The guitar is a wonderful instrument. It's exceptionally versatile and can create a large variety of sounds, especially when combined with the effects pedals that have become so prolific in the modern music world. It's user-friendly design means many individuals can easily pick it up and learn to play the basics, but deep down, it's a very difficult instrument to master and requires years of dedication and perseverance. While many of the aspects of a guitar are unique, it obviously shares much of the musical theory behind every instrument. One such theory knowledge is the musical scale. Let's look at how to play guitar scales.
Starting Slowly
The fretboard contains over a hundred notes on most guitars and the scale is what provides the musician with some degree of what to play. It's a framework of notes that should and shouldn't be played in order to fit with the musical key. The key is the pitch that the music is currently playing in. If the guitarist is playing A dominantly, then it's currently the A key.
The scale can always be put in whatever key is necessary and it will provide the musician with what notes are 'right' for that key. By learning the scale, it's possible to improvise throughout a song without thinking about whether you're hitting the right notes or not, since they'll all be within the key. It's an excellent way to learn how to solo as well, which many new guitarists aspire to.
You'll first want to decide what scale you want to learn. If you're into Blues, learn the pentatonic scales. Technically, they're identical in layout, but the A major pentatonic is shifted along the fretboard from where the A minor pentatonic is. If you're into Jazz, learn the pentatonic scales. Then learn one of the seven major Jazz scales. Some of them are identical to the pentatonic, only with one extra note.
With a scale in mind, here comes the theory. You need to learn the location of each and every note. With the fret inlays on most guitars, you can use them as reference points for learning the scale. Try to obtain some physical learning material or use the Internet to find your scale of choice. Then simply repeat the notes over and over in your head while playing them. If it's easier, split it into several parts first. The pentatonic can easily be split into four primary sections, which you can combine once you've learn two or more of them.
The second part of the learning process is teaching your muscles where to go. Repetition is key here; simply go over the note sections over and over until you can do it with some speed and accuracy. Improvisation is also a good learning technique, as you teach your hands to jump to different notes, not necessarily in an orthodox order. By teaching your hand and fingers foreign movements, they'll eventually become natural and you'll no longer need to think about what you're doing and simply do it.
Starting Slowly
The fretboard contains over a hundred notes on most guitars and the scale is what provides the musician with some degree of what to play. It's a framework of notes that should and shouldn't be played in order to fit with the musical key. The key is the pitch that the music is currently playing in. If the guitarist is playing A dominantly, then it's currently the A key.
The scale can always be put in whatever key is necessary and it will provide the musician with what notes are 'right' for that key. By learning the scale, it's possible to improvise throughout a song without thinking about whether you're hitting the right notes or not, since they'll all be within the key. It's an excellent way to learn how to solo as well, which many new guitarists aspire to.
You'll first want to decide what scale you want to learn. If you're into Blues, learn the pentatonic scales. Technically, they're identical in layout, but the A major pentatonic is shifted along the fretboard from where the A minor pentatonic is. If you're into Jazz, learn the pentatonic scales. Then learn one of the seven major Jazz scales. Some of them are identical to the pentatonic, only with one extra note.
With a scale in mind, here comes the theory. You need to learn the location of each and every note. With the fret inlays on most guitars, you can use them as reference points for learning the scale. Try to obtain some physical learning material or use the Internet to find your scale of choice. Then simply repeat the notes over and over in your head while playing them. If it's easier, split it into several parts first. The pentatonic can easily be split into four primary sections, which you can combine once you've learn two or more of them.
The second part of the learning process is teaching your muscles where to go. Repetition is key here; simply go over the note sections over and over until you can do it with some speed and accuracy. Improvisation is also a good learning technique, as you teach your hands to jump to different notes, not necessarily in an orthodox order. By teaching your hand and fingers foreign movements, they'll eventually become natural and you'll no longer need to think about what you're doing and simply do it.
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If you want to learn more about playing guitar scales take a look at How To Play Guitar Scales
