Learning scales is a key building block for any aspiring guitarist. It is the equivalent of a child learning to talk.
The trick is to spend the MINIMUM amount of time memorising scales, and the MAXIMUM amount of time learning to make music with them. So choosing an approach to start learning scales, for you or your student, is really important.
People often talk about using C-A-G-E-D (see Mastering The Major Scale by www.justinguitar.com) or the two pattern approach.
But actually these are essentially the same. Here's how C-A-G-E-D and the two-pattern approach relate to each other.
Here are the two-patterns of the major scale.
If you play pattern 1 and then pattern 2 across the neck you get this.
This is the two octave E-shape major scale from C-A-G-E-D. It is built by stacking Pattern 1 (root note on the 6th (E) string) and Pattern 2 in the same position (fret) across the neck.
If you stack Pattern 2 (root note on the 6th (E) string) and the Pattern 1 across the neck, you will get the two-octave G-shape major scale from C-A-G-E-D.
These are the only full two-octave patterns in C-A-G-E-D. All the others have one full octave and fragments of other octaves.
C is Pattern 2 with the root note on the 5th (A) string followed by part of Pattern 1 on the other strings.
A is Pattern 1 with the root note on the 5th (A) string followed by part of Pattern 2.
D is Pattern 1 with the root note on the 4th (D) string followed by part of Pattern 2.
Which approach should you use?
My preference is for the two-pattern approach. I think it is simpler and more complete. For instance, there is no part of the C-A-G-E-D system with a root note on the 3rd (G) string.
Here's a cheat sheet for six of the most important scales for guitarists
However, many self-taught guitarists start by learning chords so C-A-G-E-D makes a quick introduction to scales and how they relate to chords.
So, pick the approach which feels best and remember - memorising scales is only 10% of the job!
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