Okay, I have done a little bit of search and found many info about music theory / scales /modes, etc. I really don't know much about it. Most of the threads include this whole theory that I am finding hard to understand. The names are all confusing as well.

Probably you have answered this a 1000th time but I would like to understand all the basics from scratch. I just want one little information at a time or something so I can grasp it well and keep it for lifetime. Perhaps this thread will also help beginners like me.

I want to learn the basic theory, know the scales modes properly so I can see the notes on the neck. I also want to switch between modes while composing solos so I don't have to stick to just one scale. I know this is going to take a very long time but I really want to do it now. I have been trying to do it on my own but I always have an excuse not to learn it or just get bored about it. I need guidance.

I don't know the proper method but I would like to begin with a C major (just focus on one key?). I know major scales / minor / pentatonic and some modes like lydian, mixolydian. But I can start again to know how they are constructed but can't switch between each one.

Where should I start? Just one lesson at a time is enough!

I really appreciate your help. Thank you very much.

maharzan

Work through Andrew's Theory Lessons from the start.

Edit: Sorry Muris, never saw that this topic was on your board. Hope you don't mind my post.

Not a problem at all Matt. Thanks I will go through them.

No need to be sorry Matt,
Andrew's lessons are perfect place to start tho,
let me know if you need help about any details tho.

Like I said, I would love to get one lesson at a time.. go master this than the link to the whole chunk of lessons. need to search if there are any video lessons (I hate reading).. lol.

Theory is wide range I'm afraid,
somehow it's hard to keep focused on just one topic
cause we want to know more and more!
But there's nothing wrong with that whatsoever.
You say that you wanna know the basics
so I guess you should start with Andrew's lessons for beginners,
those are very cool and easy to understand.
It needs lot of reading but that's the theory,
and topics are overlapping very often
so it's tricky to point at single lesson cause everything is quite connected.
And once you get basics like pentatonics, major and minor scales
you can start with modes.
Modes are lots of fun, you'll love them.
Go and do some reading
and ofc let me know if you need any further explanations.

Oh I found the videos too. Faster and easier to understand.

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/first-...les-of-justice/

Yep, I will definitely put up some questions if I have any.

Thanks Muris!

Ok.. So I m beginning to learn the scales. Revisited the Minor Pentatonic Scales at all 5 boxes. Though I know this scale / boxes, it was interesting to revisit it. Just train the fingers to remember the places on each boxes.

Muris, Can you share your experience when you first learnt the pentatonic scale or other scales in general? Like what you used to do after learning it. What would be the best practice to easily remember or implement on all key? Is there a particular lesson that might make use of the pentatonic scale in your mind?

Oh great, I found another lesson on Pentatonic. For those who are following, this might be the one to begin with: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guit...ming-exercises/

Oups, I missed this one, sorry!!

The way I like to keep all scale in shape
is by thinking of intervals, that's when all those formulas come in handy.
I strongly suggest you to play every scale on one string only as well,
to really remember all relations between notes inside any scale.
There are semi tones, whole tones, whole and a half etc.
Then you need to learn notes on your fretboard ofc using dots for starters.

Here's an example of how to apply this.
Let's say we are in a key of F#m and we wanna play pure F#m pentatonic.
Then someone push you on G string, 9th fret!
Now it's all about being cool and sharp minded.
That note is note E, G string on 9th fret, there's a dot, good for navigation.
E is very close to our root tho, note F# on 11th fret, G string, whole tone up (2 frets).
So now we have found our root as well, which way can we go?
Lets try to play on G string only for a while, thinking of relations between notes.
We have E note on 9th fret, E note is 7th degree in F#m scale
or 5th note in F#m pentatonic.
4th note in any minor pentatonic is 5th degree, it's always whole tone and a half from
7th degree or 3 frets, we go down 3 frets and there is C# note, 5th degree indeed.
From 5th we can go to 4th degree or 3rd note in minor pentatonic scale,
from 5th degree to 4th degree there is whole tone (2 frets) distance, 4th in B note then.
Keep going down to 3rd degree or 2nd note in minor pentatonic,
here we also have whole tone distance, from 4th degree to 3rd degree, note is A.
Now lets go up to 11th fret where a our root is, F# note.
Here we can go up the scale, next note is 3rd degree (2nd note in min penta)
and here we have whole tone and a half distance (3 frets), note is A, 4th fret.
From here you can apply the same relations you had down the string,
where we played 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th degrees, just watch out on relations.

That was F#m pentatonic on G string only, now try to find it on other strings as well.
After that revisit all 5 boxes and see how you recognize all the notes
you played on a single string only.
When you finish F#m pentatonic you can try Gm pentatonic,
you'll keep the same fingering but you'll shift the entire thing 1 fret higher.
That also means that you won't have dots on same degrees like in F#m pentatonic
but in between degrees etc.

After pentatonics you should try the same system on diatonic scales (7 notes),
look for root, look for degrees and watch for relations between the notes.
Once you get all relations it'll be really easy to play all over the fretboard in any scale
and improvise without even looking at the fretboard, you'll know where to press.