Memphis Scale

This scale which employs playing two notes at the same time (known as a double stop) which
are a 6th apart can be played using a plectrum or finger style - both give different but interesting
results. Steve Cropper, guitarist with Booker T and the MGs in the 1960s, famously used this style.

BROWN EYED GIRL

Here is the Memphis Scale or 6th Scale for the key of G, to be used, for example, when
playing Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison.

G A B C D E F# G

I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII

Below is the tab for a typical Brown Eyed Girl sounding 6th scale lick over the chords G C G D.

G C G D
e |-3--5--7--5--3--8-10-12-10-8--3--5--7--5--3--2--3--5--3--2|
B |----------------------------------------------------------|
G |-4--5--7--5--4--9-11-12-11-9--4--5--7--5--4--2--4--5--4--2|
D |----------------------------------------------------------|
A |----------------------------------------------------------|
E |----------------------------------------------------------|

DOCK OF THE BAY

Steve Cropper made great use of the Memphis Scale. However, he used simple minor sixths
over the chords of Dock Of The Bay

G B C B Bb A
e |3-------------|7------------|8-----8--7--6-|5------------|
B |--------------|-------------|--------------|-------------|
G |4-------------|8------------|9-----9--8--7-|6------------|
D |--------------|-------------|--------------|-------------|
A |--------------|-------------|--------------|-------------|
E |--------------|-------------|--------------|-------------|

Dave Warren (01245) 262131