Learning Scales

[iamdabe]

Hey. I'm very new to the electric guitar. Where and what is the best way to learn the theory behind pentatonic/major/minor scales etc. I can play the pentatonic scales but I have no idea what or why the notes work. If possibly prefer a book? or a website that can teach me these things Thanks :]

[Shiny McShine]

My friend Mark Wien has a nice site: www.markwein.com (http://www.markwein.com/)

[iamdabe]

wow this is awesome thanks a lot! :]

[Gigbag]

This is part of what I posted in the "pro scales" thread.

If you want to understand the theory better, I recommend learning

1) the notes on the fretboard;
2) triads (theirs only 4 of them);
3) 7th chords
4) learn to target chord tones (over the chords in the song), and add passing tones and some spice.

A good war you approach this is to study the Major scale. C Major is a good place to start just because there are no sharps or flats, although the guitar is often viewed as a "G" based instrument by others.

There is no absolute correct way to go, but learning the Major scale can give you a good map for the fretboard, and chord construction. Try taking the major scale apart and analyzing it. There is a lot in that one scale. The numbering in chord construction and progressions is based on this (in Western music). Then transpose what you learn to other keys (shift up or down the fretboard).

C Major (7 notes) is an easy one to start with since there are no sharps or flats (plus everyone knows the first 7 letters of the alphabet -- a through g). Don't get hung up on the modes to start out with, but the modes of C Major are (all the same 7 notes, just beginning on a different scale note):
C Ionian (major)
D Dorian (minor)
E Phrygian (minor)
F Lydian
G Mixolydian (major)
A Aeolian (minor) [relative minor of C Maj]
B Locrian

The Aeolian is the natural minor scale. Dorian is used by many players (Santana, etc.). Satriani uses Lydian and many others.

Learning triads (R, 3, 5 and variations to get major, minor, diminished, and augmented) and then seventh chord construction within the scales will help you target chord tones for melodic solos. Start on a note and skip every other note -- you have a chord (CEG = C Major; ACE = A Minor, etc.)

Starting with the same C Mojor scale (or it's relative minor the A minor scale -- again same notes), raise the G to G#. You now have the A harmonic minor scale (Yngwie Malmsteen). Hear how that one note changes things.

Within the C Major scale you have the following major pentatonic scales:
C (C, D, E, G, A)
F (F, G, A, C, D)
G (G, A, B, D, E,)
Within the C Major scale you have the following minor pentatonic scales:
A (A, C, D, E, G) [relative minor of C Maj pent - same 5 notes]
D (D, F, G, A, C) [relative minor of F Maj pent - same 5 notes]
E (E, G, A, B, D) [relative minor of G Maj pent - same 5 notes]

When playing a blues tune such as a I (A7), IV (D7), V (E7), note that these dominant chords contain notes that are not all in one major (or diatonic) scale. When soling, shift your focus to the notes of each chord that is being played (along with pentatonic or passing notes that fit or you like) instead of one scale for the song:
A7 = A, E, G, C#
D7 = D, F#, A, C
E7 = E, G#, B, D
Plus, well placed slides and bends are critical to blues solos.

One simple trick to add flavor is used by many guitarists: Add one or two notes to a (5 note) pentatonic scale. Eric Johnson among many others do this. This can give you the ad hoc soloing that does not really focus on stricly applying a particular scale to a particular song -- just go with what you like to hear.

Add the b5 to the minor pentatonic and you have the 6 note "blues" scale.

You can focus your learning on pentatonic scales and learn to add two notes to each to make (7 note) scales. For example, you can take the D minor pentatonic (5 note: D, F, G, A, C) scale and add two notes (B and E) to make the D Dorian scale (which is a mode of the C Major scale). Or, go the other way -- take a major scale and take away one or two notes.

Another, add chromatic passing tones, etc.

Another common technique is to combine minor pent and major pent scale notes in one solo.

[Gigbag]

One technique for getting scales down well is to run various sequences up and down the scale -- rather than just playing the scale in it's normal order.

Also, play the scales with string skipping, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and other techniques.

Maybe this was more along the lines you were asking about.

[vhollund]

We used to sing the scales in school and recognize them by ear