Universal Scale Fingerings

Example: D Major

(- means a shift)

String

C 1x 2 4 - 1x 2 4 -

G 1x 2 4 -

D 1 2 4 -

A 1 3 4 - 1 3 - 1 2 - 1 2 3 - 1 2 - 1 2 - 1 2 3 (last two octaves in purple and red may be optional)

4 Octave Arpeggio Fingerings

Example: D Major

(o is thumb) (- means a shift)

String

C 1 - 1 4

G 2 - 1 3

D 2 - 1 3

A 2 - o 1 3

Broken Thirds Fingering

Example: D Major

(0 is open string) (- means a shift)

String

C 1x 4 2 - 2 1 4

G 0 2 1x 4 2 - 2 1 4

D 0 3 1 4 - 2x 1 4

A 0 3 1 4 3 - 2x 1 4 2 - 2 1 3 2 - 2 1 3 2 - 2 1 3 2 (optional to continue pattern in red to add another octave)

Example: Db Major (no open strings)

(- means a shift) (*4th finger may also be used)

String

C 1x 4 2 - 2 1 4 2 - 2 1 3*

G 1 4 3 - 2x 1x 4

D 1 4 3 - 2 x 1x 4 2 - 2x 1x 3*

A 1 4 2 - 3 1 4 3 - 2 1 3 2 - 2 1 3 2 - 2 1 (optional to continue pattern in red to add another octave)

Thirds Fingering

Example: D Major

(o is thumb) (- means a shift)

String

G 0 1 - 1 - 1

C 1x 2 4 - 4 - 4

D 0 1 - 1 - 1

G 2 4 - 4 - 4

A 0 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - o - 1 - o - 1 - o - 1 - o - 1

D 3 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3 (last octave in red may be optional)

*The fingerings for this can vary across the different scales. However, if ascending to the higher positions on the A string (as I did in the above example), it is comfortable to always be sure to end on 1 and 3 in thumb position.