G Major/E Minor

A look at a few forms of G major and E minor scales

G Major/E Minor in open (Also known as 1st position)

You will recognize this shape from lesson 5. This also happens to be the 5th position C major shape that is in Lesson 8.

Play from G to G and you have a G major scale.

Play from E to E and you have an E minor scale.

E minor is the relative minor of G major. In other words, they share the same key signature (1 sharp - F#) and the same notes and the same chords.

The audio player is playing a 1 octave G major scale in open position starting on the G string and going up one octave to the 3rd fret of the high E string. Quarter notes (one note per beat in 4/4)

This example is a 2 octave G major scale starting on your low G (3rd fret of your low E string) and moving up 2 octaves. Eighth notes (2 notes per beat in 4/4)

G Major Pentatonic

G Major Pentatonic

We remove the 4th and 7th degree of a major scale to get the major pentatonic scale.

G major is: G A B C D E F# G

The 4th degree is C and the 7th degree is F#. Remove these two notes and we have a G major pentatonic scale.

E Minor Pentatonic

E Minor Pentatonic

Play the same 5 notes but from E to E and you have an E minor pentatonic scale.

G Major / E Minor Pentatonic

G Major/E Minor Pentatonic

We remove the 4th and 7th degree of a major scale to get the major pentatonic scale.

G major is: G A B C D E F# G

The 4th degree is C and the 7th degree is F#. Remove these two notes and we have a G major pentatonic scale.

Play the same 5 notes but from E to E and you have an E minor pentatonic scale.

G Major / E Minor in 2nd Position

G Major/E Minor in 2nd Position

This scale form is first learned in the key of C and found in Lesson 14. It shows up again in Lesson 15 in the key of G.

By Lesson 15 you should also have the 2 string G major arpeggio that moves from 2nd to 4th and then 7th position.

Lesson 15 also introduces a G major 7th arpeggio in 2nd position.

Scale Lesson 15

G Major / E Minor Pentatonic in 2nd Position

G Major/E Minor Pentatonic 2nd Position

Same as above but in 2nd position. Remove the 4th and 7th degree of the G major scale and you have a G major pentatonic scale.

Play from E to E and you are playing an E minor pentatonic scale.

Both Positions Together

G Major/E Minor Covering Both Positions

Here is a look at the two positions on one fretboard diagram. As we get more comfortable with both positions and comfortable with shifting, we will move back and forth through these positions when soloing.