Learning to play scales in sixths can add a beautiful dimension to your guitar playing, whether you're into blues, rock and roll, rockabilly, or country. This technique is particularly effective for creating melodic solos and adding sophistication to your playing.
The E Major Scale in Sixths
The basic pattern follows the E major scale, harmonized in sixths using the first and third strings:
- First position: 1st string (0) with 3rd string (1)
- Second position: 1st string (2) with 3rd string (2)
- Third position: 1st string (4) with 3rd string (4)
- Fourth position: 1st string (6) with 3rd string (5)
- Fifth position: 1st string (8) with 3rd string (7)
- Sixth position: 1st string (9) with 3rd string (9)
- Seventh position: 1st string (11) with 3rd string (11)
- Final position: 1st string (13) with 3rd string (12)
This pattern works beautifully over common chord progressions in E major, especially I-V-vi-IV progressions. It's particularly effective for adding melodic elements to ballads and slower pieces.
Adding the Dominant Flavor
When playing over blues or songs featuring E7 chords, you'll want to modify the scale slightly to create a dominant sound. The first four notes remain the same as the major scale, but then we adjust to accommodate the E7 sound by using D natural instead of D sharp. This creates a tension that works particularly well in blues contexts, especially when moving to the IV chord (A).
Tips for Practice and Application
- Start by memorizing the basic sixth intervals in both major and dominant contexts
- Experiment with adding notes between the sixths to create more complex phrases
- Don't feel pressured to play too many notes - sixths have a full sound that can stand on their own
- Try incorporating this technique into your existing solos, especially during slower sections where melody is key
Advanced Concept: The Power of Thirds and Sixths
An interesting aspect of this technique is that even when you play a major third or major sixth slightly out of key, it often still sounds musical. This gives you some freedom to experiment and push boundaries in your playing.
Remember, the goal isn't to play more notes, but to play more meaningful ones. Mastering scales in sixths will give you a powerful tool for creating expressive, melodic solos across multiple genres.
Want to dive deeper into guitar techniques like this? Check out more lessons at BlackBeltMusician.com, offering both beginner and intermediate courses to help you develop into a well-rounded guitarist.
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