How to Read Scales on a Mandolin

Draw or print out an image of your mandolin fret board. Many fretboard images are readily available on the Internet, but drawing it yourself will reinforce your mental understanding of the structure. Leave a little space on the left for the open string tones. Your mandolin is tuned to the open tones G, D, A and E. Mark the open tones first, then write in the other tones for each fret.

Choose a scale you'd like to learn. An example is the major scale. All scales are composed of a set of intervals beginning from the tonic (first note) of the scale. Most scales consist of a series of whole steps (W) and half steps (H). A whole travels two frets; a half step just one. Major scales are patterned W-W-H-W-W-W-H or in the case of G Major, G-A-B-C-D-E-F#-G.

Highlight the notes of the scale you have selected on each of the strings. You will find that your scale can be played in several positions on your mandolin.

Set your fretboard map beside your instrument and choose a tonic to begin your scale on. Slowly play the notes of the scale on your mandolin, using your fretboard map for reference. You will notice there are two basic methods of playing a scale on a mandolin. Playing a scale horizontally means working your way up or down a single string, picking only the notes of the scale. Playing a scale vertically involves dividing the notes between several strings. On the mandolin, the same tones can often be played on different frets.

Experiment with moving up and down the scale to develop some looseness and control of the scale. Remember the scales are only a basic kind of vocabulary. To make music from them, you must experiment with converting them into musical phrases. The possibilities of even the most basic of scales, the major, has been used for ages to write some of the most memorable melodies. Over time, you want to continue to map and explore new scales.