Learning guitar scales doesn’t have to be hard or boring. I have 3 hot tips to share with you as well as some PDF patterns you can download today.
Learning Guitar Scales – Hot Tip #1
“Know the formula” – No I’m not talking about anything like “E = mc2″. The formula I’m referring to is simply understanding the intervals that make up the scale. This makes learning guitar scales so much easier as you’re actually aware of what makes the scale what it is. Understanding this will give you an added advantage as a lead guitarist. This would mean that you would be able to re-create the scale in any key using the “formula” so that you don’t just have to rely on shapes.
A good exercise would be to take that formula and then play the scale on just one string. A paradigm shift or seeing something from a different angle can be worth it’s weight in gold. It’s no different with the guitar. When you’re learning guitar scales on one string you get a different view of the scale than what you get when you’re blindly zipping up and down patterns or shapes.
The image below illustrates the C Major Scale on one string. (The image comes from my Guitar Scales eBook – Check it out I think you might like it)
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Learning Guitar Scales – Hot Tip #2
“Know the note names” So once you have the formula down make sure you learn the note names. The formula applies to all scales but the note names change depending on the key of the particular scale. This is extremely helpful because as long as you know the notes on the guitar you can play the scale without having to rely on patterns. Don’t get me wrong though, patterns are great but knowing the notes will give you the added insight to take your playing to the next level. Then once you know the notes of the scale you should learn all about chord construction. That would be learning which chords can be formed using the notes from the scale. Now this is HUGE. You see when you’re playing solo’s, or fills, or licks or whatever you’ll most likely be playing those over chord changes right? So then knowing which notes the chords are made up from and knowing the note names of your scale you can then pinpoint your landing notes. This will make a MASSIVE difference in your playing.
Learning Guitar Scales – Hot Tip #3
“Learn some melodies” This tip is actually two for one. When most people are learning guitar scales they try and learn all five patterns of the caged system in one go. Big. Mistake. Why? Well if you haven’t learned how to make music with one pattern what is 5 patterns gonna do for you? Not much right? So here’s the tip. Focus on one scale at first and then learn how to make music with that scale. Learn to play some melodies of famous songs and check out so classic licks. This will build and develop your vocabulary big time. Put on a backing track and rock out.
Below you’ll find a backing track in the key of E Major. Use the E Major Pentatonic Scale and jam over the changes. It’s just a 12 Bar Blues so it’s pretty simple. This track is from my up and coming course that will teach you all the essentials of lead guitar playing. I’ve also included the E Major Pentatonic Scales from my Guitar Scales eBook.
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Download The E Major Pentatonic Scale Patterns
Have fun and wail out!
Cheers,
Charl
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Awesome website guys! Keep up the great work.