One of the questions I often get is this:
Jonathan, how can I connect the different scale patterns so that I can play across the whole fretboard, and not just a few frets of it?
Well, the method I teach in guitar scales lessons uses just three main scale patterns to cover the neck.
These three patterns only have a couple frets or less in between them, and sometimes completely overlap each other.
So by having a close look at the patterns you know, and how they fit together on your fretboard, you can usually see spots where it simply makes sense to slide from one pattern into the next. It’s a bit like playing connect the dots.
The Secret: Scale Patterns Are Moveable
Before you start connecting patterns, you need to understand something that trips up a lot of guitar players: every scale pattern you learn is moveable. That one pentatonic minor shape you practiced at the open position? You can slide the whole thing up the neck, and it still works perfectly — just in a different key.
The reason is that the pattern is built around the root note. When you play the pentatonic minor pattern starting from the open strings, your root note is on the low E string — that’s E minor. Slide that same shape up so your index finger is at the 2nd fret, and now your root is on F# — so you’re playing F# minor pentatonic. Move it to the 5th fret and you’re in A minor.
Same shape. Same finger movements. Completely different key. Once that clicks, the fretboard starts to open up fast.
Finding the Root Note for Any Key
So how do you know where to put the pattern? You just need to know the notes on your low E string. If your buddy is jamming in the key of C minor, find C on the low E string (that’s the 8th fret), plant your pattern there, and you’re good to go. Key of G minor? 3rd fret. B minor? 7th fret.
If you’re not sure of the notes along that string yet, spend a few minutes learning them — it pays off huge. You’ll be able to jump into any key on the spot.
And this same principle applies to all your scale patterns, not just the pentatonic. Major scales, blues scales, modes — they’re all moveable the same way. Learn the shape once, and you own it in every key.
Connecting the Patterns Together
I’ve got a few of my own favorite spots that I teach in my course, but that should really just be a tool to get you started; every guitar player looks at things slightly differently, and in time you’ll come up with your own favorites.
Another tip for finding ways to connect patterns is to simply pick a key — say the key of C, and then play all the patterns you know in that key one after another. The key is moving scale patterns to any key so you’re comfortable with each shape in multiple positions.
This will get your brain thinking in terms of the whole fretboard, rather than just a portion, and you’d be surprised at how you start seeing it differently after doing an exercise like that!
Anyways, if you’d like to learn more about guitar scales and how you can connect them to play all over the fretboard in every key, I’d recommend checking out my Guitar Scale Patterns course.
There’s a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee on it, so you really can’t lose.
And whatever you do, practice is always the key to getting your scales down better, so grab your guitar and play it a bit today! If you’re just getting started, try learning the pentatonic scale first – it’s a great foundation for everything else.