Major scale forms - 3 notes per string

Things to do

In addition to just learning the

scaleforms, here are a few other ideas that you can practice with these scales.

Because these scales have 3 notes on every string, it is really easy to play fast runs
using hammer-ons and pull-offs. First try playing each scale form picking only
once on every string, and using hammer-ons to play the other 2. For the rhythm you
should play either 8th note triplets, or 16th note triplets. For 8th note triplets you
are going to play 3 notes for every beat. For 16th note triplets you are going to play
6 notes for every beat.

Here is the Ionian form ascending using hammer-ons. Apply the same idea to all of
the scale forms. For more info on how to read the tablature below, take a look a the
"how to read Internet tablature lesson".

Fingering
    |
    1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4 
E:--------------------------------5h7h8----
B:--------------------------5h7h8----------
G:--------------------4h5h7----------------
D:--------------4h5h7----------------------
A:--------3h5h7----------------------------
E:--3h5h7----------------------------------

Here is the Ionian form descending using pull-offs.

Fingering
    |
    4 3 1 4 3 1 4 2 1 4 2 1 4 2 1 4 2 1
E:--8p7p5----------------------------------
B:--------8p7p5----------------------------
G:--------------7p5p4----------------------
D:--------------------7p5p4----------------
A:--------------------------7p5p3----------
E:--------------------------------7p5p3----

Try playing hammer-on combinations between 2 adjacent strings. You can play
very fast runs like this with a little practice. Try other string combinations as well
as the one used in the example below.

Fingering
    |
    1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4
E:-----------------------------------------
B:-----------------------------------------
G:--------4h5h7-------4h5h7--etc...--------
D:--4h5h7-------4h5h7----------------------
A:-----------------------------------------
E:-----------------------------------------

Practice pull-offs on combinations of 2 strings. Try other string combinations as

well as the one used in the example below.

Fingering
    |
    4 2 1 4 2 1 4 2 1 4 2 1
E:-----------------------------------------
B:-----------------------------------------
G:--7p5p4-------7p5p4----------------------
D:--------7p5p4-------7p5p4--etc...--------
A:-----------------------------------------
E:-----------------------------------------

Here is an extended acceding run that uses hammer-ons and pull-offs. You should
play this one either using 8th notes (2 notes for every beat) or 16th notes (4 notes
for every beat).

Fingering
    |
    1 2 4 1 4 2 1 4   1 2 4 1 4 2 1 4   1 2 4 1 4 2 1 4 
E:------------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:------------------|-----------------|-----------------|
G:------------------|-----------------|-------4-7p5p4---|
D:------------------|-------4-7p5p4---|-4h5h7---------7-|
A:--------3-7p5p3---|-3h5h7---------7-|-----------------|
E:--3h5h7---------7-|-----------------|-----------------|

    1 2 4 1 4 3 1 3   1 3 4 1 4 3 1 4  

E:------------------|-------5-8p7p5---|
B:--------5-8p7p5---|-5h7h8---------8-|
G:--4h5h7---------7-|-----------------|
D:------------------|-----------------|
A:------------------|-----------------|
E:------------------|-----------------|

 
Here is an extended descending run that uses hammer-ons and pull-offs.

Fingering
    |
    4 3 1 4 1 3 4 1   4 3 1 3 1 2 4 2   4 2 1 4 1 2 4 1 
E:--8p7p5---------5-|-----------------|-----------------|
B:--------8-5h7h8---|-8p7p5---------5-|-----------------|
G:------------------|-------7-4h5h7---|-7p5p4---------4-|
D:------------------|-----------------|-------7-4h5h7---|
A:------------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:------------------|-----------------|-----------------|

    4 2 1 4 1 2 4 1   4 2 1 4 1 2 4 1
E:------------------|-----------------|
B:------------------|-----------------|
G:------------------|-----------------|
D:--7p5p4---------4-|-----------------|
A:--------7-3h5h7---|-7p5p3---------3-|
E:------------------|-------7-3h5h7---|

There are all kinds of other things that can be done with these scale forms. Having
3 notes on every string gives you 6 note "mini positions" for each set of adjacent
strings. As you learn a sequence or lick in one mini position, you can easily apply
that same pattern to any 6 note mini position These scale forms are the 1st choice
for shredders and fusion players because they are ideal for playing fast runs.