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Accessible Guitar Scales

Guitar Scales for the Blind and Visually Impaired

B Byzantine Scale

Choose where on the guitar you want to play. Options are sequenced by their starting position.

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C-shape scale starting on the second fret
A-shape scale starting on the second fret
G-shape scale starting on the fourth fret
E-shape scale starting on the seventh fret
D-shape scale starting on the ninth fret

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C-shape Scale

  • start by assigning your fingers to the first, second, third and fourth frets
  • on the fifth string play a B on the second fret using your second finger and a C on the third fret using your third finger
  • on the fourth string play a D sharp on the first fret using your first finger, an E on the second fret using your second finger and an F sharp on the fourth fret using your fourth finger
  • play the third string open (G) and an A sharp on the third fret using your third finger
  • play the second string open (B)
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A-shape Scale

  • start by assigning your fingers to the first, second, third and fourth frets
  • on the fifth string play a B on the second fret using your second finger and a C on the third fret using your third finger
  • on the fourth string play a D sharp on the first fret using your first finger, then shift your hand up one fret to play an E on the second fret using your first finger, an F sharp on the fourth fret using your third finger and a G on the fifth fret using your fourth finger
  • on the third string play an A sharp on the third fret using your second finger and a B on the fourth fret using your third finger
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G-shape Scale

  • start by assigning your fingers to the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh frets
  • on the third string play a B on the fourth fret using your first finger and a C on the fifth fret using your second finger
  • on the second string play a D sharp on the fourth fret using your first finger, then shift your hand up one fret to play an E on the fifth fret using your first finger, an F sharp on the seventh fret using your third finger and a G on the eighth fret using your fourth finger
  • on the first string play an A sharp on the sixth fret using your second finger and a B on the seventh fret using your third finger
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E-shape Scale

  • start by assigning your fingers to the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth frets
  • on the sixth string play a B on the seventh fret using your second finger and a C on the eighth fret using your third finger
  • on the fifth string play a D sharp on the sixth fret using your first finger, then shift your hand up one fret to play an E on the seventh fret using your first finger, an F sharp on the ninth fret using your third finger and a G on the tenth fret using your fourth finger
  • on the fourth string play an A sharp on the eighth fret using your second finger and a B on the ninth fret using your third finger
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D-shape Scale

  • start by assigning your fingers to the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh frets
  • on the fourth string play a B on the ninth fret using your second finger and a C on the tenth fret using your third finger
  • on the third string play a D sharp on the eighth fret using your first finger, then shift your hand up one fret to play an E on the ninth fret using your first finger, an F sharp on the eleventh fret using your third finger and a G on the twelfth fret using your fourth finger
  • on the second string play an A sharp on the eleventh fret using your third finger and a B on the twelfth fret using your fourth finger
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