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  #16  
Old 03-23-2021, 03:09 AM
Andyrondack Andyrondack is offline
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Originally Posted by Chas007 View Post
Is there any need as a self teaching/learning beginner to learn and practice guitar scales?
To start the process of gaining an intellectual understanding of how music comes to be then yes, from the perpective of practicing scales faster and faster, well what's the point unless you want to play music that goes up and down scales very fast. I don't,so for me it would just be a waste of time, the most difficult things I play are a few Irish jigs and the order the notes come in are so different to any linear scale that I don't see what the benefit would be of practicing to play notes in a sequential order . Guitar is all about adding harmony to melodies so I say that learning to play your scales harmonised with intervals will come in very usefull to see how you might be able to harmonise proper tunes, but again I can't see the point of going up and down scales in a linear fashion like classical players do.
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  #17  
Old 03-23-2021, 04:05 AM
buddyhu buddyhu is offline
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You dont need to learn scales. There are a number of benefits that result from learning scales at any level of playing, as others have pointed out. Refining hand synchronization and steady rhythm are important benefits, as is defeloping a feel for where the strings are beneath your right hand (good for lots of strumming styles)

A lot depends on what you want to do as a player. You can learn to strum through a lot of songs and sing with the chord changes without learning scales. You can find teachers who will teach you fingerpicking, and you can develop a lot of facility by just learning from tab and getting direct instruction.

If you get to the point where you want to take lead breaks when jamming or playing, knowing scales helps a lot...and that is where many folks realize that theyneed to learn scales.

It isnt hard to learn scales. It isn’t quite as fun as some other things (though learning and playing fiddle tunes is a good way to learn scales, and that can be lots of fun). But that is true of lots of things that decelop technique and basic knowledge...but such things have value.

The old fashioned way still works, if you give it time: buy a beginners Mel Bay book, and learn to read music and play scales.
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  #18  
Old 03-28-2021, 08:02 PM
Chas007 Chas007 is offline
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Originally Posted by NormanKliman View Post
Hi Chas,

Wow, look at all the different responses! Tell us what kind of music you want to play, whether you use pick or fingers, etc. That’ll probably help us to respond more specifically.

Learning scales will develop your hands and your head. At this point, I’ll say go ahead and learn them and spend as much time as you want on it, as long as you’re not neglecting other things that require lots of dedication, like barre chords, arpeggios, etc.
Classic rock is my favorite. I'm in awe of lead guitarists. I don't think I will ever get that good. Do to some childhood problems and loud machinery I don't hear well out of my right ear at all, but I do notice when something is not right with what I'm playing. You know, went to the wrong fret or something.
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  #19  
Old 03-29-2021, 12:48 AM
NormanKliman NormanKliman is offline
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Originally Posted by Chas007 View Post
Classic rock is my favorite.
Then you’ll probably find it rewarding to study scales. Playing lead is a lot easier than it looks. I mean, don’t start with a Van Halen solo, but don’t feel intimidated by anything easier than that. Mike’s post (#3) shows you one of the “blues boxes” (there are four more), blues and pentatonic scales/boxes are essentially the same and so are major and minor scales, and every box has a major/minor scale running through it. So, learn all of that, learn the right way to use a pick if you play with one, and learn how to bend strings (with help from other fingers). Then, when you get tired of that, take up fingerstyle and come back here to show us what you can do!
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  #20  
Old 03-29-2021, 05:13 AM
Chas007 Chas007 is offline
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Originally Posted by NormanKliman View Post
Then, when you get tired of that, take up fingerstyle and come back here to show us what you can do!
Lol, I'll be dead by then. Thanks, all of you.
I'm learning the notes on the strings up the neck. One string at a time and just the whole notes for now which makes it simpler for me.

A side note to all of you youngsters out there.
I wish I had not messed up my life so much when I was young and had stuck with the guitar. We only get one shot at this thing we call life, don't waste it.
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Last edited by Kerbie; 03-29-2021 at 05:36 AM. Reason: Removed prohibited topic.
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  #21  
Old 03-29-2021, 06:36 AM
perttime perttime is offline
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It is good to have an understanding of where the useable notes are. On guitar, you can find the same note on several different strings. It just doesn't sound exactly the same on different strings.
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  #22  
Old 04-04-2021, 11:07 PM
hatamoto hatamoto is offline
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I use scales when I get lost. It allows me to find where I am, like a starting reference point.

Many great players out there don't know music theory, but they get by, but that works for them. It might work for you, it might not.

My suggestion is to learn scales, and give it a good go. If it works, great. If not, well at least you learned something.
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  #23  
Old 04-05-2021, 08:48 AM
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ljguitar ljguitar is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chas007 View Post
Is there any need as a self teaching/learning beginner to learn and practice guitar scales?
Hi Chas…
Our 4 sons each learned to speak without knowing the alphabet (most children do), and they all conversed well by the time they hit school.

Then they learned the alphabet and how to spell. Their communication skills improved.

Scales are your alphabet for musical structure.

Scales should not live in a vacuum.

They are just the start of learning your most basic musical structures. On top of scales you should learn intervals, chords, progressions, transposing etc.

Can you survive without scales…sure. Will you better off if you know not only scales, but intervals, sure…much better off.

If you hope to be proficient in improvising, understanding chords, and being a more versatile player scales help. But if there is a blind-spot in our musical education it's learning how to elevate scales to the point they are not just boring speed exercises.

When I taught, even beginners played scales and etudes every week, and we made it fun and then tied it into figuring out melody and harmony for simple pieces.

Over the course of a couple years students became proficient in reading the hands of other players, recognizing progressions, easily figuring out songs on their own, and learning to walk chords up through progressions.

Knowledge of scales, and the ability to play them fluently, serves people well.



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  #24  
Old 04-05-2021, 09:24 AM
edcmat-l1 edcmat-l1 is offline
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Coming from a piano background I always thought scales were just another part of learning music and how to play a musical instrument.

When you sing in a chorus or choir scales are usually part of the warm up routine.
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