Hi I'm new to the site and I'm looking for lessons that describe how to build solos using major and minor scales across all positions of the scales. I'm trying to break the habit of playing notes in sequence of one position and be able to play longer runs across scale positions. Also want to be able to jump from one position to another (say from first position G majoe to 4th postion G major) effortlessly. Seems like I always have to think about what shape is where. I know targeting the root is what I want to do but I sometimes forget the notes surrounding the root. Any suggested lessons?

Hi Chuckio,

I recommend this entire course, start to finish: https://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=20152&s_id=1586

Best,

Billy

Hey & welcome to GT!

Originally Posted by: Chuckio

...I'm looking for lessons that describe how to build solos using major and minor scales across all positions of the scales.

Billy gave you a great suggestion in following the Rock course. You'll learn about the scales & how to incorporate them into the larger context of an overall style of music. This is often a great place to start because you'll get a bunch of lessons that are designed to gradually build all aspects of your musicianship.

However, if your knowledge & skill level is already beyond that material & you are just looking to zero in on material that shows you how to connect scales across the fretboard, then try these tutorials aimed at visualizing major & minor scales across the entire fretboard.

Major Scale Patterns

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=453

Minor Scale Patterns

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=887

Then you can do these exercises that show how to visualize & play major & minor scales linearly by shifting horizontally across the fretboard.

Major Scale Speed Patterns

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=928

Minor Scale Speed Patterns

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=929

Finally you can put all that together by working through these tutorials on improvisation.

Major Key Improv

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=483

Minor Key Improv

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=491

Major Key Improv 2

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=2318

Minor Key Improv 2 is on the way!

Finally, work on learning guitar solos that do what you are trying to learn. We all learn by imitation & repetition. And learning a solo that you love the sound of is one of the best ways to learn the skill. You'll be able to play something you love, build skills, build your repertoire of songs & licks. And you'll hopefully learn something along the way about how a good solo is structured. GT has plenty of songs to pick from!

https://www.guitartricks.com/songs.php

If Rock isn't your desired style, then I can point you to another style. Please ask more if necessary. Best of success!

Thanks guys. Exactly what I was looking for. I already know major and minor scales up the neck so the improv stuff is what I'm trying to work on. I'm trying to avoid playing sequential notes in the scale as much as possible. I am a rock guitarist so these are applicable to what I want to learn. Hoping for more lessons like these to be added in the future.

Once you're comfortable with the blues scale, you'll want to play guitar solos along with some form of accompaniment. One of the more common things guitar players solo over is a 12 bar blues. For more insight into playing the 12 bar blues, how to go about playing it, and freely downloadable audio files of the blues to play along with, check the try playing along with the 12 bar blues audio files found on this site.[br] [br]In part two of this feature, we'll look further into the building blocks of guitar solos, including the use of vibrato, string bending, double-stops and more.

FetLife IMVU Canva

Verbatim posts such as #5 above which are copied from other sites should be given full credit. See my post #12, "Which style to you favor the most?" thread, Technique and Style sub-forum.

Originally Posted by: Chuckio

Hoping for more lessons like these to be added in the future.

I added Improvisation in a Minor Key 2.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=2329

As well as Building a Blues Arrangement. This one has lots of ideas on how to flesh out a solo.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=2380

Hope that helps!