Lesson series
C-shape Scales
Practice scales musically around C-shape chords, landing chord tones on downbeats.
As described in Playing Scales Musically, one of the best ways to make scales sound musical is to practice them over chord shapes, focusing on landing chord tones on downbeats, which trains our ears and fingers to automatically express musical phrasings when we improvise.
This series shows how to practice the most common scales over the C-shape chords.
Major Scales
Scales to play over major chords.
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C-shape Major Arpeggio
The underlying chord tone heartbeat of a C-shape major scale.
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C-shape Major Pentatonic
The most useful scale pattern for C-shape major chords.
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C-shape Major Scale
The definitive scale for getting oriented on the C-shape I chord.
Minor Scales
Scales to play over minor chords.
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C-shape Minor Arpeggio
The underlying chord tone heartbeat of a C-shape minor scale.
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C-shape Minor Pentatonic
The most useful scale pattern for C-shape minor chords. It works over all minor chords in the key (vi, ii, and iii).
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C-shape Minor Scales
How to approach the seven-note minor scales over C-shape minor chords.
Related material
Series: Introduction to Scales
Scales are the foundation of Western music. Learn how to make them sound musical instead of like a robot running up and down the stairs.
Series: C-shape Movable Chords
Movable chords based on the CAGED C shape, with a strong closed root-position voicing.