Infinite Diatonic Scale
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What Is A Diatonic Scale?
Diatonic scales are scales in the pattern of a major scale. Why not just call them major scales? Because if you start on the 6th step of the scale, it is also the pattern for a minor scale. It is also a pattern for the modal scales: ionian (major), dorian, phrygian, lydian, mixolydian, aeolian (minor) and locrian, depending on which step of the scale you start on.
If we consider a whole step to be going up two frets, and a half step to be going up one fret, the pattern of a major scale is as follows as you ascend:
Whole step
Whole step
Half step
Whole step
Whole step
Whole step
Half step
What Is The Infinite Diatonic Scale?
This is a master pattern, which if learned, will let you play any diatonic scale in any position starting on any finger. The pattern repeats every 7 strings, at which point it shifts toward the bridge by one fret if you are moving to the right, or toward the tuners by one fret if you are moving to the left.
The Scale
Right Hand Infinite Diatonic Scale
The diagram below shows 8 strings, so the highest string is a repetition of the lowest string's pattern. The hollow circles show the root note of the major scale.
Left Hand Infinite Diatonic Scale
The Left Hand pattern is really the same as the right, but if you play the pattern shown for the right hand some notes will be missing. Below is the extended pattern for the left hand fifths tuning.
