Guitar Tricks: Hexatonic Scales

    What the hexatonic is is a hexatonic scale?!  A hexatonic scale is simply a scale with six notes.  Because of the way the guitar is tuned, playing the standard seven-note scales produces a multitude of patterns to memorize.  There is a way to simplify the seven-note scale patterns that results in patterns that are much easier to remember.

    All you need to do is take a note away!  To make any seven-note scale hexatonic, take away the 7th note in the scale.  Take a look at the following fingering for the C Major scale which utilizes a 3-note per string pattern:

    In order to make a hexatonic scale out of this major scale, or any other seven-note scale for that matter, just take away the 7th note.  Take a look at what this new scale looks like:

    So here's the trick.  Because of the way the strings are tuned, this fingering pattern will repeat itself at every octave:

    As you can see, the fingering pattern for the first octave repeats itself diagonally across the neck, resulting in the same fingering pattern on every 2-string set.  It's much easier to remember a repeating pattern than one that changes every couple of strings.  This is also extremely useful for moving between positions on the neck while staying in key.

    Here's what it looks like with a couple of other scales:

Dorian:

Lydian:

    Since the only difference between Ionian (Major) and Mixolydian is the 7th note (Mixolydian is like the major scale with a flatted 7th note), the Mixolydian hexatonic scale is the same as the Major hexatonic scale:

Mixolydian:

    I'll leave you to figure out the other hexatonic scales on your own.  I should add here that there are other types of scales that are referred to as hexatonic scales.  For the purposes of this post, when I refer to hexatonic scales I am referring to a specific pattern which consists of a seven-note scale minus the 7th scale degree.