I
The Five Basic Scale Forms
Just as there are Chord Forms that
are easily recognized in any position, there 1X1X1X )
are also Scale Forms that make patterns @
which can be easily learned and used. There (o@
is a C Scale Form that corresponds to the C 4x@ @
Chord Form, an A Scale Form that is related Normal Scale Form C Scale Form
to the A Chord Form, and so on. Finger Positions
Since the Scale Forms are not held in 4 Fingers: 4 Frets
place like the Chord Forms, the general idea
behind which finger to use for which note is
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four fingers to four frets, as illustrated in the
top left diagram. For example, if you are D@ @(
playing a Scale Form in the second position,
the index finger frets the necessary strings 4X4Xt 4X4
at the 2nd fret, the middle finger frets the A Scale Form
strings at the 3rd fret, the ring frets them at
the 4th, and the pinky takes the Sth.
However, you will soon encounter Sca1e Form
Scale Forms that span more than four frets. Finger Positions
This requires what is termed a finger exten_ with Extensions
sion, meaning a note that is played either
above or below the usual four fret area. The
position does not actually change though,
and for all practical purposes, only thelndex G Scale Form
and pinky fingers make extensions.
Not all Scale Forms will begin with the
index finger, and not all Scale Form posi_
tions will be designated by the first finger.
The index is sometimes treated as an exten_
sion so the Scale Form can better corre_
spond to the Chord Form.
The graphs in the left hand column
illustrate basic finger position for Scale E Scale Form
Forms and extensions. play through each of
them one string at a time, ascending and
then descending. The right column illus- o
trates the Five Basic Scale Forms. The D t 1)o) (r
Scale Form is the only one of the five basics
to require an extension. The fingerings gxsxe\4) G
shown are optional, and as with choids, the
correct fingers to use for scales will depend @
on the particular circumstances. D Scale Form
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