Guitar Scale Study, Exercises, Preferred &

High Speed Positions

Key of E natural minor (Aeolian mode)
E F# G A B C D E
F=first finger, M=middle finger, R=ring finger, S=small finger

#1) 3 Octave E minor scale can be played ascending & descending the same way.
E____________________________________________________________________8F_10M_12S
B________________________________________________________8F_10M_12S
G____________________________________________7F_9M_11S
D__________________________________7F_9R_10S
A_____________2F_3M_5S_7F_9R_10S
E_0_2F_3M_5S

#2) 3 octave ascending E minor scale

E__________________________________________________________7F_8M_10S-12S
B_______________________________________________7F_8M_10S
G__________________________________4F_5M_7S-9S
D________________________4F_5M_7S
A____________2F_3M_5S-7S
E_0_2F_3M_5S

#3) 3 octave descending E minor scale

E_12S_10M_8F-7F
B______________10S_8M_7F-5F
G___________________________7R_5F-4F
D____________________________________7S_5M_4F-2F
A________________________________________________5S_3M_2F
E_________________________________________________________5S_3M_2F_0

#4) 1 octave Rolling E minor scale

E_______________7F_8M_10S-12S_10M_8F
B____7F_8M_10S_______________________12S_10M_8F-7F
G-9R_______________________________________________9R

#5) 4 octave E minor scale is played this way only ascending in pitch
E___________________________________________________________________________________________17F_19R_20S22S-BEND to E B_______________________________________________________________________________17F_19R_20S
G_______________________________________________________________14F_16R_17S-19S
D___________________________________________________14F_16R_17S
A_____________2F_3M_5S_____________12F_14R_15S-17S
E_0_2F_3M_5S___________12F_14R_15S

#6) Descending E minor scale, fingering is different than above scale

E 22S_20M_19F-17F
B________________20S_19R_17F
G____________________________19R_17F-16F
D_____________________________________19S_17M_16F
A_________________________________________________19S_17M_15F-14F_________________5S_3M_2F
E_________________________________________________________________17S_15M_14F12F__________5S_3M_2F 0

#7) High speed 4 octave ascending E minor scale for 22fret guitar
E_____________________________________________________________________________________________19
F_20M_22S BEND
B_____________________________________________________________________________17F_19R_20S-22S
G_________________________________2F_4R_5S_______________________16F_17M_19S
D_______________________2F_4R_5S____________________16F_17M_19S
A_____________2F_3M_5S_____________________17M_19S
E_0_2F_3M_5S

#8) High Speed 4 octave descending E minor scale for 22fret guitar
E_22S_20M_19F-17F
B_________________20S_19R_17F
G_____________________________19R_17F-16F______________________5S_4R_2F
D_________________________________________19S_17M_16F___________________5S_4R_2F
A______________________________________________________19S_17M____________________5S_3M_2F
E___________________________________________________________________________________________5S_3
M_2F_0

#9) High Speed 4 Octave E minor scale for 24 fret guitar, can be played the same way ascending
& descending
E_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_20F_22M_24S
B___________________________________________________________________________________20F_22M_24S
G________________________________2F_4M_5S______________________________19F_21M_23S
D_______________________2F_4R_5S___________________________19F_21M_22R
A_____________2F_3M_5S________________________19F_21M_22R
E_0_2F_3M_5S______________________________22R

Arpeggio study & exercises

There are many ways to play arpeggios, depending on the tonality & effect desired and
of course position from which one is coming from into the key of the arpeggio and
melodic structure. There is the Classical
Approach, & the modern Shredder type of approach. The Classical chord approach is
probably best, easiest, most efficient & within reach of any guitar player of any skill
level. This approach is used more by violinists, cellists etc.
The Classical approach is Broken chords, instead of strumming for example an E
minor chord all at once as in example 1, you play the notes single one at a time,
alternate picking as in example 2.
= down stroke with pick
= up stroke with pick
(In this manual Up is down & down is up because the approach is written like looking down upon the
guitar neck)

1) E_0
B_0
G_0
D_2 R
A_2M
E_0

2) E__________________0
B_______________0
G_____________0
D________2R
A____2M
E_0

Example 2 is a 3 Octave simplified broken chord arpeggio and is a very good

exercise for the picking hand. It is very important to slightly mute the notes so
they do not ring out over one another, that way they sound like an arpeggio. To
control this and become proficient is an important step to guitar mastery and virtuosity.

I recommend for the beginner, practice example 2 at least 15 minutes a day

with a metronome at a tempo of 120 picking 1note per beat. As skill increases
you can play 2 then 3 notes per beat.

For the intermediate player you can play a 4 Octave arpeggio like example 4. In
this example there is an extra note added; G on the low E string.
3) E________________________0 ____________12S
B_____________________0 ___________12S
G_________________0 ________12S
D_____________2R
A_________2M
E_0 _3S

This is a simple bar across the

strings
with the small finger

Anyone can learn to play arpeggios. The secret is really in the picking hand and
also in being able to move from the first position E minor chord shape to barring
at the 12 fret with the small finger. If you can mute the notes properly and play
this at a faster tempo like 120 or above on the metronome these notes sound
impressive.

If you have a 24 fret guitar then you can play the 5 octave version of this style
arpeggio
baring also at the 24th fret.
Instead of using the small finger at the 12th fret you now use the first finger to bar at
the 12th fret because now you will be set up to stretch for the 24th fret with the small
finger.

4) 4 octave arpeggio can be played ascending and descending

E________________________0 ____________12F ___________24S
B_____________________0 ___________12F ___________24S
G_________________0 ________12F ____________24S
D_____________2R
A_________2M
E_0 _3S
Bar with first finger

Bar with small finger

Very simple but effective & musical, especially when total control of the muting & speed is
utilized.

Shredder style arpeggios are more involved with movement & motion of fingering and
positioning than the Classical approach. But each have their unique tonalities.
5) 2 octave arpeggio
E
B_________________________5M
G_____________________4F
D_________________5M
A________2F __7S
E-0 _3M
6) 3 octave arpeggio
E_________________________________7F _12S
B_____________________________8M
G____________________4F _9R
D________________5M
A________2M _7S
E_0 _3M
These are a small example of arpeggio study and utilization.