I have decided to try and learn some scales and have just purchased the ABRSM book of scales and arpeggios for guitar and am struggling with the terminology which is not explained at all

For example in the Grade 1 C Major scale there are numbers above the notes 3 0 2 3 which seem to be the left hand fret positions - this is fine

However, on Grade 2 C Major scale (same scale and starting position) the numbers start 2 4 1 2 ?

Can anyone explain what the following are
1) the numbers above the notes eg for Grade 2 the first 4 notes start C D E F and have 2 4 1 2 above
2) the numbers circled below the notes eg 5 is under C and 4 is under E
3)What the numeral II means above the C

Many thanks
O

Hi osknows

Welcome to the forum. I hope you enjoy the scales. I love them. I find them so relaxing to practise.

To answer your questions:
1) The numbers above the notes refer to your left hand fingers. So for Grade 2, you play C with your 2nd finger (middle finger), D with your 4th finger (little finger) etc.
2) The circled number refers to the string.
3) The roman numeral refers to the fret position that your 1st left finger would be at.

It's definitely worth getting a teacher and a guitar book that takes you from the beginning (Frederick Noad's book is quite good) but I would advocate a teacher above all else as they can explain things in 5 minutes which could take months (or never) to figure out and teachers keep you motivated!

Happy playing.

G

Great! That makes more sense now. Thank you.