Major Scale Introduction

The major scale is the cornerstone of all western harmony. It has seven notes (plus the octave in practice), which in solfege are the syllables: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti and Do. If it doesn't sound like that, something is wrong...

Fingering

With each scale I have discussed my preferences for fingering the scale. There are many approaches and so long as you have a logical one, it will be fine. I have thought about these things a lot and think I have a compelling argument in favour of each finger decision, but please contact me (via the forum) if you disagree - I am certainly up for discussing it (how sad... get a life...).
I will also add the alternative shapes and fingerings that I know are in common usage and my reasons for choosing the ones I do. There is no right and wrong.

Practice

All these CAGED shapes have 17 notes (3 notes on each string, except for one string which will have only 2 notes). This gives you the perfect number for practicing scales with a metronome because if done correctly with 4 notes between each metronome click (16th notes, semi quavers) you will always arrive back on the root note on the beat :)

Scale Formula

The scale formula for the major scale must be memorised, as you will use it often to work out chord tones. The formula describes the interval distances between each note of the scale.

T ^ T ^ S ^ T ^ T ^ T ^ S
(T=Tone, S= Semitone)

In terms of frets it is 221 2221 ..

Examples

Note      Major Scale

C      C    D    E    F    G    A    B
D      D    E    F#   G    A    B    C#

more 

Points to remember
 

Tips for learning scales quickly, easily and perfectly

• DO IT SLOWLY AND GET IT RIGHT
Don't make any mistakes. Play it 4 times perfectly at a very slow speed and you will find you can speed it up without making mistakes and developing bad habits you will have to correct later.
• USE YOUR FINGER TIPS
Do not let your fingers "fold", use the tips the whole time, and definitely NO barres at any point. Ever.
• ALWAYS START AND END ON THE LOWEST ROOT NOTE
T his will help train your ears into hearing the sound of the major scale, very important. So start on the lowest (pitched) root note, play up as far as you can, then go back down as low as you can, and then back up to the root note.
• LEARN THE POSITIONS (SHAPES) ONE AT A TIME
It is very important that you get all five of these positions down... eventually, but please start with one at a time - much much better to be able to use one scale shape and play a solo than play five up and down and not be able to do anything with them :)

Note: 
The following two are important to remember, we call them accidentals:

• #: the sharp sign: makes a note a half step higher
• b: the flat sign: makes a note a half step lower