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Posted by: urbanmonkey Jul 17 2008, 12:58 PM

I was wondering which scale or scales I should spend the majority of my time studying. I haven't been playing a long time but I've started with the major scale. But most rock solos and what not seems to be utilizing the pentatonic scale. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Jul 17 2008, 01:02 PM

First: Welcome to the site!

Secondly: I found when I was working on such, that it was a great help first knowing the minor pentatonic scale. Let's say in Am, as that is fairly easy to remember and cope with. Then I would play something only using that one box, and ever so slowly expand that box, sometimes I would then use the A on the 2nd fret of the G string and the E on the G string. Same notes, but I expanded the boxes. I would do the same thing upwards, slowly building full knowledge on the fretboard (which I still find hard in certain keys...)

Posted by: Matt23 Jul 17 2008, 01:05 PM

I think the modes are good scales to practice.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jul 17 2008, 01:43 PM

First you should introduce yourself to minor pentatonic scale, and them move on to modes. In modes you will find most of the stuff needed for playing mainstream (western) music.

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Jul 19 2008, 06:29 PM

I would start by learning the major scale and intervals, and than modes and how to apply them..Also minor scale (and pentatonic versions) are great start for instant jamming

Posted by: kjutte Jul 19 2008, 06:38 PM

The major scale, (because almost all diatonic scales are derived from it.)
Also, what will make you understand scale positioning, is chord progression lessons.

So, agenda:
Learn the 7 majorscale boxes, and the 7 chord progressions for it.

Example, C major.

Cmaj Dmin Emin Fmaj G maj A maj and Bdim

Ionian, dorian, phrygian, lydian, mixolydian, aeolian and locrian positions of the scale.

The reason for the various maj's and min's is that

Ionian=natural major
Dorian=minor
Phrygian=minor
Lydian=major
Mixolydian=Major (kind of)
aeolian=natural minor
Locrian=Diminished (because of the flat5)

Maybe a bit more than you asked for, but write it up and try

Posted by: jacmoe Jul 19 2008, 07:21 PM

I agree with kjutte!

Learn the Major scale, and learn it well.

I'll only go downhill from there: change one note and you're playing Harmonic Minor, change two and you're in Melodic Minor, and so on.

Posted by: kjutte Jul 19 2008, 07:26 PM

And even take two away, and you'll have pentatonic

Posted by: Xose Pineda Jul 20 2008, 02:54 AM

In my opinion... pentatonics it's the first thing to learn.

Ivan's pentatonic series lesson is extremely good to learn fast and well.

Cheers!

Posted by: kjutte Jul 20 2008, 08:48 AM

Thing though, is that pentatonics are derived from the major scale. This often mix stuff up.

Posted by: jacmoe Jul 20 2008, 10:18 AM

I would say: learn both.
Start with both the pentatonics and the major scale.
Divide your playing time equally between them.

If you feel that the sound of the major scale is boring or alien to you, go Aolian (natural minor) - a mode of the major scale.
It suits the sound of the minor pentatonic.

Posted by: kjutte Jul 20 2008, 01:53 PM

Well, to just "go" aeolian, you'd have to know the chords of your backingtrack also.

Anyway, if you know all your major boxes, you'll quickly recognize the pentatonic positions in it.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jul 20 2008, 05:32 PM

Pentatonic scale is not derived from major scale. It existed in many cultures all around the world, in many of them, not connected to major scale at all. Pentatonic is just another scale that mixed with other scales that were predominant in various historical periods, and because of its simplicity she stuck around and helped to shape the music as we know it today.

Posted by: kjutte Jul 20 2008, 10:41 PM

Either way it contains 5 notes of the minor scale, so it can easily be spotted in its patterns.

Posted by: jacmoe Jul 21 2008, 12:22 AM

The reason I recommend starting with Aeolian and the Minor Pentatonic is that the match each other quite well.
Many rock musicians mix both, Kirk Hammett is one of them.

Posted by: kjutte Jul 21 2008, 12:51 AM

Totally agree man. A really cool way to mix them even better together, is to add a 6th note to it in addition. Shawn Lane did that alot, and it sounds sooo sweet!

2nd note that is, btw.

Posted by: Paul Coutts Jul 22 2008, 11:24 PM

Check out Frank Gambale's Chopbuilder. It's got a fantastic modes workout in it that I'm starting to use.
I'd post it, but that'd be illegal
I'll tell you how it goes though:

It's incredibly simple, but you'll hear the differences in the scales, which is really important.
1. Pick a key... say, G.
2. Play G Ionian, up one octave, then down.
3. Play G Dorian, up one octave, then down.
4. Play G Phrygian......

And so on, try it out.
Cheers!