Group A: Scales

Grade Four Technical Exercises

Introduction

Okay then, guys, so let's check out the grade four technical exercises.

We need to know these in four keys: A, B, C, and D on the E string.

It's important that you can move these around for your exam because you'll be asked to do them in any of those four keys.

A Major Scale

I'm going to show you the ones in the book now so you can see the fingerings that I use, and hopefully, you'll find that helpful.

Fingerings

Let's begin with the A major scale.

• Tempo: Play two notes per click in all these scales.
• Note Value: As you can see, they're written in quavers rather than crotchets.

Count: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Position Shift

Now, we're going to move on to the same scale, but in the additional position that you've been shown in the book here.

For this one, I'm going to start on my little finger.

Count: 1, 2, 3, 4.

So some tricky little position shifts in that one. Worth practicing. Nice and slow. Make sure you're happy with your fingering before you speed it up.

Natural Minor Scale

Scale number two is the natural minor scale.

I'm going to show it to you in B now, up on the seventh fret.

Count: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Second Position

Okay, and now we've got a second position of this scale.

Again, starting on the same note, the B string, and I'm going to use my little finger to begin.

Count: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Minor Pentatonic Scale

Okay, we're getting through them now. We've got the minor pentatonic scale in the key of C.

• Fret: Up on the eighth fret for this one.

Count: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Second Position

And the second position of that scale:

Count: 1, 2, 3, 4.

D Major Pentatonic Scale

Alright, we've got D major pentatonic for scale number four.

Count: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Second Position

And onto the second position for that scale.

Again, starting with my little finger.

Count: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Blues Scale

Okay, we've got the blues scale next in the key of C.

• Position: First position up on the eighth fret.

Count: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Second Position

And onto the second position of that scale.

Count: 1, 2, 3, 4.