Scale Learning
Nazgul
Sep 10 2008, 06:31 PM
GMC:er
Posts: 977
Joined: 10-April 08
From: Germany
Hi there!

I've got a question about learning scales: I've asked it before but would like to know the opinion of Andrew. smile.gif

How well should one learn the particular scale before going to another one? For example, I recently learned the Minor/Major Pentatonic and Blues Scale (not in all keys though), and would like to start learning the Major and Minor Scale, to have more possiblities in songwriting. Now, I'm still no genius in shredding in the Minor Pentatonic, and would like to know if I first should try to master this scale perfectly before learning the other ones or first learning all important scales and then improving my knowledge in all of them, bit by bit.

Thanks, of course an answer from everyone is appreciated! smile.gif

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!


--------------------
Chuck Norris rules!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Andrew Cockburn
Sep 11 2008, 12:57 AM
Moderation Policy Director
Posts: 10.459
Joined: 6-February 07
From: CT, USA
Ther are 2 separate parts to learning a scale (at least) - an intellectual and ear related understanding vs muscle memory to play it. You can know what a scale sounds like and be able to write songs using it without even being able to play it.

Muscle memory is what takes the hours and hours of practice - you can understand the sound of the scale more quickly.

So, the question becomes what is most important? Writing songs, or playing songs?

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!


--------------------
Check out my Instructor profile
Live long and prosper ...

My Stuff:

Electric Guitars : Ibanez Jem7v, Line6 Variax 700, Fender Plus Strat with 57/62 Pickups, Line6 Variax 705 Bass
Acoustic Guitars : Taylor 816ce, Martin D-15, Line6 Variax Acoustic 300 Nylon
Effects : Line6 Helix, Keeley Modded Boss DS1, Keeley Modded Boss BD2, Keeley 4 knob compressor, Keeley OxBlood
Amps : Epiphone Valve Jnr & Head, Cockburn A.C.1, Cockburn A.C.2, Blackstar Club 50 Head & 4x12 Cab
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Nazgul
Sep 11 2008, 12:33 PM
GMC:er
Posts: 977
Joined: 10-April 08
From: Germany
QUOTE (Andrew Cockburn @ Sep 11 2008, 01:57 AM) *
So, the question becomes what is most important? Writing songs, or playing songs?


Writing songs. biggrin.gif

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!


--------------------
Chuck Norris rules!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Andrew Cockburn
Sep 11 2008, 08:14 PM
Moderation Policy Director
Posts: 10.459
Joined: 6-February 07
From: CT, USA
QUOTE (Nazgul @ Sep 11 2008, 07:33 AM) *
Writing songs. biggrin.gif


OK, well in that case, you need to play the scales enough to understand their sound and feeling and to be able to get musical ideas down, but you don;t need to spend years getting them up to shredding speed wink.gif

I'd do both though - concentrate on practicing one or two scales thoroughly to a metronome, but spend time at least playing slowly through a few others. Its a different type of practice really - the first is technique and mechanics, the second is discovery - both are important!

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!


--------------------
Check out my Instructor profile
Live long and prosper ...

My Stuff:

Electric Guitars : Ibanez Jem7v, Line6 Variax 700, Fender Plus Strat with 57/62 Pickups, Line6 Variax 705 Bass
Acoustic Guitars : Taylor 816ce, Martin D-15, Line6 Variax Acoustic 300 Nylon
Effects : Line6 Helix, Keeley Modded Boss DS1, Keeley Modded Boss BD2, Keeley 4 knob compressor, Keeley OxBlood
Amps : Epiphone Valve Jnr & Head, Cockburn A.C.1, Cockburn A.C.2, Blackstar Club 50 Head & 4x12 Cab
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Nazgul
Sep 12 2008, 11:41 AM
GMC:er
Posts: 977
Joined: 10-April 08
From: Germany
Thank you very much, Andrew! biggrin.gif

I'll take your advice. smile.gif

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!


--------------------
Chuck Norris rules!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
kjutte
Sep 15 2008, 01:27 PM
GMC:er
Posts: 1.710
Joined: 17-July 07
From: Norway
QUOTE (Nazgul @ Sep 10 2008, 07:31 PM) *
Hi there!

I've got a question about learning scales: I've asked it before but would like to know the opinion of Andrew. smile.gif

How well should one learn the particular scale before going to another one? For example, I recently learned the Minor/Major Pentatonic and Blues Scale (not in all keys though), and would like to start learning the Major and Minor Scale, to have more possiblities in songwriting. Now, I'm still no genius in shredding in the Minor Pentatonic, and would like to know if I first should try to master this scale perfectly before learning the other ones or first learning all important scales and then improving my knowledge in all of them, bit by bit.

Thanks, of course an answer from everyone is appreciated! smile.gif


And some happy facts.

If you learn the majorscale, you will automatically know most scales.
Minor is the same scale, just played with different rootnotes (don't worry about this yet, just take my word for it)

Pentatonic is the majorscale without the 2nd and 6th note, harmonic minor has a sharpened note and melodic minor has two sharpened notes.
So you see, if you know the majorscale, you can easily adapt yourself to any scale.

Most other scales are symmetrical like diminished, or wholetone, so these are easily learned.

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Nazgul
Sep 20 2008, 08:18 PM
GMC:er
Posts: 977
Joined: 10-April 08
From: Germany
QUOTE (kjutte @ Sep 15 2008, 02:27 PM) *
And some happy facts.

If you learn the majorscale, you will automatically know most scales.
Minor is the same scale, just played with different rootnotes (don't worry about this yet, just take my word for it)

Pentatonic is the majorscale without the 2nd and 6th note, harmonic minor has a sharpened note and melodic minor has two sharpened notes.
So you see, if you know the majorscale, you can easily adapt yourself to any scale.

Most other scales are symmetrical like diminished, or wholetone, so these are easily learned.


Thank you for these happy facts. wink.gif And I knew that the Minor Scale is the Major Scale just with a different root tongue.gif , I'm not a noob at theory. laugh.gif

But I didn't knew about the other scales like Harmonic Minor etc... so, Thanks! smile.gif

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!


This post has been edited by Nazgul: Sep 20 2008, 08:18 PM


--------------------
Chuck Norris rules!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
kjutte
Sep 26 2008, 05:38 PM
GMC:er
Posts: 1.710
Joined: 17-July 07
From: Norway
QUOTE (Nazgul @ Sep 20 2008, 09:18 PM) *
Thank you for these happy facts. wink.gif And I knew that the Minor Scale is the Major Scale just with a different root tongue.gif , I'm not a noob at theory. laugh.gif

But I didn't knew about the other scales like Harmonic Minor etc... so, Thanks! smile.gif


biggrin.gif glad to enlighten!

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post

Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 




RSS Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 29th March 2024 - 01:21 PM