Hello John
Thanks for the reply, it helped quite a bit, the mists are clearing. Your point about G and F# got me understanding something Bear mentioned, speaking of which...
Hi Bear..you have the ability to educate and confuse me at the same time! Please don't apologise for confusing me, the fact that people like you are willing to help me navigate these waters is brilliant, thanks for spending your time helping me.
Now, time to get back in the water and start paddling...
Let's try this again. You can put any scale pattern on any note and start from there but you won't necessarily be in the key you want to be in. Every scale pattern has either 2 or 3 root notes ie. in Scale Pattern #1 in the key of G, there are 3 G notes (on the 6th, 4th and 1st strings).
Understanding so far
But only SP #1 will give you the correct notes in the correct places for a given key. Remember there are lots of G notes on the fret board and lots of scales that use G notes even if they aren't in the key of G. So only SP #1 will start the sequence of scale notes in the right location.
Still understanding
Okay, to be technically correct SP #6, which shares or begins SP #1, will do the same thing because they share the same root note on the 6th string. If this is confusing forget about it. Just use SP #1 to put the sequence of scale patterns in the correct place.
Now this is important, SP #1, in the key of A ends on the B note on the 6th string so SP #2 also begins on the same B note. Therefore, there will also be a root note (G) in that pattern on the 4th string, 7th fret. And you are correct, SP #3 starts on the C# at the 9th fret.
So if we are still in the key of A the scale patterns from the nut would be SP's 6-1-2-3-5 with SP # 1 starting at the G# on the 4th fret and the root right next to it at A.
You are correct that SP# 5 (if we use 1,2,3,5,6) starts on D, the 5th note of the G scale.
Neil is one of the few musicians that renames the 4th scale pattern but his logic is hard to deny, there are no 4ths in these scales so it is misleading to label them as SP #4. Just be aware when you discuss SP # 5 that you have to know whether you are using Neil's system or most of systems on the internet.
Erm
Kinda get bits of it but not all. Bits I get
Key of G. SP#1 starts 3rd fret fat E string...therefore working backwards, Open E is SP#6..as E is 6th note in scale..yes?
The above can then be applied on all strings in whatever keys, its all about counting backwards and forwards. Using (sometimes) 3 notes per string, and remembering to move down and back to next string down, dropping 5 frets, or 4 depending on string, I think.
Moving on to your Key of A explanation..only reason I know B and C are SP#2 and 3 is because of the A major scale, they are notes 2 and 3, so using 3 notes per fret they would be on 7th and 9th frets! yay or nay on the reasoning?
The next chunk (sorry if thats too technical
)..loses me. Why no 4th on SP#?
If we're in the Key of A, starting on 5th fret fat E string, working back would mean E is SP#5, wouldn't it, or am I missing something here?
Stuart is right that the patterns go all the way up the neck because the scales just keep repeating until you run out of frets. But they also loop around at the 12th fret meaning you can play SP #1 (in the key of G) with the root at the 15th fret or the 3rd fret.
Completely get the circle explanation you mentioned earlier
I'm already understanding more about this than I ever did, its not completely sorted in my head yet, but we're getting there, and I can already see the benefits
Thanks
Joe