The notes of the C Minor Scale are C, D, D#, F, G, G#, A#.

The Chords in the C Minor scale are:

MinorDimMajorMinorMinorMajorMajor
iiidimIIIivvVIVII
CDdimD#FmGmG#A#

C Minor Scale – All Across the Neck

C Minor Scale

You should know where you can play the C Minor scale on your guitar. I have highlighted the 5 positions below where you could play it. Please note that some of these patterns will repeat beyond the 12th fret. Start each scale on the root note.

C Minor Scale – Position 1

C Minor Poisition 1
C Minor Scale – Position 1

C Minor Scale – Position 2

C Minor Poisition 2
C Minor Scale – Position 2

C Minor Scale – Position 3

C Minor Poisition 3
C Minor Scale – Position 3

C Minor Scale – Position 4

C Minor Poisition 4
C Minor Scale – Position 4

C Minor Scale – Position 5

C Minor Poisition 5
C Minor Scale – Position 5

Try the following when playing this scale:

Use a metronome – start very slowly.
Play cleanly – Focus on fingering every note cleanly.
Alternate pick – Alternate between up and down. Play quarter notes and then eighth notes.
Down pick all notes – Play quarter notes and then eighth notes.
Triplets – Alternate pick 3 notes for each beat.
16th notes – Alternate pick 4 notes for each beat.
Fingerpick – Use just your fingers to pick. Thumb plays the top 3 strings, Index, Middle and Ring fingers play the bottom strings respectively. Thumb, index, middle and ring are usually indicated by the initials P, I, M, A.
Alternate Fingerpick – Alternate Index & Middle fingers to play each note of the scale.
Use hammer on’s and pull off’s – Can you play each one without picking?
Speed up – As you feel more comfortable, try to increase the metronome speed.
Turn off metronome – Play the exercises but name each note that you play (without looking at the diagrams). Go as slow as you like.
Name the notes – Play exercises and name only the root notes (without looking at the diagrams).
Different positions – Do all the exercises and picking variations for each position.

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Reading Fretboard Diagrams

Throughout these lessons there will be fretboard diagrams. Like the one following: This fretboard diagram represents a C Major scale. The string on the top is the high E string.

Holding the Guitar

When you begin, whether you are playing acoustic or electric, you should be sitting down. Make sure you sit on a chair that doesn’t have an arm rest. Arm rests

B Minor Scale

The notes of the B Minor Scale are B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A. The Chords in the B Minor scale are: Minor Dim Major Minor Minor Major Major