Learning scales

Originally Posted by: Itsmesilly
Thanks for the info....
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Welcome of course.

Originally Posted by: Itsmesilly
I was jamming some great jazz chords and a guy ( who is an amazinggggg guitarist ) asked me what key I was playing ...

Why didn't this amazing guitarist know what key you were playing in? Or was he just quizzing you on the spot?
[QUOTE=Itsmesilly]I appreciate the time and patience.....

It's what I do. :)

Just commit to making time to move your fingers and build your aural skills along with your theory studies. Otherwise you'll be one of those "musicians" that knows "an A major chord consists of an A, C# and E and those are the 1st, major 3rd and fifth of the A major scale ..."

But can't actually play an A major chord. And wouldn't be able to recognize the sound of one if they heard it.

Hey Chris...
LOL...I dont know why he didnt know what key I was in or why he asked...he might have asked before I started playing? He might have been trying to see what I knew as we had talked earlier about him teaching me some stuff when I mentioned I had an interest in jazz. I dont remember..it was at a party last summer...much celebration...that type of deal.

As far as the scales go...I hear ya. And I dont "plan" to be so off balanced..I dont know if Ill ever get that far in theory..guess time will tell....just want to get some basic underrstanding and trying to utilize that free time at work to include something I can do with my desire to learn beginning theory. Playing is what matters more to me.

I have moved some guitars around and have been playing everyday. Working on new and old stuff....In the end...Id rather be able to just play and enjoy what I hear than understand things I cant even play. Knowing theory is not a necessity...its something Im curious about and think would benefit me.

I cant say I have worked on my aural skills...not even sure how to begin that aspect. I mean I can hear when something is wrong and doesnt fit in...chord wise or note wise...or out of tune. I have very basic skills I think that come with time and learning...I can hear a minor..etc..cant name everything though..its all good...one thing at a time. Its all for hobby and my own personal enjoyment.

thanks again

Just commit to making time to move your fingers and build your aural skills along with your theory studies. Otherwise you'll be one of those "musicians" that knows "an A major chord consists of an A, C# and E and those are the 1st, major 3rd and fifth of the A major scale ..."

Chris, here is where I am "stuck". I have gotten through most of Fundamentals 2. I already know all of the chords going in, although the practice of re-teaching my fingers a bit is still necessary. The scales, however, are pretty new for me. I can play them pretty well, and definitely will improve with practice, but I am asking myself how long to stay on scales alone?

Should I move on to either the Rock or Blues primer and keep practicing the scales every day? Safe to say that I should be learning the notes I am playnig when doing the scales?

Originally Posted by: RickBlackerPentatonics are fun... Been studying up on those lately. Fun to try and build up speed with them.

I love using a few of the A minor pentatonics to make a few cool sounding licks just on the spot with the jam station.

Originally Posted by: swright00... I am asking myself how long to stay on scales alone?[/quote]
There is no need to practice only scales. I suggest students should have a variety of things to practice in order to keep it fun and keep improving in a general overall manner.

As you mention being able to play chords you should give the Rock 1 or Blues 1 courses a try. But remember to keep up with your scale practice. Otherwise you are bound to hit a wall at some point.

In fact, I will use this post to make a point: there is no reason to ever stop practicing scales. Make them a regular part of your practice routine. Start now. Never stop. It will serve you well for as long as you play music.
[QUOTE=swright00]Safe to say that I should be learning the notes I am playnig when doing the scales?

Not necessarily. Learning the notes is a separate skill. If you do not already know the notes on the fretboard, then you need to make that a specific thing to practice. You can do it while you are practicing scale or even chords. You can incorporate it with other things, but do not cut the corner of explicitly making time to know the notes on the fretboard.

I know lots of players that can play the scale patterns well and can get around "by ear" or by their previous knowledge of what part of the scale works over what chord. But they are lost when it comes to identifying the notes at will. And this winds up being a handicap in certain situations.

So, make time to learn them. That will also serve you well in the future. :)

I like to run thru some scales as part of my warm up, which means I end up spending at least some time on them every day. A few times a week I will focus on them just sit unplugged to do finger exercises & scales, even if it's just a 15 minute effort.

Whether I'm about to do lessons or weedle (tm) to the jam tracks or work on the solos in a few songs I am playing with, I aways spend some time warming up with scales & licks. It gets me in the mood and loosens me up. I have a loose approach where I tend toward usually an hour or so of lesson time each week day, then on weekends, I will tend to not do lessons and just use what I gotten so far.

For learning the notes, I used to read the newspaper when taking a break, but now I write out scales, major notes, consider the different patterns, etc. Slowly the actual note-words of the positions I play are beginning to stick. Though my awareness of world events is suffering.

Weedle - (Not to be confused with 'wheedle') To weedle - to play single notes rapidly upon a guitar producing a string of sounds as in 'weedledledledle'. You may use this term freely. :)