Learning Scales

[jrs146]

Do you recommend learning the major scale using a vertical pattern or 3 notes per string? Are there benefits to one over the other? Which do you tend to use more?

I've been practicing using 3 notes as I find I can move up and down the fretboard easier. But I'm just a novice so not sure where to be applying my time.

Thanks in advance for the advice!


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[roylor4]

Learn them in "boxes", 1 box at a time.

[amyFB]

I like the 'learn them in boxes' approach as a starting point.

Then, the trick is to connect the boxes so you can travel the entire neck. That's where I struggle with committing to the practice time to master it.

good luck!

[jrs146]

Originally Posted by roylor4

Learn them in "boxes", 1 box at a time.

Thanks for the advice. So you play true notes within each colored box? Then expand?


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[roylor4]

Originally Posted by jrs146

Thanks for the advice. So you play true notes within each colored box? Then expand?


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Yes. For me, I learned the 1st and 4th (blue and orange) boxes first, because they were the easiest to remember shapes but if I had to do it over again, I would have learned box 1, then 2, 3 then 4.

The beauty is that the first and 4th box attach to each other as well (the top of 1 is the bottom of 4), so there are several ways to learn.

Once you have two boxes down, it can give you pretty decent variety. Then you can start adding "blue notes" later on, further expanding your lead vocabulary.

Add to that the pattern repeats after 12 frets and you can work the whole board, acoustic or electric.

Of course, there are also many different modes of scales too.

[godfreydaniel]

I Noticed that the OP asked about major scales - just wanted to point out to him that the scale diagrams posted so far are pentatonic scales, the one with the root notes shown as white dots being clearly minor pentatonic. Good to know these too of course.

[jrs146]

Originally Posted by godfreydaniel

I Noticed that the OP asked about major scales - just wanted to point out to him that the scale diagrams posted so far are pentatonic scales, the one with the root notes shown as white dots being clearly minor pentatonic. Good to know these too of course.

lol that helps a lot. I kept looking at the boxes trying to make sense of them and kept getting confused!


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[murrmac123]

Originally Posted by roylor4

Learn them in "boxes", 1 box at a time.

These scale diagrams are for pentatonic scales ... of limited use to the OP who is interested in learning major scales.

EDIT: Godfreydaniel beat me to it ...

[jrs146]

This was what I was going off of for 3 note scales.

I'm assuming this pattern can be used for any key?










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[jaybones]

I learned the major scale starting in the key of E, used the box method. Learned them in order and then saw how they connected with each other.

And, I seemed to be able to hear the next note in the box and anticipate where it was going to be.

Once I had the key of E down for the entire board through the 12 fret I was able to move that pattern up the neck for each successive key.

Then, I learned how the major scale can be used to create the minor, the pentatonic (major and minor) and how chords are built.

In fact, when I teach beginners, I always start them on Bob Marley's Redemption Song, the intro lick is the G major scale.

Reason I do this is that people want to be able to play something quickly that others recognize. Usually Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or Little Brown Jug doesn't cut it.

Also, the chords are pretty common. G, Em, C, walk down B to Am, and D (sus, 2, and maj). And the intro lick has slides and pull offs.

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by amyFB

I like the 'learn them in boxes' approach as a starting point.

Then, the trick is to connect the boxes so you can travel the entire neck. That's where I struggle with committing to the practice time to master it.

good luck!

This. I learned them in the 5 CAGED boxes, but also along each string, all 12 keys. Over time, the boxes tend to blend together. It is fun to play lead to just about any style when you have command of the fretboard (running scales as "leads" is not command of the fretboard). Lay down chord progressions and practice playing leads using the notes you learned from the scales as you quite literally begin to see them all over the fretboard and start to go for the sounds you hear in your head. To get there, it really only takes at most 10 minutes a day to practice the scales, one key per day, and patience as it all comes together steadily over time. You don't need books or DVDs for this. This information is all over the internet for free. You just need the desire to learn to do this.

Tony

[rogthefrog]

I don't like the box approach. People tend to stay stuck in the boxes and always play the same stuff over and over.

What works for me is learning the scales on each string. Three or four notes (with fingers 1,2,3,4) then move the hand up to play the next three or four notes on the same string. Repeat until you run out of frets.

Do the same for multiple strings. Play 3-4 notes on low E, another batch up on the low E, then change up to the A string and continue.

The key is to *not* play three strings at a time before you change strings, or at least not all the time. It'll make your playing more interesting.

[Howard Klepper]

What kind of music do you want to play?

[jrs146]

Originally Posted by Howard Klepper

What kind of music do you want to play?

Well I'm very much a novice. But I'd like to have a strong enough understanding to play lead over chords in various keys. Rock, blues, etc.


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[jrs146]

Originally Posted by tbeltrans

This. I learned them in the 5 CAGED boxes, but also along each string, all 12 keys. Over time, the boxes tend to blend together. It is fun to play lead to just about any style when you have command of the fretboard (running scales as "leads" is not command of the fretboard). Lay down chord progressions and practice playing leads using the notes you learned from the scales as you quite literally begin to see them all over the fretboard and start to go for the sounds you hear in your head. To get there, it really only takes at most 10 minutes a day to practice the scales, one key per day, and patience as it all comes together steadily over time. You don't need books or DVDs for this. This information is all over the internet for free. You just need the desire to learn to do this.

Tony

Coup you elaborate on CAGED boxes?


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