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Accessible Guitar Scales

Guitar Scales for the Blind and Visually Impaired

D Byzantine Scale

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

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D-shape scale starting at the open position
C-shape scale starting on the fifth fret
A-shape scale starting on the fifth fret
G-shape scale starting on the seventh fret
E-shape scale starting on the tenth fret

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D-shape Scale

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

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

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

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

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