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Accessible Guitar Scales

Guitar Scales for the Blind and Visually Impaired

E Altered Scale

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

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

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E-shape Scale

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

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

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

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

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