GUITAR SCALES

GUITAR SCALES YOU NEED TO KNOW

Guitar scales are the lifeblood of all the music you will play. In this subject area, you will learn the scale patterns that are needed for almost all music you will ever play. You will also learn how to best apply these patterns from a technical & musical standpoint both in fretted and open forms.

Every music student probably groans when they think of scales. Scales or “scale” from the Greek meaning “ladder” as that is how they constructed are synonymous with virtually all music. The main point to consider is that scales are not an end unto themselves. You are not learning scales just so you can play scales. You are learning scales so you can then uses them to play melodies all over the neck.

Believe it or not, most melodies consist of only two elements; scales and arpeggios. There are other things within this such as note sequential patterns. For the most part though, scales and arpeggios make up most of the melodies you will play. Why not try taking a nursery rhythm or simple song. Learn it and then consider what you are playing. The song “Three Blind Mice” is a good example. If you don’t know this song, look it up on the web. It’s a simple nursery rhythm for children although it’s a little tricky in parts as it contains note groupings of a triplet. If you examine how this simple song is constructed you will see that it really is just a collection of scales, arpeggios and fragments of both. This is an excellent example on how scales are used to create and play songs or melodies.

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