G major scale in two octaves for classical guitar
The G major scale from the low G to the A two octaves up and back, in the second position, a finger for each fret, with i and m in turn. Two-octave scales are the classical guitarist's daily warm-up: they join both hands across all six strings, and the second position needs no shifts, so all the attention can go to an even tone.
Opens in the player looped and counted in, with the metronome on, and speeds up 5 % every 2 loops to 90 bpm. No account or microphone needed.
- Goal tempo
- 90 bpm
- Starts at
- 54 bpm
- Length
- 4 bars, looped
- Tuning
- E standard
- Time
- 4/4
- Level
- Intermediate
- Plays with
- A metronome
How to play it
Index on the 2nd fret, middle on the 3rd, ring on the 4th, little finger on the 5th: the hand never moves.
The scale starts on the low G at the 3rd fret of the sixth string and climbs to the A at the 5th fret of the high E string, two octaves and a step, then comes back down to G. All of it sits in the second position: the first finger on the 2nd fret, the second on the 3rd, the third on the 4th and the fourth on the 5th, so the hand never moves.
The right hand plays i and m in turn, one note each, through every string change. The tab shows both hands' fingers: the fretting finger next to each fret, the picking finger under the note.
Start at the slowest tempo and listen for every note being the same length and the same volume. Speed comes once the fingers know the shape.
Mistakes to watch for
- Two strokes in a row with the same right-hand finger when the scale changes string.
- Lifting the fingers far from the strings between notes. Keep them hovering over their frets.
- Playing the C at the G string's 5th fret with the third finger, which moves the hand out of position: it's the fourth finger's.
A speed plan
The player starts at 60 % of the goal and plays each tempo twice before stepping up:
- 54
- 59
- 63
- 68
- 72
- 77
- 81
- 86
- 90
That's 16 loops and about 4 minutes before you're playing at 90 bpm. If it stops being clean on the way, stop the ramp there and loop that tempo until it is. With a microphone or an audio interface you can record while you play instead: Demiurg checks every loop and steps up only after two clean ones in a row, and back down after a poor one.
Questions
How fast should I play G major scale, two octaves?
The goal is 90 bpm in eighth notes, which is 3 notes a second. Start wherever every note is clean: the player begins at 54 bpm. Signed in, you can set a goal of your own, slower or faster, on the Exercises page.
Why play scales in two octaves?
Two octaves cross all six strings, so the hands learn to work together everywhere in the position, not just on one or two strings. It's how classical guitarists warm up, and the scale patterns appear constantly in the repertoire.
Should I use rest strokes or free strokes for scales?
Both are worth practising. Rest strokes give a fuller tone and are common for scales in performance; free strokes are lighter and faster. Start with free strokes, then play the same scale with rest strokes.
More classical exercises
All 12 classical exercises · Fretboard notes trainer · All 107 exercises