Also very much under construction :)

In this lesson we will look at the 9th position C scale and a new pattern using thirds.

3 note/string C major scale
slurring c

Learning to Fly
Leper Arpeggio
Joe Satriani - War

Review Lesson 16

Scales - C Major in 9th Position

This form is a little different from other forms because it starts with two index stretches on low two strings.

We saw a little finger stretch with the 5 position C Major scale but this time we are going to stretch between the index and middle finger.

So notice we call this a 9th position scale but the starting note is on the 8th fret (the same C we have started the 5th and 7th position forms on).

The index finger is looking after the 9th fret but will stretch back to the 8th. This can be an uncomfortable form for some but your fingers will stretch and it will become easier over time.

3 notes/string scale

The fretboard diagram to the right shows us a way to play a scale where we play 3 notes on every string.

You should try alternate picking it and natural pick it.

Note when you alternate you will start each string with the opposite direction pick stroke than the previous string.

When you natural pick it, each string will be the same:
Down Up Down

You should also practice slurring. Only pick once each string and hammer on the other two notes. Video below shows example:

Scale Pattern #3

Because of the low B at the end you may prefer to play this scale using your 7th position C major scale or try the 3 notes/ string scale.

With this pattern we will move up the major or minor scale in 3rd's.

Start on C and skip up a 3rd to E, move back one note to D and skip up a 3rd to F, back one note, skip up a 3rd, so on and so on.

This pattern is used in the exercise below and alternates from eighth note triplets to sixteenth notes.

Hear the above example played over Joe Satriani riff. Listen

Practice the pattern up and down (ideally every scale position you know) using all eighth note triplets.

Improvising

When picking our key for soloing over this Joe Satriani riff we don't have a lot of options. If we take a look at the Circle of 5th's we see that the key of F has a Bb and every other key to the left of C also has a Bb. The Extremist riff has a B natural in it, so all those keys are out. If we look to the right of C we see that all of the keys have an F# and the Extremist has an F natural, so they are all out. Leaving us with just one key. Key of C major/A minor, no sharps or flats.

Could you find some pentatonic scales without any sharps or flats?

E minor/ G major
D minor/ F major

Both of these scales will work and can give lead to fresh ideas and sounds.

And of course the E blues scale sounds great over the riff. Check out Lesson 20 for connecting 4 of the pentatonic scale positions we have learned.