Harp style scales on acoustic guitar

[Jean-Michel G]

This recent post submitted by charjo discusses some of the differences between soloing on an electric and soloing on an acoustic.
One of the points made by Samurai Guitarist is that, on an acoustic guitar, you should use as many open strings as you possibly can.

That reminded me of a bunch of exercices that I needed to do a long time ago: harp style scales…
The principle is simple: when playing the scale, try to use as much open strings as you can instead of fretted strings, and let them ring!

Here are two examples: two possibilities for the C major scale and two possibilities for the G major scale.

I use the PIM roll on the picking hand (right hand for me) for speed. For the fretting hand (left hand for me), there is a rather awkward stretch between index and pinky. Try to avoid jumping from one fret to the higher one but keep the stretch as much as possible.

Be warned: this is very difficult! 😉

[Jean-Michel G]

Strange… The attachment wouldn’t show up at first, and all of sudden it does… Spooky!

[charjo]

Looks like these are also called “cross stringing scales”.
John

[sunjamr]

Oh, I get it, looks like good fun! At first I thought you were talking about a blues harp = harmonica.

Sunjamr Steve

[Jean-Michel G]

Chet Atkins uses them a lot.
Here is a typical phrase that you can hear in “When You Wish Upon A Star”, “Wheels”, “Cascade”, “Bill Cheatham”, “George Girl”, “Get On With It”, and probably many more…

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