Originally Posted by: Aron KatzHello, I finished fundamentals 1 and 2, I'm now in blues 1, I would like to learn the hotel California solo but I don't understand scales at the level he is explaining it, are there any lessons that can prepare me for this?
With the beginning of that solo (in B), it pretty much starts in the 'extended pentatonic' positions. When you start learning about the different modes across the fretboard (in any given key), you'll see that in whatever key, you can get all over the fretboard.
In this case, it's a more common bluesy extension to the standard pentatonic scale. I just did a search and though the diagrams ain't great, it illustrated the 'extended' thing. Link.
I will say that if you're just starting on Blues 1, that Hotel California is a very big step. It's is a great solo to learn but it will strwtch you a bit as there are some little tidbits that aren't exactly by the rules. No biggie, that happens all the time in blues/rock playing. Buddy Guy made a career out of it!
Ultimately you'll want to work through Chris's Modes of the Major Scale. Ultimately that is your roadmap to get 'all over' the fretboard. However, that is a huge chunk of learning but it is good to know what these modes are. So, in any key, this is your roadmap around.
With that, it would be good to work on those but don't let that block you from going through the blues sections or Hotel California since those really are a very nice step forward in your understanding of getting around the neck. Just know that there is this roadmap and that over times, you will want to come to learn it.
For now, knowing the pentatonic extension should help a good bit.