teachers with a fun introduction to many of thescales found in the major examination boards’ grade 1 exams, as well as a selection fromgrade 2. While we hope this book will help students to improve performance of scales intheir exams, our aim is also to develop their understanding of the connection between scalesand the rest of their musical experience. With focused and proper application, skills such assight-reading, aural perception, recognition of melodic patterns and technical proficiencycan be enhanced. In short, a thorough knowledge of scales and arpeggios facilitates allaspects of playing an instrument.

Unfortunately the process of learning these can be painful and laborious for students andteachers alike. It is with this in mind that we have approached this subject with the sameoutlook and format as the other Guitar Basics books:• introducing a wide variety of musical styles• taking very slow and logical steps to make the process less painful and arduous• providing lots of fun backing tracks for a more musical experience• providing chords/accompaniments for teachers and/or fellow players• including improvisation and other creative activities.

Most of the backing tracks present the tunes twice through, first with a guide melody andthen with the accompaniment alone. Listen out for where this happens, and on the repeatsee if you can play the tune on your own or improvise.

We hope you enjoy!

Nick and James

note to teachers and parents

Scales can be fun and theyhelp you to learn pieces. Ifyou really look and listen hardyou will see that lots of yourfavourite songs contain scales.

Why should I botherlearning my scales?

22tuning track

contentsUnit 1 Introducing major scales 3

Unit 2 C major 4

Unit 3 G major 8

Unit 4 F major 12

Unit 5 Introducing minor scales 17

Unit 6 A natural minor 18

Unit 7 A harmonic minor 21

Unit 8 E minor 24

Unit 9 Arpeggios 28

Unit 10 Scale trail checklist 32

Guitar Basics Workouts provides players and teachers with a fun introduction to many of thescales found in the major examination boards’ grade 1 exams, as well as a selection fromgrade 2. While we hope this book will help students to improve performance of scales intheir exams, our aim is also to develop their understanding of the connection between scalesand the rest of their musical experience. With focused and proper application, skills such assight-reading, aural perception, recognition of melodic patterns and technical proficiencycan be enhanced. In short, a thorough knowledge of scales and arpeggios facilitates allaspects of playing an instrument.

Unfortunately the process of learning these can be painful and laborious for students andteachers alike. It is with this in mind that we have approached this subject with the sameoutlook and format as the other Guitar Basics books:• introducing a wide variety of musical styles• taking very slow and logical steps to make the process less painful and arduous• providing lots of fun backing tracks for a more musical experience• providing chords/accompaniments for teachers and/or fellow players• including improvisation and other creative activities.

Most of the backing tracks present the tunes twice through, first with a guide melody andthen with the accompaniment alone. Listen out for where this happens, and on the repeatsee if you can play the tune on your own or improvise.

We hope you enjoy!

Nick and James

note to teachers and parents

Scales can be fun and theyhelp you to learn pieces. Ifyou really look and listen hardyou will see that lots of yourfavourite songs contain scales.

Why should I botherlearning my scales?

22tuning track

5

1track

Ay CarambaThis piece uses all the notes of the C major scale played to thecha cha cha rhythm. You have to dance on some steps of thescale trail before you move on.

Latin feel

5

9

13

44&C F G C F G

&C F G C F C

&C G F C G F

&C G F C G C

œ œj œ œj œ œ œ ˙ œ œj œ œj œ œ œ ˙

œ œj œ œj œ œ œ ˙ œ œJ œ œJ œ œ œ ˙

œ œJ œ œJ œ œ œ ˙ œ œj œ œj œ œ œ ˙

œ œj œ œj œ œ œ ˙ œ œj œ œj œ œ œ ˙

Beware! String CrossingPlay each bar four times before you move on. Try it i m i and then m i m with your right hand. Which way felt best?

Latin RhythmsCan you play this cha cha cha rhythm on C? Saying the words will help you.Try playing it on each note of the C major scale in turn, starting at the topand descending all the way to the bottom.

.. .. .. .. ..

.. .. .. .. .. ..

44&

&

œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙

œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙

44&Don’t for get- to go cha cha cha!

œ œJ œ œJ œ œ œ ˙

X XF

(

4

unit 2 C major

C major scaleCan you put the C major trail on your guitar?

Here are the notes on the stave, with the left-hand fingering.

Start with C on the 3rd fret on string 5.

Go slow! Think about each step before youtake it. Make sure you don’t step off the trail,and always walk your i and m fingers.

hottip

Scale trails are usually spread across the strings.This can make them hard to find – sometimesyou have to be a good scout to hunt them out.

Can you write the pattern of tones (T) and semitones (S) between the notes?

Starting with finger 3 on the low C, play each note of the scale using this rhythm:

Workout warm-up

44&3 0 2 3 0 2 0 1

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

44&Stick to the trail, don’t get lost!

œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ Œ

Quiz• How many strings did you use?

• How many left-hand fingers did you use?

• Can you point out where the semitones (half steps) areto your teacher or a friend?

Introducing major scales

Here is a scale trail for the C major scale, with a letter in each footprint. How many footprints are there?

To step along the trail from one footprint to the next, you will needto take some long steps and some short steps.

In music the short footsteps are called semitones (or half steps in USA) andthe longer ones are called tones (whole steps). They are really easy to findon the guitar as a whole step is two frets and a half step is one fret.

If you start on a different letter you will have to keep the pattern of stepsthe same by using sharps (#) or flats (b). To play scales you need to exercise both hands:

• You have to be able to use all four left-hand fingers and move themquickly between frets and across strings.

• You also need to be able to walk your right-hand fingers.Just like when you walk with your feet, you should alwaysalternate between your index finger (i ) and middle finger(m) to avoid tripping up.

Sometimes you might have to run or jog with your fingers.

CD

EF

GA

BC

Quiz• How many long footsteps are there?

• How many short footsteps are there?

unit 1

All major scales follow the same pattern – they just starton different notes. If you stick to the scale trail you willalways find your way to the end.

Major scales use every letter of the musical alphabet (A–G),starting on the letter that the scale is named after.

5

1track

Ay CarambaThis piece uses all the notes of the C major scale played to thecha cha cha rhythm. You have to dance on some steps of thescale trail before you move on.

Latin feel

5

9

13

44&C F G C F G

&C F G C F C

&C G F C G F

&C G F C G C

œ œj œ œj œ œ œ ˙ œ œj œ œj œ œ œ ˙

œ œj œ œj œ œ œ ˙ œ œJ œ œJ œ œ œ ˙

œ œJ œ œJ œ œ œ ˙ œ œj œ œj œ œ œ ˙

œ œj œ œj œ œ œ ˙ œ œj œ œj œ œ œ ˙

Beware! String CrossingPlay each bar four times before you move on. Try it i m i and then m i m with your right hand. Which way felt best?

Latin RhythmsCan you play this cha cha cha rhythm on C? Saying the words will help you.Try playing it on each note of the C major scale in turn, starting at the topand descending all the way to the bottom.

.. .. .. .. ..

.. .. .. .. .. ..

44&

&

œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙

œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙

44&Don’t for get- to go cha cha cha!

œ œJ œ œJ œ œ œ ˙

X XF

(

4

unit 2 C major

C major scaleCan you put the C major trail on your guitar?

Here are the notes on the stave, with the left-hand fingering.

Start with C on the 3rd fret on string 5.

Go slow! Think about each step before youtake it. Make sure you don’t step off the trail,and always walk your i and m fingers.

hottip

Scale trails are usually spread across the strings.This can make them hard to find – sometimesyou have to be a good scout to hunt them out.

Can you write the pattern of tones (T) and semitones (S) between the notes?

Starting with finger 3 on the low C, play each note of the scale using this rhythm:

Workout warm-up

44&3 0 2 3 0 2 0 1

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

44&Stick to the trail, don’t get lost!

œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ Œ

Quiz• How many strings did you use?

• How many left-hand fingers did you use?

• Can you point out where the semitones (half steps) areto your teacher or a friend?

Introducing major scales

Here is a scale trail for the C major scale, with a letter in each footprint. How many footprints are there?

To step along the trail from one footprint to the next, you will needto take some long steps and some short steps.

In music the short footsteps are called semitones (or half steps in USA) andthe longer ones are called tones (whole steps). They are really easy to findon the guitar as a whole step is two frets and a half step is one fret.

If you start on a different letter you will have to keep the pattern of stepsthe same by using sharps (#) or flats (b). To play scales you need to exercise both hands:

• You have to be able to use all four left-hand fingers and move themquickly between frets and across strings.

• You also need to be able to walk your right-hand fingers.Just like when you walk with your feet, you should alwaysalternate between your index finger (i ) and middle finger(m) to avoid tripping up.

Sometimes you might have to run or jog with your fingers.

CD

EF

GA

BC

Quiz• How many long footsteps are there?

• How many short footsteps are there?

unit 1

B

FE C

B

All major scales follow the same pattern – they just starton different notes. If you stick to the scale trail you willalways find your way to the end.

Major scales use every letter of the musical alphabet (A–G),starting on the letter that the scale is named after.