What Scales Do You Actually Know?

The most common by far are the pentatonics from those major and minor scales you already now. Also the blues scale.

Very useful are chord arpeggios, played over the underlying chord.

I've tried to use a couple of the modes, Mixolydian in particular with the flattened 7th (I think)

Apart from that, it's just a mish-mash of any of these scales that I use.

And as much as I appreciate the complete skill and mastery of the 'mode-noodlers', I was never into the sort of Yngwie Malmstein or Steve Vai stuff - in my mind it gets very repetitive when you know the solo in every song is going to sound very similar to the one before.

To me now, if it sounds ok and fits in...then it's in my scale.

Rodar6

Anyway, I would like to feed my current addiction to learning scales and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for additional scales? I know there are lots of scales out there but what next? :)

Cheers

Rod

Arpeggios would be a good "next" if you haven't already.
 
Of course the application of scales and arpeggios is the "key". (no pun intended)
For instance...
F#m7(b5) (key of G)  - you probably know the G major scale and now know the mode of F#m7(b5). So now the
the 4 note arpeggio of F#m7(b5) - E, F#, A, C  ( I'm a guitarist so I like to play patterns and starting this with the E makes a nice pattern - as you'll see if you do it)
Now the application part- (really the most important part IMHO) Use the F#m7 arppegio over a D9 chord. You may want to be jamming on a simple blues groove in G or A to get the sound in your head.
Good luck. And I picked this one because so many tend to think the Locrian is kinda useless.
 
Oh...the fun part....in all keys, yes? And I swore I'd never take part in a theory thread again. geeze I hope this one
doesn't go south like the others...but just in case, this is all I have to say about this.
 

 
left out the b5-surprised nobody caught it.

I know most of the "modern" modes too a degree that I can use them to craft melodies and arpeggios and shift modes as I play thru a series of changes.


My primary interest is playing electric guitar as improvisational melody lines in the style of a horn player from a late 1950's jazz band.

This interest undermines any efforts to produce an actual song.

I've been struggling with the duality long enough to recognize the problems caused by an improv attitude... but I still haven't exacted complete self control over it.

:-)

Yes, I agree... for me the process works like this.

I might be playing by ear and it's something I like... then I look down and think "oh my... I'm doing the dorian"

:-)

Gosh, I hope so. :-)

Rodar6


Hey Cakewalkers, 

I m referring to all of the different positions along the fret board.

Cheers

Rod

I apologize to myself and all of you for breaking my sworn oath of avoiding theory threads but since I did....
and forgot to address the statement above- I will and then I'll be quiet. lol
 
Rod, play all of them that you think you'ver learned in one position Yes, open position playing allowed :)
You also may enjoy playing modes in one position...very enlightening I think. For example;
A ionian, dorian, phrygian...etc. - all in the fifth position (fifth fret)
and all "Ionian" scales in one position....third position is good for this too for starting out.
 
The thought behind my examples is that most will agree that one good thing about learning scales is that it's a good
way to learn the fretboard.
Playing in one position may have major impact on you too.
 

 

mike_mccue


I don't really think in terms of position.

If I start a melody in the first position it's easy for me to wander down through many other positions and end up where ever the ear takes me.

I do indulge in box playing... but I enjoy walking around the board a lot more.

I'm sure you know so much better than me... if you have an ear for modes... your sense of position is shifting continually as you search out a pivot point to recognize as a root for the next few beats.

After doing that for a while... positions sort of blur.


best regards,
mike

Playing and practicing are two different things.
Why would one limit the way they practice?

I'm terrible at practising.  I need more practice but I just never seem to get around to doing it.

Alright Gang,

I think that its unfortunate for those who have not at least mastered one scale over the entire length of the fretboard. However the choice is yours but I would definitely recommend it. 

After a spell of not really progressing with my playing for many years I feel that learning the major scale (diatonic) has breathed some much needed life back into my playing which has also given me a completely different perspective to playing the guitar. I also dont feel that Im the anxious player I was before and feel very comfortable making those in between the beat split decisions about what to play on the fret board.   

I know that the mention of scales can bring forth a whole bunch of conflicting opinions which can create some tensions between different forum users.

I always find it kinda funny and strange at the same time when someone has something good to share and foolishly thinks that others will benefit from the same perspective. Well one mans cure is another mans poison...or so the saying goes.

I do like talking about geeky stuff because I do feel that not only can I understand it, but I can also apply it without all of the usual hang ups suggested by others. (or so I think anyway)

Thanks for all of the suggestions so far, but at the moment Im definitely a scale first convert.

I was hoping that there might be a website somewhere, where I could type in the notes or chords to a song and it would give me the scale and the key. :)

I usually play the ones that fall on the black frets on my Les Paul.  By comparison, on my strat, I only play the ones on the light frets.  

Karyn


I'm terrible at practising.  I need more practice but I just never seem to get around to doing it.

Learning how to practice is a great point Karyn.
I personally believe that when one can learn to practice what can be applied in their playing is the motivating
factor for great results.
 
That is exactly why I gave the example I did.
It covers a few aspects of theory but mainly for those who work it out- they are going to be very excited about it.
 
It helps the blues players that may be stuck in a pentatonic box "play outside". Taking a simple blues progression
in the key of "A" ( A, D9, E9) and applying the F#m7(b5) arpeggio over the D9 and the G#m7(b5) arpeggio over the E9 (easy enough-just move the pattern a whole step up) is going to help one "step outside" of the box. So spending a little practice time applying it over a fun jam is a win win. Learn some theory- get to apply it and some great "outside" sounds to add to ones arsenal.
Now that's a practice session well worth the time and effort. Of course I believe as long as one has a guitar in their
hands is doing alright. :)
 
 
 

Rodar6


Hey Cakewalkers,

 So far I have learnt the Ionian (Major) and Aeolian (Minor) scales. 

Rod

Actually, Ionian and Aeolian are modes of the major scale.
They are major scale fingerings starting on notes other than the root.
I recommend learning the major scale, 3 notes per string, all 7 positions.
Doing that also teaches you all 7 modes.

The pentatonics are within the major scale.
The major scale is where its at...everything else is derived from that.

Delorean scale ... takes me back ... nothing?

Fine.

*sIgH*

I really don't worry about learning scales and modes.  I just try to hit the note i'm imagining in my brain, regardless of whether it's major, minor, dorian, or lithuanian.

Ron, RDL has excellent advice.
I misread " I m referring to all of the different positions along the fret board. " as you had covered the other modes.