Use this animation to help you to visualize the 5 Major scale patterns we’ve associated with the 5 position system. Stop and start the animaton frequently playing and thinking about each new scale shape.

Before pressing play notice the 3 C Root Notes appearing as red stars. We’re suggesting that when learning the 5 Position System you first learn and memorize the name and location of every practical Root Note located on string 6 and string 5. The root notes are the starting and orgizational points of the scales.

Our animations red arrows show how scales are built in relation to their Root Notes by either using lower frets or higher frets -by going up or down the neck.

Notice the large C-A-G-E-D word on the left of the animation. When logically and systematically covering all the frets with a C Major Scale, the C Major Scale pattern is of course the first in a series of scale patterns. The second pattern would be an A Type, the third pattern be a G Type, the fourth an E Type while the 5th and final pattern is a D Type. This spells out the word C-A-G-E-D. Because of this some people call this the system C-A-G-E-D. As the key of C Major contains no flats or sharps, it is often the key used to organize and systematize musical concepts.

Chord Connections…..

Many guitar players and teacher find it helpful to relate each Major Scale pattern to a Major Chord form. This is helpul beacause the chord shapes are more simple than the scale patterns and most guitar players learn and master chords before they learn and master scales. It is also quite helpful to know where all the chord tones are contained within a given scale beause a melody or hot lick often incorperates arpeggios (broken chords).
In our animation each pitch has been named in the intrest of thoroughness. Being able to instantly give a letter name to any note on the neck of the guitar is one mark of a serious guitarist and should be one of your goals in this course of study. As you learn the art of playing and using scales you’ll refer to notes by their exact letter names more and more.

The animation to the right is designes to be stopped and started often. As you work with the graphics practice the scales, naming notes and relating each Major Scale pattern to a Major Chord form.

This Guided Practice page is designed to get you to see the power of and value in visualizing scales and chords. Refering to and practicing with these animations often and consistently will dramatically shorten the amount of time needed to incorperate the 5 Position System into your way of thinking and playing. Stop and start the animations often playing each new position of the C scale on your guitar, alternately start the animation and concentrate on the visualizatons without playing or stopping the animations.

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