Scales

[Rainmaker]

Hey guys,

I've been practising running up and down the fretboard (with chromatics) to build up speed and accuracy.

Now I feel that my technical ability is better than the theory I have to be able to apply it to music and improvisation.

Simply put, I want to learn more scales (not just for running over them at the fastest I can) but to add to my music... which is VERY limited.

I pretty much use the first and last pattern of the pentatonic scale, and that's it.

I need more. Any suggestions on what scales I should learn?

Help would be much appreciated.

Bee

 

[Chris]

Re: Scales

check out www.worldguitar.com for some scales

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: Scales

Thanks Chris, and welcome to the board!

You'll love your stay. This is a really fantastic forum with fantastic people =)

 

[Lee]

Re: Scales

My advice is - don't become obsessed by scales. Most big name players such as Clapton and Moore wouldn't recognise a scale if it jumped up and bit them on the glans.

My advice is learn to play well known melodies. They all feature scales and modes - but you don't even need to know what they are.

When you can play with your fingers what you hear in your head, then and only then, can you call yourself a guitarist.

Don't go down blind alleys.

There's only one scale that matters - and that's the chromatic one.


Lee

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: Scales

Good idea, when I'm improvising in a certain key, it is probably best off to take more time to explore the fretboard than mechanically learn a scale I can run off on that key.

I'll stick to getting my accuracy and dynamics better.

 

[nuntius]

Re: Scales

hmm Lee's right in some senses.

scales can be used as a comfort zone, throw your fingers about in them and you'll be safe... but thats not what guitar playing is about.

I like to know the scale all over the fretboard so i know where i can go, but i try not to play "in a scale box".

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: Scales

That's true too.

I think it's useful to at least know them... for backup purposes

 

[nuntius]

Re: Scales

lol.

well E major.

you can play in E major,

A lydian

and C# harmonic minor (thats where your minor pentatonics can come into play).

i find that out for the key i'm in (harmonic minor is 3 semitones below your major key - So E down 3 is C#)

(lydian is 5 semitones up).

its essentially the same key, just the different starting notes give it a different feel

you know, thats probably all wrong, but it seems to work for me lol - my theory is rusty

 

[y2stevo]

Re: Scales

I'd have to agree mostly with Lee..I learned loads of scales in the past few months,Modes harmonic minor,pentatonic in all positions and i still cont do anyway decent improv whatsoever..About 2 days ago i decided id learn some guitar music like satch and already i feel like ive improved alot from what i was 2 days ago..But scales do help too and gives you an option.. But thats all they should be used for , an option but you dont have to stick to them at all to sound good.. One thing there great for is harmonising.

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: Scales

With all these comments (thanks guys), I'm gonna take them less seriously but still have a few basics, keeping the whole accuracy power practise going on.

I know what I'll be doing for the next few days =)

Bee