segovia scales pattern approach

5/20/2018 Segovia Scales Pattern Approach

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Segovia Diatonic Major

and Minor Scales:

A Pattern Approach.

by

David P. Aitken


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Segovia Scales: A Pattern Approach

Diatonic Major and Minor Scales by Andres Segovia ( Columbia Music Company)was first published in 1953. It is still widelyused over a half a century later!

While there are other publications of scales for Classical Guitar, Segovia's has become the de-factostandard. There are manyreasons for this:

It was the first publication solely dedicated to playing scales for Classical Guitar. It contains 24 scales, 12 Major and theassociated melodic minor scales.

The scales allow the student to become familiar with virtually the whole fretboard of the guitar.

By following Segovia's suggestions, it enables the student to develop both speed and technique.

And, of course, it carries the Segovia name. A name that is synonymous with guitar excellence.

Having said that though, the 8 page publication with the 24 scales can be daunting to the student. How am I supposed toremember all those? Couple this with the general approach of teaching the scales, which often involves starting at the beginning

with C Major and steadily working through all 24 to D minor.Although the student gradually becomes familiar with all the

scales, they may lose their enthusiasm along the way.

Is there another way?

Yes there is. Segovia in buidling up the scales, used patterns of fingering that apply across several scales. For instance, 10 of the

12 Major scales can be played with just two fingering patterns. In fact, 19 of the 24 scales can be played with just four fingeringpatterns! There are eight patterns altogether.

This publication is aimed at introducing these patterns to the student right from the beginning enabling the sudent to becomefamiliar with them in a more efficient way. The advantages in this approach, I believe, are:

The student learns the scales in pattern related blocks. For example, if you can play the C Major scale you can also play D,Dband EbMajors. All you have to do is simply adjust your starting position.

The time taken to learn all 24 scales should be reduced substantially.

It enables a different approach to the practice of scales. Rather than play the scales from beginning to end the student canpractise just those scales related to one patternor,just practise the eight patterns using one scale for each pattern.

Learning the scales more efficientlyenables the student to focus on improving technique thus utilising their practise time more

productively.

This publication is arranged in three sections; one, covering the two octave patterns; two, the three octave patterns; three, fretboard

maps of each of the scale patterns; and finally, a single page practise page that covers all the scales with patterns and key signatures.

For each of the two pattern sections; the pattern is described; Segovia's scale that I've named the pattern after is included,showinghow the pattern is applied; then a brief description of the related scales that includes the sharps/flats/accidentals in the scale &where to start playing. In the case of minor scales, the relative major is indicated

The final section is a practise sheet, which lists all the scales in the same order as Segovia's. It includes the pattern and all thesharps/flats and accidentals in the scales. This single page allows the student to see all the scales at a glance and which pattern is

to be used. This provides focus during their practice.

David P Aitken 2010. All rights reserved.


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Page 2

Segovia Scales - Pattern Approach


Two Octave Scales

C Major pattern

The first of the scale patterns we will look at is that of C Major. Once this pattern is learnt you will

also be able to play D Major, D bMajor & E bMajor.

The left hand fingering pattern is: 2 4 //(change strings) 1 2 4 // 1 3 - (slide) 1 3 // 1 2 4 // 1 3 4 3

1// 4 2 1 // 3 1 - 3 1 // 4 2 1 // 4 2.

Let's now look at this with the C Major scale from Diatonic Major and Minor Scales, Andres

Segovia (Columbia Music Company).

C Major

C Major has no sharps or flats in the key signature and being a major scale has no accidentals.

To play the scale, start at the 3rd fret of the A (5th) string.

D Major

D Major has two sharps, F and C. To play the scale start on the 5th fret of the A string and use

the C Major pattern.

DbMajor

DbMajor has five flats, B, E, A, D and G. To play the scale start on the 4th fret of the A string.

EbMajor

EbMajor has three flats, B, E and A. To play, start on the 6th fret of the A String.

By learning the C Major pattern you have also learnt to play D, D band EbMajors. A good

way to practise these is to start of with C, slide up to D, then down to D band finally up to E b.

If you're short on practice time, just focus on the pattern in different positions , e.g., C Major

and Eb Major .


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Page 3

Segovia - Pattern Approach

The next pattern is C

minor. Knowing this pattern will enable you to play C

, D

, C and D minor

scales. Relative minor scales share the key signature of the relative major scale but start on the 6th

note. The minor scales in Segovia's scales are melodic minor. This means that the 6th and 7th notes

are raised by a semitone when ascending the scales but return to the key signature on the way down.

The left hand fingering pattern is: 1 3 4 // 1 3 - 1 3 4 // 1 2 4 // 2 4 // 1 2 - 4 2 1 // 4 2 1 // 3 1 // 4 3 1 //

4 3 1.

Now to the Cmajor scale from Diatonic Major and Minor Scales, A Segovia (Columbia Music

Company).

Cminor

The relative major is E Major. It has four sharps, F, C , G and D. The accidentals are A and B

(ascending only). To play the scale start on the 4th fret of the A string.

Two Octave Scales

Cminor pattern

Dminor

The relative major is FMajor and has six sharps, F, C, G, D, A and E. The accidentals are Band

C(ascending). To play, start on the 6th fret of the A string.

C minor

The relative major is EbMajor and has 3 flats, B, E and A. The accidentals are A nand Bn. To play,

start on the 3rd fret of the A string.

D minor

The relative major is F Major and has a Bb. The accidentals are Bnand C(ascending). To play,

start at the 5th fret of the A string.

That's it for the two octave scales. We have learnt two patterns, C Major and C minor and in doing

so have learnt how to play 8 scales. Time to look at the 3 octave scales.



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Page 4 David P Aitken 2010. All rights reserved.


Three Octave Scales

G Major pattern

The three octave scales form the bulk of the Segovia scales, 16 out of 24 scales. Most three octave

scales start on the E (6th) string of the guitar, the exceptions are B and Bb

minor.

The first pattern we're going to learn is that of G Major.This pattern is used for 6 scales, G, A, B, F ,

Ab, Bb.

The pattern is: 2 4 // 1 2 4 // 1 3 4 // 1 3 - 1 3 // 1 3 4 // 1 3 - 1 3 - 1 3 4 3 1 - 4 2 1 // 4 2 1 // 3 1 // 4 3 1

// 4 3 1 - 4 2 1 // 4 2.

Now let's look at G Major with this fingeringpattern.

G Major

To play G Major start at the 3rd fret of the E (6th) string. G Major has an F .

A Major

A Major has 3 sharps, F, C and G. To play, start at the 5th fret of the E string.

B Major

B Major has 5 sharps, F, C, G, D and A. To play, start at the 7th fret of the E string.

FMajor

F

Major has six sharps, F, C, G, D, A and E. To play, start at the 2nd fret of the E string.


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Page 5


Three Octave Scales

G Major pattern (cont.)

AbMajor

AbMajor has four flats, B, E, A and D. To play start at the 4th fret of the E string.

BbMajor

BbMajor has two flats, B and E. To play, start at the 6th fret of the E string.



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Three Octave Scales

A minor pattern

The A minor pattern is used for five scales, A, F, G, F and G minors.

The pattern is: 1 3 4 // 1 3 - 1 3 4 // 1 2 4 // 1 3 // 1 - 1 3 4 // 1 3 - 1 3 4 2 - 4 3 1 // 4 3 1 // 3 1 - 3 1

// 4 3 1 // 4 2 1 / 4 - 4 3 1.

Now let's look at this fingering in the A minor scale.

A minor

A minor has no sharps or flats in the key signature, it is the relative minor to C Major. The

accidentals are Fand G(ascending only).To play, start on the 5th fret of the E string.

Fminor

The relative major is A Major and has three sharps, F, C and G. Accidentals are D and E.

To play, start at the 2nd fret of the E string.

Gminor

The relative major is BMajor and has five sharps, C, F, G, D and A. Accidentals are Eand F.

To play, start at the 4th fret of the E string.

F minor

The relative major is AbMajor and has four flats, B, E, A and D. Accidentals are D nand En.

To play, start on the 1st fret of the E string.

G minor

The relative major is Bb

Major and has two flats, B and E. Accidentals are En

and F

.To play, start at the 3rd fret of the E string.

David P Aitken 2010. All rights reserved. Page 6

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Three Octave Scales

B minor pattern

B minor pattern is used for B minor and B bminor.

The pattern is: 1 3 4 // 1 3 - 1 3 - 1 3 4 // 1 3 // 1 3 - 1 3 4 // 1 3 - 1 3 4 2 - 4 3 1 // 4 3 1 - 4 2 1 - 4 2

1 // 3 1 // 4 3 1 // 4 3 1.

This pattern on B minor looks like this.

B minor

B minor is the relative minor to D Major and has two sharps, F and C. Accidentals are Gand A.

To play, start on the 2nd fret of the A string.

Bb

minor

The relative major is DbMajor and has five flats, B, E, A, D and G. Accidentals are G nand An.

To play, start at the 1st fret of the A string.

There are three scales left, E, F Major and E minor. These scales each have a unique pattern and

will be treated separately.



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Three Octave Scales

E Major pattern

The E Major pattern is: 0 1 3 4 - 2 4 // 1 2 4 // 1 2 4 // 1 3 - 1 3 // 1 2 4 // 1 3 4 3 1 - 4 2 1 // 4 2 1 // 3 1 // 4

3 1 // 4 3 1 - 1 // 4 3 1 0.

E Major has four sharps, F, C, G and D. To play this pattern start with an open E string.

E minor pattern

The E minor pattern is: 0 1 2 4 // 1 3 - 3 4 // 1 2 4 - 2 4 // 1 2 4 // 1 3 - 2 4 // 1 2 - 4 2 1 // 4 2 1 // 3 1

// 4 3 1 // 4 3 1 - 4 2 1 // 4 2 1 0.

The relative major is G Major and has an F sharp. Accidentals are Cand D.

To play, start with the open E string.


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F Major pattern

Three Octave Scales

F Major pattern is: 1 3 // 0 1 3 - 1 3 4 // 1 3 4 // 1 3 // 1 2 4 // 1 2 4 - 1 3 4 3 1 - 4 2 1 // 4 2 1

// 3 1 // 4 3 1 // 4 3 1 - 3 1 0 // 3 1.

F Major has a B band to play, start at the 1st fret on the E string.

That's it, the 24 scales fromDiatonic Major and Minor Scales by Andres Segovia (Columbia Music

Co.)can be broken down into eight patterns, C Major, Cminor, G Major, A minor, B minor, E Major,

F Major and E minor.

Knowing these can help you vary your practise; you can pratice one pattern but with different scales;

you can play one scale from each pattern; or play all the scales from C Major to D minor as in Diatonic

Major and Minor Scales by Andres Segovia (Columbia Music Co.).

The following pages include the fretboard maps of the scale patterns and the practise page which

includes all the scales listed in order with the patterns & key signature (accidentals are in brackets).


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C Major Pattern(Ascending)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

This pattern is used for C, D, Dand EMajors.

Finger Open 1 2 3 4st nd rd th

C Major Pattern(Descending - same as ascending)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

For C Major start at 3rd fret (A string); D Major, start at the 5 fret; DMajor, start at 4 fret; and EMajor, start at the 6 fret.th th th


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CMinor Pattern(Ascending)

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This pattern is used for C, D, C and D Minors.


CMinor Pattern(Descending)

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For CMinor start at 4 fret (A string); DMinor, start at 6 fret; C Minor, start at 3rd fret; and D Minor, start at the 5 fret.th th th


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G Major Pattern(Ascending)

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This pattern is used for G, A, B, F, Aand BMajors.


G Major Pattern(Descending)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

For G M, start at the 3 fret (E string); A M, start at 5 fret; B M, 7 fret; FM, 2 fret; AM, 4 fret; and BM, 6 fret.rd th th nd th th


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A Minor Pattern(Ascending)

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This pattern is used for A, F, G, F and G Minors.


A Minor Pattern(Descending)

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For A m, start at the 5 fret (E string); Fm, start at 2 fret; Gm, 4 fret; F m, 1 fret; and G m, 3 fret.th nd th st rd


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B Minor Pattern(Ascending)

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This pattern is used for B and Bminors.


B Minor Pattern(Descending)

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For B m, start at the 2 fret (A string); and for Bstart at the 1 fret.nd st


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E Major Pattern(Ascending)

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This pattern is used for E Major only.


E Major Pattern(Descending)

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Start with an open E string.


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E Minor Pattern(Ascending)

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This pattern is used for E minor only.


E Minor Pattern(Descending)

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Start with an open E string.


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F Major Pattern(Ascending)

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This pattern is used for F Major only.


F Major Pattern(Descending - same as ascending)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Start on the 1 fret of the E string.st


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Segovias Scales:A Pattern Approach

Practise Sheet

Scale Pattern Key signature

sharps, flats, (accidentals)

C C

Am Am (FG)

G G F

Em Em F(CD)

D C FC

Bm Bm FC(GA)

A G FCG

Fm Am FCG(DE)

E E FCGD

Cm Cm FCGD(AB)

B G FCGDA

Gm Am FCGDA(EFx)

F G FCGDAE

Dm Cm FCGDAE(BCx)

D C BEADG

Bm Bm BEADG(GA)

A G BEAD

Fm Am BEAD(DE)

E C BEA

Cm Cm BEA(AB)

B G BE

Gm Am BE(EF)

F F B

Dm Cm B(BC)

Copyright 2010 by David Aitken. All rights reserved by the author. Page 19

segovia scales pattern approach

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