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Accessible Guitar Scales

Guitar Scales for the Blind and Visually Impaired

A Altered Scale

Choose where on the guitar you want to play. Options are sequenced by their starting position.

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A-shape scale starting at the open position
G-shape scale starting on the second fret
E-shape scale starting on the fifth fret
D-shape scale starting on the seventh fret
C-shape scale starting on the twelfth fret

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A-shape Scale

  • start by assigning your fingers to the first four frets
  • play the fifth string open (A), an A sharp on the first fret using your first finger, a C on the third fret using your third finger and a C sharp on the fourth fret using your fourth finger
  • on the fourth string play a D sharp on the first fret using your first finger and an F on the third fret using your third finger
  • play the third string open (G) and an A on the second fret using your second finger
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G-shape Scale

  • start by assigning your fingers to the second, third, fourth and fifth frets
  • on the third string play an A on the second fret using your first finger, an A sharp on the third fret using your second finger and a C on the fifth fret using your fourth finger
  • on the second string play a C sharp on the second fret using your first finger, then shift your hand up one fret to play a D sharp on the fourth fret using your second finger and an F on the sixth fret using your fourth finger
  • on the first string play a G on the third fret using your first finger and an A on the fifth fret using your third finger
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E-shape Scale

  • start by assigning your fingers to the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth frets
  • on the sixth string play an A on the fifth fret using your first finger, an A sharp on the sixth fret using your second finger and a C on the eighth fret using your fourth finger
  • shift your hand down one fret and on the fifth string play a C sharp on the fourth fret using your first finger, then shift your hand back up one fret to play a D sharp on the sixth fret using your second finger and an F on the eighth fret using your fourth finger
  • on the fourth string play a G on the fifth fret using your first finger and an A on the seventh fret using your third finger
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D-shape Scale

  • start by assigning your fingers to the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth frets
  • on the fourth string play an A on the seventh fret using your first finger, an A sharp on the eighth fret using your second finger and a C on the tenth fret using your fourth finger
  • shift your hand down one fret and on the third string play a C sharp on the sixth fret using your first finger, then shift your hand back up one fret to play a D sharp on the eighth fret using your second finger and an F on the tenth fret using your fourth finger
  • on the second string play a G on the eighth fret using your second finger and an A on the tenth fret using your fourth finger
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C-shape Scale

  • start by assigning your fingers to the tenth, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth frets
  • on the fifth string play an A on the twelfth fret using your third finger and an A sharp on the thirteenth fret using your fourth finger
  • on the fourth string play a C on the tenth fret using your first finger, a C sharp on the eleventh fret using your second finger and a D sharp on the thirteenth fret using your fourth finger
  • on the third string play an F on the tenth fret using your first finger and a G on the twelfth fret using your third finger
  • on the second string play an A on the tenth fret using your first finger
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