Good evening to you Pavel,

I actually had a question with a hint of theory in its origin. I am finding that it is rather troubling to find a solid scale pattern for the Major and Minor scales. I am aware that there are many different variations, such as Dorian, Locrian, Mixolydian, and Lydian, to name a few, but I cant seem to find what I am perceiving as a "base" major and/or minor scale

Any assistance to my jumbled question?

If i understand you right - you are mixing scales and mode. All you need is a basic major scale construction -> w-w-h-w-w-w-h (w->whole tone, h->half tone). This is a basic major scale, modes have different construction patterns so you can't go wrong there.

Minor scale is w-h-w-w-h-w-w.

Also if you want to learn all major scale boxes check this here lesson: http://www2.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-gui...e-speedpicking/

I hope i put some light on your question

Heh, I KNEW it - you do like theory

You got me now!

When i have to explain something to people i find out that i actually have some theory knowledge but apparently i don't think about it and don't think in theory kind of way while playing

I think that is the best way Pavel - if you can apply theory knowledge without even thinking about it, it is the best of all possible worlds, I rarely think in theory terms when I am playing, but I do enjoy analyzing it afterwards. Occasionally I set out to do something specific, like play in Mixolydian, but often I just play and see what comes out and afterwards think, hey, that was Mixolydian (or whatever).

I think you know a lot of theory (you must to play the way you do), you just don't think about it much or study it hard, but somewhere inside it is in there

Thanks Andrew! I appreciate it

I see

Alright, here's a question that should probably be in the theory forum:

The following are (in order) a Major/Minor/Blues scale that my instructor gave me many a year ago


E||--------------------------------5-7-8-|------------------------------5-6-8-|
B||--------------------------5-7-8-------|------------------------4-6-8-------|
G||--------------------4-5-7-------------|------------------3-5-7-------------|
D||--------------4-5-7-------------------|------------3-5-7-------------------|
A||--------3-5-7-------------------------|--------3-5-------------------------|
E||--3-5-7-------------------------------|--3-5-6-----------------------------|


--------------------------3-6-||
----------------------3-6-----||
----------------3-5-6---------||
------------3-5---------------||
------3-4-5-------------------||
--3-6-------------------------||



I have practiced these scales up and down, left and right, and any other way you can think of, but the same question nags me, what mode or what not I am playing

I can move these scales up and down the fretboard easily, I'm just wondering if I am correct in doing so

You asnwered your own question - these aren't modes, they are Major/Minor/Blues scales - modes are something different to scales (check my lessons here and here if you want to understand more about them!)

I see!
Thank you for clearing up my misunderstanding Andrew!

that lesson is great!! do you have a lesson that shows all the boxes for minor scales. (or even all the modes )

Those are also the minor boxes - but when playing a minor you just start at a different box

I believe David Wallimann has lessons with modes - i'm not a mode expert