Scales and Their Different Postions

by george stockman
(meridian, ms, united states)

i'm totally confused on scales. i know the different positions. let's use the c maj scale. c-d-e-f-g-a-b-c. where does the first position actually start and the fifth end. does the first position start on c, and the second position start on the d. if so then i would actually run out of positions. help!!

ANSWER

Hi, George--

"Position", when used in reference to scales, refers to the fret which the scale starts on, not to the note.

For example, the "C" scale that begins on the 3rd fret of the 5th string and utilizes some open strings is called "First Position".

Lynne