3 Note Per String Scales

This lesson we look at playing a C scale with 3 notes on every string!

C Major Scale in 7th with 3 notes per string

So before we jump into 3 note per string scales let us look at the 7th position C major scale. So this would be found on lesson 14 and would be after you have learned 1st, 2nd and 5th position C major scales.

Notice the scale is extended with the B on the low E string and the high D and E on your high E string.

Also note that it is almost a 3 note per string scale as it is. Just that 2nd string will throw off our flow with only the two notes.

The main reason we are concerned with 3 notes scales is to make picking easier.

C major scale in 7th position extended on fretboard

The best part of 3 note per string scales are that we can work on very consistent picking as we move from string to string.

However that does bring us to two different ways we may want to pick this:

Alternate picking
Natural picking (also known as economy picking)

3 note per string C major scale in 7th position on fretboard

D Major Scale in 7th with 3 notes per string

Note that this is your 5th position C major scale form with the exception of string 1 and 2. In which case those notes would be part of your D major scale in 9th.

Alternate vs Natural Picking

Alternate Picking

So if you alternate pick it you will alternate starting directions with each string. For example, if you start on your 6th string and move to 5th:

6th string: down up down
5th string: up down up
4th string: back to down up down

You get the idea. Be sure to practice it starting on your 1st string also.

Natural picking

If you natural pick then you will pick it the same each string. Please note natural picking does not mean you will always pick it the same on each string. It just means if you are moving from string to string and the pick can continue to move in the same direction, then it does so. So example:

6th string: down up down
5th string: down up down
4th string: down up down

And this is because it is a 3 note per string scale and you will always move from one string to another with the same pick direction.

Although, it gets a bit more complicated if you are starting on the 1st string and moving back down the scale. You could pick: up down up and then you would move the same through each string however you may not want to start on the beat with an up. So I would go:

1st string: down up down
2nd string: up down up
3rd string: up down up

And so on. So it would start as alternate picking but quickly turn into natural picking.