Members Shadowalker Posted January 26, 2004 Members Posted January 26, 2004 I've been playing for a few years, and I'm a fairly proficient player, I've just never ever looked at scales. Well, I decided now is the time. Where do I begin though? I've looked at some basic scales with all the odd names (ionian and such) and I can memorize them alright, but how do I actually apply them? If anyone can help me here, or direct me to some quality and free websites, it'd be much appreciated. Thanks!
Members thliu Posted January 26, 2004 Members Posted January 26, 2004 Read the stickies in this forum. Then come back with more specific questions and we'd be glad to help.
Members Dann'sTheMan Posted January 29, 2004 Members Posted January 29, 2004 Hi Shadowalker,Here is some advice, a roadmap if you will, for which bits of theory I encourage and when, when I'm teaching:1. Learn the A minor pentatonic starting on the 5th fret 6th (low E) string. See the second fretboard diagram entitled "A minor:" at http://www.zentao.com/guitar/theory/pentatonic.html for the frets to play. (Many guitarists recognise this this pattern ). Remember the fingering pattern you're using (1-4,1-3,1-3,1-3,1-4,1) and play the notes in this scale until they're etched in your mind.2. Start playing along with CDs, radio, anything using this fingering pattern. Because the songs will be all different keys, you will have to slide the fingering pattern around on the fretboard until it sounds right. In other words, you will be playing the same fingering pattern as you did for A minor, starting on the 6th string, but starting on a different fret (e.g. 10th fret for Dm, 0/12th fret for Em). The goal of this exercise is to develop your ear and to etch this fingering pattern into your muscle memory.3. Learn the A natural minor starting on the 5th fret 6th (low E) string. See the second fretboard diagram entitled "Relative minor scale (key of A minor):" at http://www.zentao.com/guitar/theory/relative-minor.html. You'll see that it has a lot in common with the fingering you learnt above - this is because this scale has two extra notes. Learn this fingering until it is etched in your mind.4. Repeat the playing along with CDs, radio etc, using this fingering, and slide the shape around 'til it sounds right. Getting this etched into your memory and continuing to develop your ear are the goals.5. The fingering pattern you learned for Am pentatonic is just one of five. You need to learn the other four. See http://www.cyberfret.com/scales/minor-pentatonic/index.php You'll recognise the first pattern. Learn the other four until they are etched in memory - Using the playing along with CD/radio trick to help.6. The fingering pattern that you learned for A Natural minor is one of seven (hey you know there are those two extra notes! ). In reality, however, there are really only five positions to etch into your muscle memory (and they are similar to pentatonic ones you just learned). At this point, I'd recommend using the CAGED system (see http://www.cyberfret.com/scales/major-caged/index.php). You will recognise the finger pattern used in the G form of the CAGED system.The CAGED system will open up the entire neck for you, and help you understand how everything fits together so that you can move between the patterns at will. If you have stuck with it up until this point, and this may take many months in order for these patterns to become etched in your muscle memory, you will not only have learnt the fingering patterns for the Minor Pentatonic and the Natural Minor (for any key). BUT, as a pretty big bonus, you will have learnt the fingering patterns for the Major Pentatonic and all of the Modes too (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian). How COOL is that! Big smiles,Andy.
Members Shadowalker Posted January 31, 2004 Author Members Posted January 31, 2004 Wow, that's all a lot of help, thanks a ton. Another question: when I'm picking a scale, how should I pick? Do I use all down picks or rotate top and bottom side of a string everytime?
Members Shadowalker Posted January 31, 2004 Author Members Posted January 31, 2004 So I've checked some other threads and I think I'm good, thanks though.
Members Ronald Posted January 31, 2004 Members Posted January 31, 2004 You can also use some of the available scale generators, e.g. my free Windows Scale Generator (for Guitar and Piano):ScaleTool Always good for those who are not online all day. Ronald
Members Chiisu Posted January 31, 2004 Members Posted January 31, 2004 Originally posted by Shadowalker Wow, that's all a lot of help, thanks a ton.Another question: when I'm picking a scale, how should I pick? Do I use all down picks or rotate top and bottom side of a string everytime? when you start out and you play through them slowly, all downstrokes if fine; but as you pick up speed, you need to switch over to alternate picking.
Members daddyO Posted February 2, 2004 Members Posted February 2, 2004 The major scale in every key is the foundation on which the other scales are based. That is where you should start.
Members fretwizard4hire Posted February 9, 2004 Members Posted February 9, 2004 start with the Cmajor scale (c, d, e, f, g, a, b, c)
Members edeltorus Posted February 9, 2004 Members Posted February 9, 2004 Originally posted by daddyO The major scale in every key is the foundation on which the other scales are based. That is where you should start. Well.. I read this all the day, and I don't get it. Why start with the major scale? Start with minor instead, and you can at least play your scale to most music. Maybe even getting a bit into improvisation. Major scale is important, but harder to use as a musical tool. (on the other hand I would like to see some arguments for major as the first scale). Nils
Members thliu Posted February 9, 2004 Members Posted February 9, 2004 Originally posted by edeltorus Well.. I read this all the day, and I don't get it.Why start with the major scale? Start with minor instead, and you can at least play your scale to most music. Maybe even getting a bit into improvisation.Major scale is important, but harder to use as a musical tool.(on the other hand I would like to see some arguments for major as the first scale). Nils daddyO is saying that the minor scale (and most other scales) is based off of the major scale. Take the minor scale that you know. Now play the same notes starting with the 3rd. Voila, now you have a major scale. The reverse is true. Take a major scale. Now play the same notes but starting with the 6th. Voila, now you have a minor scale.
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