Using guitar scales is one of the most basic aspects of learning how to play a guitar. If you get a tight grip on your scales then there will be no stopping you. This article has been created to help you identify the different scales so that you can use them with ease.
Now that you have a guitar, you’re probably dying to play like a rock star. But you’ll have to practice before you can begin to play like Jeff Beck or Billy Gibbons. You’ll need to understand the different types of scales that are used in guitar playing and how they can influence each song. Let’s start with the major and minor scales first.
Major & Minor Scales
The major and minor scales in any guitar are always separated by 4 frets, which are known as the relative scales. They are called relative scales because all of them have one thing in common: the tone. The scale DO – RE – MI – FA – SO – LA – TI converts to LA – TI – DO – RE – MI – FA – SO, and vice versa.
The major & minor scales are the backbone of Western music. It’s like a stepping stone, without which you would probably drown. Therefore, you need to go over the scales thoroughly and master both the major and minor before trying to move on to other scales. These scales are used universally, and mastering them will stand you in good stead. Once you master the major and minor scales, you will be able to widen your repertoire to increase the level of your stage performance.
Major Scale
DO – RE – MI – FA – SO – LA – TI – DO is a major scale. This is probably one of the most familiar scales in the world and most of us have heard it more than once since birth. One of the good things is that it creates a happy effect.
ATTRIBUTES:
Attributes
Values
Scale Formula
1-2-3-4-5-6-7
Step Construction
W-W-H-W-W-W-H
Distinguishing Degree
M7
Good over Chords
M , M7 , M6
Good with Progressions
I-IV-V , II-V-I , I-VI-IV-V , I-III-IV-I , I-IV-I , I-V-I
Minor Scale
LA – TI – DO – RE – MI – FA – SO – LA is a minor scale. It is basically the exact opposite of the major scale or rather when you read a major scale backwards, you get a minor scale. It is known as the minor because of the minor 3rd, while the distinguishing factor is the minor 6th. Both these scales have distinct effect on our emotions.
Other Scales
There are several other scales apart from the major scale and the minor scale and one of the most preferred or common scale is the pentatonic scale. The pentatonic scales are at the very core of most of the rock bands. It is used generously in blues and rock guitars and this is because they are easier to play. They are known as the forgiving scales because of the fact that the fingering of strings is quite straight forward. All Pentatonic scales are based on both the major and minor scales except for 2 specific notes, which are dropped. These notes get converted from pentatonic (five-note) to diatonic (seven-note).
In pentatonic scales, when you shift the tonality up in each step then you will get this:
1. DO – RE – MI – FA – SO – LA – TI – DO: Ionian
2. RE – MI – FA – SO – LA – TI – DO – RE: Dorian
3. MI – FA – SO – LA – TI – DO – RE – MI: Phrygian
4. FA – SO – LA – TI – DO – RE – MI – FA: Lydian
5. SO – LA – TI – DO – RE – MI – FA – SO: Mixolydian
6. LA – TI – DO – RE – MI – FA – SO – LA: Aeolian
7. TI – DO – RE – MI – FA – SO – LA – TI: Locrian
Now that you have understood the basic scales, it is time for a warm-up session on your guitar!
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Learning basic scales is extremely important, as I stressed in my earlier lessons. I play my major scales at the beginning of every practice session then follow up with the pentatonic and blues scales towards the end. This allows me to cover a wide variety of scales in my daily workout without getting stale or bored with my playing. So all of the lesson plans that I use, develop or pick-up from other guitarist’s; either on-line or through outside purchases, are now filed away so I can refer back to them for later use in my personal practice sessions.
I hope you picked-up something new in this post and if so, please let me know by leaving a comment; I’d appreciate it. It really helps to know if what I’m writing is helpful to you. Remember to give your kids a big hug to show them you love them.
Until next time;
Musician By Night
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