Any tips to make scale practise less boring?

Hi
I've taken up playing again after not having played since being a teenager...20 years ago (well, actually a little more! :eek: ).Been playing again about 6 months.

I'm now at the stage where I was before ie. practising/learning blues scales.This is where I got stuck all those years ago! I now have the maturity to know I have to do it...but I still find it as boring as ever and end up just getting distracted and end up playing chords or riffs along to some CD instead.

My question is has anybody got any tips, ideas, tricks...games to make practising scales a little more interesting?

Thanks

What I always thought was Interesting was a metrenome. Speed it up after you learn to play the scale at one speed. Try to beat your record. Also try playing with some backing tracks and lay down killer solos. There are some in the Jam section of This site. Well Thats all I have.

Many thanks!...I'll give both a try! Even the metronome idea gives me something to aim at!

Cheers

Originally Posted by: magicninjaWhat I always thought was Interesting was a metrenome. Speed it up after you learn to play the scale at one speed. Try to beat your record. Also try playing with some backing tracks and lay down killer solos. There are some in the Jam section of This site. Well Thats all I have.

I agree. Metronomes and drum machines will not only make practice less boring, but they will increase your sence of timing.

Practice your scales using the "string skiping" technique. It`ll give you a different sound and keep your attention.

As well as metronome's and string skipping, try playing over three octaves. Or, try restricting yourself to just two string. Satriani and Gilbert have done some excellent lessons in magazines about this - try "googling" it and see what you come up with.

Try these ones:

http://www.guitartricks.com/2000/trick.php?trick_id=3050&s_id=28


Do em forward, backward and sideways for a couple of months.
Use a drum machine or drum loops.
Or get Band-in-a-Box.

Here's the best collection of scales I have found (with useful comments on application - includes MP3s).
http://www.guitar9.com/columnist344.html

Have a look at those, then check out Mike's other lessons on how to create licks and runs from the scales (links at the bottom of the page). This should definitely pump your interest!

Many thanks all!

Sometimes it helps if you say play your different scales for say 15 mins and then take a 5 min break and play some fun riffs and then go back to scales for another 15 you can end up getting alot of good solid practice in with a little bit fun thrown in to boot. You'd be surprised how quickly an hour of boring scales go by. Hope this helps :)

Its not boring if you got Veronica Zemanova teaching you :eek: