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Accessible Guitar Scales

Guitar Scales for the Blind and Visually Impaired

A Ionian 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), a B on the second fret using your second finger and a C sharp 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 sharp on the fourth fret using your fourth finger
  • on the third string play a G sharp on the first fret using your first finger 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 and a B on the fourth fret using your third finger
  • on the second string play a C sharp on the second fret using your first finger, a D on the third fret using your second finger and an E on the fifth fret using your fourth finger
  • on the first string play an F sharp on the second fret using your first finger, a G sharp on the fourth fret using your third finger and an A on the fifth fret using your fourth finger
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E-shape Scale

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

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