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Accessible Guitar Scales

Guitar Scales for the Blind and Visually Impaired

B-flat Half-Whole Diminished Scale

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

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C-shape scale starting on the thirteenth fret
A-shape scale starting on the first fret
G-shape scale starting on the third fret
E-shape scale starting on the sixth fret
D-shape scale starting on the eighth fret

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C-shape Scale

  • start by assigning your fingers to the eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth frets
  • on the fifth string play a B flat on the thirteenth fret using your third finger and a B on the fourteenth fret using your fourth finger
  • on the fourth string play a D flat on the eleventh fret using your first finger, a D on the twelfth fret using your second finger and an E on the fourteenth fret using your fourth finger
  • shift your hand down one fret and on the third string play an F on the tenth fret using your first finger, a G on the twelfth fret using your third finger and an A flat on the thirteenth fret using your fourth finger
  • on the second string play a B flat on the eleventh fret using your second finger
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A-shape Scale

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

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

  • start by assigning your fingers to the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth frets
  • on the sixth string play a B flat on the sixth fret using your first finger, a B on the seventh fret using your second finger and a D flat on the ninth fret using your fourth finger
  • shift your hand down one fret and on the fifth string play a D on the fifth fret using your first finger, 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, an A flat on the sixth fret using your second finger and a B flat on the eighth fret using your fourth finger
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D-shape Scale

  • start by assigning your fingers to the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh frets
  • on the fourth string play a B flat on the eighth fret using your first finger, a B on the ninth fret using your second finger and a D flat on the eleventh fret using your fourth finger
  • shift your hand down one fret and on the third string play a D on the seventh fret using your first finger, an E on the ninth fret using your third finger and an F on the tenth fret using your fourth finger
  • shift your hand up one fret and on the second string play a G on the eighth fret using your first finger, an A flat on the ninth fret using your second finger and a B flat on the eleventh fret using your fourth finger
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