Want to get that authentic bluegrass and country guitar sound? It all starts with how you play the A major scale down here in the open position… We’ll show you the secret to getting that twang.
The Secret to a Bluegrass & Country A Major Scale
Hey, it’s Ryan here with Breakthrough Guitar, and today we’ve got something pretty fun. We’re going to talk about the A major scale, but we’re going to talk about it way down here. So you know, you get that Bluegrass Country feel sometimes playing some leads with open strings and getting that twang. And by the way, if you want to see more of these tutorials and lessons, make sure that you subscribe and click the alerts. But let’s Dive Right In.
The Core “Twang” Pattern
This first part of the scale is where all that country flavor comes from. By using the open strings, we allow them to ring out, which is a hallmark of this style of lead guitar playing.
Here’s the pattern:
- A string: Open, 2nd fret, 4th fret
- D string: Open, 2nd fret, 4th fret
- G string: 1st fret, 2nd fret
Practice picking through these notes, and you’ll immediately hear that bright, open sound that’s perfect for country and bluegrass licks.
How to Extend the Full A Major Scale
Now, if you want to extend it beyond that ending note here on that second fret on the G, you can easily continue the scale up the neck to complete a full two octaves. All you have to do is keep going from that G string.
Here is the complete, extended A major scale pattern in the open position:
- A string: Open, 2nd fret, 4th fret
- D string: Open, 2nd fret, 4th fret
- G string: 1st fret, 2nd fret, 4th fret
- B string: 2nd fret, 3rd fret, 5th fret
- High E string: 2nd fret, 4th fret, 5th fret
By connecting these two parts, you now have a full, playable A major scale that starts with that open-string twang and moves into a more standard fretted pattern on the higher strings. This is a fantastic way to learn the fretboard and add a new flavor to your lead playing.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do you play the A major scale with a “Bluegrass Country feel”?
You play it in the open position, starting with the open A string. The core pattern is: Open-2-4 on the A string, Open-2-4 on the D string, and 1-2 on the G string. - What makes this scale sound “country”?
The use of open strings, which are allowed to ring out, creates the characteristic “twang” associated with country and bluegrass lead guitar. - How can I extend the scale past the G string?
From the 2nd fret of the G string, you continue the pattern: 2-4 on the G string, 2-3-5 on the B string, and 2-4-5 on the high E string. - What is the complete, extended A major scale pattern in this position?
- A string: 0-2-4
- D string: 0-2-4
- G string: 1-2-4
- B string: 2-3-5
- High E string: 2-4-5
