Lesson 6: Guitar Scales
A guitar scale is a graduated series of musical tones ascending or descending in order of pitch. Scales build strength and independence in your fingers. Playing scales helps to train your ears to recognize common note combinations. They can be used as note choices in both improvisation and music writing. Scales must be a part of every musician’s practice routine.
There are 5 basic scale shapes that every guitar player should know. They should be practiced and played daily in all positions. Try to use them in your playing by writing or improvising melodies with them.
Fretboard Theory – Learn Guitar Theory, Scales, Chords, Progressions, Modes, Song Details and More. Music Theory Lessons For Acoustic and Electric Guitar.
Major
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The major scale should be the first scale that you learn. It is a great warm up and technique builder. It is the starting point for all theory. This is a two octave scale. From the 1st red circle to the 2nd is one octave. Oct is the Latin prefix for eight, so the 2nd square is eight notes above the 1st. The spelling for this scale is: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7.
Everything About Guitar Scales |
Minor Pentatonic |
Minor pentatonic is the most common of all scales used in rock, blues and many other styles. The pentatonic scale has only five different notes before you are back to a root.The spelling for this scale is: 1, b3, 4, 5, b7. Theoretically, all scales are written (formula wise) from the major scale. That is why the spelling for this scale contains a flatted third and seventh. They are altered tones from the major scale. It is also worth noting that if you were to start this scale from the 2nd note (if we were in A for example; the 2nd note would be C ) you would be playing C major pentatonic. You would therefore use it in a C major context.
Pentatonic Improvisation (Book and CD Set) |
Blues |
The blues scale is the minor pentatonic with an added note in both octaves. This scale is not only used in blues, it is used in all styles of music, including "heavy metal" and "country" music.
All Blues Scale for Jazz Guitar (Book and CD Set) |
Major Pentatonic |
For the major pentatonic scale shift your hand and play the notes on the 1st and 2nd strings with your 1st and 3rd fingers. Usually you should shift positions if you are playing more than 1 string. That does not include your 1st finger.
Guitar Clues Operation Pentatonic (Book and CD Set) |
Minor |
The minor scale requires a shift on the 3rd string only. Use your 1st, 2nd, and 4th fingers for the notes on the 3rd string. Stay in position for all of the other strings. Starting this one from the 3rd note would give you a major scale. Using scales in this manner is what all of the great improvisers do; instead of just having a major or minor scale you can potentially have seven different scales. In fact, it is the harmonic context that you place a scale into that will make it sound several different ways. If this loses you, I would encourage you to study more music theory. You can never know too much.
Scales Over Chords (Book and CD Set) |
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