As promised, here is the download link to the cheat sheet that has all the notes in the key of E.
As you can see, there are four different scale patterns shown in boxes. E major is shown both in open position as well as at the 12th fret in the standard box shape.
In orange you will see all of the E’s marked on the fretboard. Pay close attention, because this is an important pattern (the octave).
Download the Cheat Sheet
(Right click on the link above and select ‘Save Target As’)
Basically, each box represents a spot where you can play the scale in the key of E. These are all diatonic – not pentatonic. I’ll explain the difference there in another post.
Click Here For The
Guitar Scale Patterns Lesson
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSXbsf_5lEk
IMPORTANT:
If you’re just getting started with guitar scales, its quite possible this cheat sheet might be a bit over your head. I go into quite a bit of detail on the patterns on this sheet, as well as many more in the Guitar Scale Patterns lesson. It is over 2 hours of video, going into detail on the different patterns that are on the guitar fretboard – why they’re there, how to find them, and most importantly, how to use them.
Hey man, thanks for the cheat sheet…
why are the e’s orange?
Hey I’m Larry, I downloaded your cheat sheet in the Root of E Key. I just wanted to say thanks for the time you dedicated to this “Project Cheatsheet” application that tremendously helps people like me see the light in the simplicity of it all. I have a tendacy to make things more complicated than they really are. THANK YOU Very Much Sir. Keep up the great work. God Bless.
Hey Billy,
The E’s are orange because they are the root note for that key. It’s always helpful to know where the root note is, as your solos can resolve themselves on those notes very easily.
Also, it gives some perspective when you’re looking at the cheat sheet to find different patterns.
hi jonathan!i want to order one of your courses!how does it arrive to me!I am in Botswana,africa!
O.K. I got your Cheat Sheet But how is it used?? And…. how does it differ from scales (Pentatonic, Blues Etc.)???? can you give some examples (or samples)
Thanx jjh
Hi John, I just uploaded a video that hopefully will answer part of your question. Let me know if I can explain further…
Thanks for the cheat sheet.I’m just not seeing a pattern as I look at it.I’m very young to guitar but not young in age,and am able to replicate shapes way before every note on the neck.If you could explain the pattern on the cheat sheet so I might see it.I’d have no problem sending you money to see more.. Thanks man……
Hi Patrick, did you watch the video on this page? To briefly summarize – the collection of notes found within the circled areas indicate the different patterns. You can then move those up or down the fretboard into different keys, keeping the pattern intact. Once you’ve watched the video, please post any questions here and I’ll do my best to answer… Cheers.
just trying to start at age58
Hi jonathan you are really helpful with all your guitare lessons thank you, thanks dude
jonathan you rock dude. Thanks man thats some interesting stuff.
I like breaking this stuff down like this and figuring out new ways to figure stuff out but this is awesome. Thanks again man !
Michael
El Paso, TX
Gloumiko, Michael – thanks guys!
Richard – don’t worry – lots of people the same age as you are just getting started… its a great time to learn guitar!
I want to say thanks for the cheat sheet, and I’ll let you know in a couple days how it works out for me. Thanks Again!
I cannot get this to download. What program do I need to get the to download. Can you send it another way?
Thanks!
Steve
Hi Steve, you’ll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the download. You can get it for free here: http://get.adobe.com/reader/
When first starting out which guitar is better the electric or the acustic guitar?
Hi Bill – the answer to that question will be different for everyone. A big part of it is the music you like – if you prefer music that generally uses electric, then go with that, and vice versa.
Electrics are a little easier to play, in the sense that it takes less finger strength to play them, but I and countless others originally learned on acoustic. I’d say biggest thing is music preference…
To freakin cool J. keep up the good work beleive me we all really appreciate it…
Ok i got the cheat sheet now how do i use it.
My case isn’t a scale pattern of any kind to tell you the truth,
i have an interest in writing my own bluegrass songs. and i was directed to you from http://www.ehow.com, it’s obvious that i haven’t been a fan of website links pages to begin with. And
was going to ask how can i write my own bluegrass songs?
Hello Jonathan, do you have cheatsheets in any keys other than e available?
Hi Craig, yes, I have other keys, but you’ll have to buy the full lesson for that 😉
http://www.guitarscalepatterns.com/guitar-scale-patterns/
Johnathan,absolutely great,dude!Thanks! Please keep up the good work.Like Dean says,we really appreciate it.
This is really cool. I think it is a great aid to learning what the hell to do after you learns the chords.
Thanks
Thanks for the cheat sheet guy,I’m 53 and trying to learn, I dont understand the sheet even after watching your video but I’ll be looking for new updates.
This is how scales should be taught. Thank You 🙂
Thank-you for all the wonderfull information
Happy Easter from Stella
in the dvd do you spend time on the finger patterns for scales so far i like what i see
hello jonathan
i downloaded cheat sheet for key of E but could,nt open file to read it
Thank you, Jonathan, for the DVD and the Cheat Sheet.
I will be going offline on Apr. 14th and will have another e-address in Canada,returning again in early Nov. on desoto.net again. The cheat sheet will also be a great help.
Will keep in touch!
Sam.
After not playing for years I feel like a kid again.
Thank you
John I am looking for the tab for BB King’s Hummingbird. Can you give me some direction. Thanks
Thanks for your help. I learn better by watching. How about putting on a background track in E and blending the E major notes with the C#m notes over the track? Isn’t that the main purpose of your cheat sheet? To show how to connect different patterns on the fretboard played over the same key?
Hi Will, yeah, that’s an excellent idea. By your very suggestion, it sounds like you’ve ‘got it’ already. Cheers.
Hey Jonathan…
Thanks a lot for the Scale Pattern pdf…really.
I think that’s from an old Mel Bay that I have, but it’s always really good to review the basics of the fretboard.
With all the great ‘shredders’ out there, while practicing, I sometimes find myself falling into a ‘shred mode w/ a lot of tapping, ‘n whatnot, alld straying way too far from the basics of the fretboard…so Thank You!
Peace…
MJ
thanks man, you opened up my way of looking at the fretboard. Nice information.
I’d like to hookup with some info on lead riffs and shuch so I can understand better how to tie the box patterns together,the cheet sheets realy help to see my fret board in a new way.thanks for the eye opener.Later…Tim
I’m a newby when comes to guitar playing, being self taught & having a teacher for a shot time I find my way around the fret board & my teacher helped fill in som of the blanks. Now that my teacher is gone & I’m having trouble finding another I find myself strugglin to teach myself, well with some websites and my books I manage to some degree,but with your cheat sheet and my soon to come I VI V DVD I’m able to move foward & feel as if I’m doing something. Thanx Man
KW
Thank you so much man. I am a VERY VISUAL person and seeing it set up like this with the different colors representing the diff. notes makes is easy…This clears up so many questions. Thank you for doing this for us. GOD Bless
I got my I IV V DVD this week & I took a look at it. I must say it was worth every penny, my only concern is the last 30 sec of the bar cord section stop. Is there anything that I should know with in that last 30 sec, if so could you go over that last portion of bar cords on line.
Thanx, Keith
Thanks, This is a good tool for us dummies or slow learners like myself out here. I thank you and so will the wife. Maybe now things will sound like a real song!!!!
Rick
Hey! super helpful! i’ve taken classes and always wondered about the box patterns! teachers always wanted to stick to the pentatonic scale or the blues scale! grrr it makes much more sense! thanks for the cheatsheet! 🙂
John
Thanks for the scale cheat sheet
Thanks, I’m just having trouble reading the scales and labels off to the side because the fretboard illustration is so small.
Also, you might consider displaying the fretboard horizontally, as the perspective would be if one were looking at a guitar neck in hand.
Hi Thomas – good idea on the horizontal fretboard – did you actually download the file though? You can blow it up nice and large on your computer, or print it off with the actual PDF version. Just click on the link or on the picture at the top of this page….
Hey Jonathan
I downloaded the cheat sheet (many thanks) but the text to the right
of the fretboard is garbled-I know it’s the identity of the key positions but I can’t read them.
I have a Mac-any thoughts?
Michael
Hi Michael, I would recommend re-downloading the file, as I’ve just tried it (also on a Mac) and the file seems fine. I suspect somehow it got garbled up in the download…
Jonathan, i got the cheat sheet but don’t understand it. I noticed you sent a dvd download to explain it to another person, I would like the same if possible. Thanks a million and if i get this figured out I’ll sent you another reply.
Hi Clifford – the DVD or download is for my full lesson – you can read more about it here: http://www.guitarscalepatterns.com/guitar-scale-patterns/
Cheers,
Jonathan
Hey Jon, I have the cheat sheet for the key of E, & I keep getting more for the same. Can I get a cheat sheet in another Key like maybe A or C.
Hi Keith – Yes, there are cheat sheets available in one or two more keys in the members area – http://www.guitarscalepatterns.com/members/
Your user name is your email address, and your password would have been emailed to you when you purchased.
This is perfect for me since I sing many of my songs in the Key of E. I’m not a lead guitar player, but I do play a lot of riffs.
Thanks!
Miguelazo from El Paso, Texas
This sheet is very interesting. The E major is understandable why we should know it. However, how many songs are in C# Minor? And what’s a root 5 & 6? HAT
Hi HAT – all of the patterns on that cheatsheet are playable in the key of E major. You can use the C#m scale as it is the relative minor of E major… I talk about this in the lesson much more. The root 5 and 6 refer to the string # that the pattern root is found on.
Kinda hard to see your fingers when you are doing the taping without a close-up shot.
How about TABS to help make it clear(er)?
Hi DJ – that’s why I created the cheatsheet – its a far more flexible and versatile way of showing a scale pattern…
thank you, for the workable sheet of scales, guess i;ll practice them for awhile still working on cords and struming and note playing with jamarama. looking forward to getting into the guts of this guitar. have a great weekend keith
Hello DJ, Just wondering why you didn’t show the kids a useful pattern like a Em scale? Seems like most of your audience would be interested in contemporary music, not musicals. Just wondering why, I have been playing for 44 yrs and I still focus mostly on a minor pattern and vary after that.
i am only interested in BASS guitar info….thx