Lesson 3

In the second lesson you learned all the major chords, including the barre chords B and F. Now we will have a look at the major scales. I'm sure you have heard of scales before. I think it is important that you know how to play a major scale, in case people ask you to play a certain note or the scale to that note. First, let's take the easiest ones, the C and the E major scale:

C major scale            E major scale

E ------------------     E ---------------------
B -------------0-1--     B ---------------------
G ---------0-2------     G ---------------------
D ---0-2-3----------     D -------------1-2-----
A -3----------------     A -------0-2-4---------
E ------------------     E -0-2-4---------------

As you can see, the C major scale is called like this because the first note played is a C (on the A string). Same goes for the E major scale. Now let's have a look at examples of major scales for the other notes (of course, you can play them on every fret of thee guitar, these are just examples):

F major scale            D major scale

E ------------------     E ---------------------
B ------------------     B -----------0-2-3-----
G ------------------     G -------0-2-----------
D -----------0-2-3--     D -0-2-4---------------
A -----0-1-3--------     A ---------------------
E -1-3--------------     E ---------------------

A major scale            B major scale

E ------------------     E ---------------------
B ------------------     B ---------------0-----
G -------------1-2--     G -----------1-3-------
D -------0-2-4------     D -----1-2-4-----------
A -0-2-4------------     A -2-4-----------------
E ------------------     E ---------------------

G major scale            

E ------------------     
B ------------------     
G ---------------0--     
D ---------0-2-4----     
A ---0-2-3----------     
E -3----------------     

And now, for something completely different: the Three Chord Theory. A major chord always consists of three notes, and they are not chosen at random. A chord always consists of the 1st, 3rd and 5th note on the scale of that chord. Let me give you some examples to prove my point:

C chord                  

E -----------0--         
B ---------1---- (f)     
G -------0------         
D -----2-------- (m)     
A ---3---------- (r)     
E -X------------         

What you see here is a major C chord. You learned that in lesson two. Now, the major scale for a C is:
C D E F G A B C
If all went well, you already know this too. Now look at the scale and determine what the 1st. 3rd and 5th notes are. Yes, they are C, E and G. Then look at the chord and see which notes are played in the C chord. They are:
C E G C E.
All these notes are according to the Three Chord Theory, as you can see! Now, let's look at another chord, just to make sure:

E chord                  

E -----------0--         
B ---------0----         
G -------1------ (m)     
D -----2-------- (l)     
A ---2---------- (r)     
E -0------------         

This is the E chord. The major scale for the E looks like this:
E F# G# A B C D# E
Have a look at the 1st, 3rd and 5th note. They are E, G# and B. Then have a look at the chord. The notes played in the chord are:
E B E G# B E
Now, there's some other proof for the Three Chord Theory!

This was the third guitar lesson. You can practise this at home until you understand exactly what I wrote here.

Lesson 1	Lesson 2	Lesson 4	Lesson 5	Lesson 6
Lesson 7	Lesson 8

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