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GMC Forum _ Andrew Cockburn _ Scale Learning
Posted by: Nazgul Sep 10 2008, 06:31 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. 
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!
Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Sep 11 2008, 12:57 AM
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?
Posted by: Nazgul Sep 11 2008, 12:33 PM
Writing songs.
Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Sep 11 2008, 08:14 PM
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
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!
Posted by: Nazgul Sep 12 2008, 11:41 AM
Thank you very much, Andrew!
I'll take your advice.
Posted by: kjutte Sep 15 2008, 01:27 PM
I've got a question about learning scales: I've asked it before but would like to know the opinion of Andrew.
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!
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.
Posted by: Nazgul Sep 20 2008, 08:18 PM
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.
And I knew that the Minor Scale is the Major Scale just with a different root 
, I'm not a noob at theory. 
But I didn't knew about the other scales like Harmonic Minor etc... so, Thanks!
Posted by: kjutte Sep 26 2008, 05:38 PM
And I knew that the Minor Scale is the Major Scale just with a different root , I'm not a noob at theory. But I didn't knew about the other scales like Harmonic Minor etc... so, Thanks!
glad to enlighten!
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