My Scale Confusion

Ok when it comes to scales I know very little about them. I am learning the different modes as well as the diatonic and chromatic intervals within them. But I am confusied about one thing take the C Major/Ionien Scale Do you play it C to C or do you play it from the start position of the pattern. Example This is the C Major Scale on the 5th fret 6th string It starts on A.
My confusion is this. If its a C Major scale why then do some patterns start on a different note?

The patterns you're playing are actually the different modes. Read Afro_ravens lesson on modes. It can probably explain better than I can. Basically each pattern is just the major scale at each step.

roger on what foogered said. i actually have begun to understand this to some degree so i will try to add some things but definetly go with what afro,guitarsligner, or doz and the other more competent theory guys say.

but has far has i understand to contruct a major scale you start with the root note then follow the pattern wwhwwwh. w=whole step h=half step. that will give you the note of the major or ionien scale. then if you take those same notes but start at the second note that is the dorian scale or mode. and there is a different mode name given for each different starting point.

also once i asked on here and understood that from note b to c in a half step and e to f is a half step and you apply the wwhwwwh pattern starting with c you can see how there is no sharps or flats in the c major scale

That isn't the major pattern, that is the Aeolian or Minor pattern. The major pattern goes like this.

|-0-|-0-|---|---|

|---|-0-|---|-0-|

|-0-|---|-0-|-0-|

|-0-|---|-0-|-0-|

|-0-|-0-|---|-0-|

|---|-0-|---|-0-|

To answer your question you start at the beginning of the pattern and play to the end. If you are playing The C major scale with this pattern the first note will be C. This isn't the only way to play the C major scale. You can play the same scale in other positions on the fret board and you you don't necessarily need to start on a C note to play the C major scale, you just have to play all the notes that are in the scale but the order doesn't matter.

Thanks for the help. This is the downside of being self taught,all the confusion and when ever I do a serch for a C Major 9 out of 10 times thats the pattern given as one of the five major scale positions. And thats why I was confusied because the pattern starts on the A note.

So I was right in assuming that the pattern starts: A Aeolian, B Locrian, C Ionian/Major, and so on? Or I'm I still confusied with the modes? And to play the C Major in that pattern I would play it root to root (C to C)

This is alot to take in for my 3rd day of learning scales and modes... I do greatly appreciate the help.

lol i forgot all of the little theory i learned.. so this stuff is going over my head

Mine too!

but I do know that when I play a solo over E I can usually do it over A too. Thats my theory.

I think if you start that pattern on the A note it could be A minor or C major just depends on how you want to use it. I thought you were talking about the shapes or patterns. You can take the pattern I post and play the major scale. If you start on an A and play it you will play the A major scale, play the same pattern starting with G and it's G major. The pattern you post is the minor pattern. If you start on an A note and play that pattern it would be the A minor scale start with G and you got G minor. I am new to theory also but I think the reason the C major and the A minor scales have the same notes is because A minor is the relative minor to C major.

Like I said I am learning about theory my self so if anyone sees that I have said something wrong let me know so I don't screw anyone else up :P

u can keep going with it, its still the maj scale. i think.

keep going with what?

keep going with the scale, it gets to another octave, its still the maj scale.

Oh right I see what you are saying.

nice pic of rossington, soz to go off topic.

If you want to play the C Ionian then you have to start on the C note and end on the C note. The picture/box patteren you posted is the shape of the A aeolian/minor scale. But did you notice the Dark circles? Thats the root note. So in this case the root note is C. so if you play dark circle to dark circle then you are actually be playing the C Ionian. Id suggest reading my lessons on Keys then Scales it will help you out with some basics that will make this stuff alot easier.