Major Scale Guitar Exercise – One Shape to Play All 12 Keys

Want to master the guitar fretboard without getting buried in theory?

This simple, play-along scale exercise will help you feel more confident on the neck — using just one major scale shapeplayed through all 12 keys, following the cycle of fourths. It’s a powerful daily routine that works whether you’re new to jazz, coming back to guitar after a break, or simply tired of feeling stuck.

Let’s dig in.

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🎸 Why the Major Scale Matters

The major scale is the foundation of almost everything you’ll play on guitar — melodies, chords, arpeggios, and solos. Whether you’re into jazz, blues, folk or anything else, this scale is the starting point.

Knowing how to navigate it in all 12 keys is what transforms a player from a shape-memoriser into a fretboard-aware, confident musician.

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✅ One Shape Is All You Need

In this exercise, we’re using one major scale shape rooted on the low E string — often called the E shape from the CAGED system.

Instead of bouncing between different scale patterns, you’ll move this single shape up and down the neck — shifting through each key using the cycle of fourths.

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🔄 What’s the Cycle of Fourths?

The cycle of fourths is a musical pattern that takes you through all 12 keys in a logical order. It’s incredibly useful for jazz players, because it mimics how real progressions move (like ii–V–I sequences).

Here’s the cycle:

C → F → Bb → Eb → Ab → Db → Gb → B → E → A → D → G

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▶️ Watch the Video & Play Along

🎥 Here’s the full lesson:

This is a relaxed, guided play-along video. No theory walls. Just grab your guitar and follow along.

📺 Major Scale Play-Along – One Shape, All 12 Keys

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📥 Get the Free Practice Pack

To make your practice easier, I’ve put together a free downloadable pack with:

✅ A printable PDF chart showing the scale shape and the full cycle of fourths

🎵 A full-length backing track to play along with

🎯 A structured, repeatable routine that builds confidence across the fretboard

👉 Click here to get the One Shape, 12 Keys Practice Pack

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💬 Why This Works for Older Beginners & Real-World Players

If you’ve ever thought:

• “I know scale shapes, but I don’t feel confident with them…”
• “I keep forgetting which key I’m in…”
• “I want to understand the neck without memorising a thousand patterns…”

This kind of exercise is for you.

It’s focused. It’s musical. It works with your hands, ears, and brain — all at once.

And most importantly, it helps you enjoy your practice time again.

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🧭 Next Steps

Try using this exercise as:

• A daily warm-up
• A focus point before improvising
• A tool to connect your theory to real playing

Coming soon: I’ll be posting a minor key version of this drill, and another one using arpeggios over chord progressions.

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🔗 More From Guitar Practice Hub

• Free Finger Exercise Warm-Up Pack
• Autumn Leaves Arpeggio Study (YouTube)
• Blue Bossa Comping Tutorial (YouTube)

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🎯 Final Thought

One shape. 12 keys. Big shift.

This isn’t just a scale exercise — it’s a gateway to finally feeling at home on the guitar neck.

Let me know how you go with it — and if you want more play-along sessions like this, be sure to subscribe on YouTube and grab the free downloads.

See you in the next session,

– Glen

Guitar Practice Hub