So i noticed that learning the scales and theory is somewhat easy but being a starter it's kind of hard to know when and what it means to actually know the scale. For example I know the Bm blues scale from the root really well as a pattern, but I dont know what else to learn about the first pattern before I can move to the next> what does it mean to really know your scales and what you learn after you learn one pattern?
I’m going to stick to just addressing patterns because music can get complicated.
Knowing the different positions does two things that I can see: 1st it allows you to add more interest to your playing by moving between the positions.
2nd, if you get into transcribing music, knowing what “B” is being played will put you into the right box by the artist.
But in terms of what to know about scales, I am finding I can improve my playing by studying the phrasing used by an artist. It doesn’t come natural to me. I worked on some BB King stuff tonight and there is nothing out of ordinary in terms of the notes he played. It was his phrasing that told the story and provided the interest.
This year the diet is definitely gonna stick!
So i noticed that learning the scales and theory is somewhat easy but being a starter it's kind of hard to know when and what it means to actually know the scale. For example I know the Bm blues scale from the root really well as a pattern, but I dont know what else to learn about the first pattern before I can move to the next> what does it mean to really know your scales and what you learn after you learn one pattern?
Knowing a scale means two things: understanding the scale degrees & being able to make music with it.
As a beginner knowing one basic scale pattern for any given scale & being able to play melodies with it are as much as you need. If you understand the pattern, the scale degrees & can make music with it then you are doing fine.
As you gradually improve these two things will also guide you in knowing when to add another pattern of the scale, learn a different scale, or move up & down the fretboard, learning different patterns & positions of that or any scale.
Let's take your example. You've learned the B blues scale. Do you know all the scale degrees in the pattern? Can you play a bunch of licks with the notes of that pattern? If not, then spend time doing that. If so, then you can add the next pattern up the fretboard.
Many beginners learn a scale as a visual pattern of notes to play, but nothing more. And that's a great place to start! But then you need to start working on understanding why you are playing that pattern. Why that shape? Why those notes? So, you learn the scale degrees to really understand the sound of the scale & what you can do with it musically. And the best way to do that is to use the scale to make music. Learn licks & riffs with the scale. Learn to hear the sound of scale in your mind before you even play the notes!
This tutorial is in G, but it will show you various ways to make music with the pentatonic shapes.
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial/1147/
This tutorial is in A, but will show you how basic blues scales can be moved all over the fretboard to make a variety of licks from just a few shapes & patterns.
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial/2380/
Hope that helps!
Christopher Schlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Christopher Schlegel Lesson Directory
Knowing a scale means two things: understanding the scale degrees & being able to make music with it.
As a beginner knowing one basic scale pattern for any given scale & being able to play melodies with it are as much as you need. If you understand the pattern, the scale degrees & can make music with it then you are doing fine.
As you gradually improve these two things will also guide you in knowing when to add another pattern of the scale, learn a different scale, or move up & down the fretboard, learning different patterns & positions of that or any scale.
Let's take your example. You've learned the B blues scale. Do you know all the scale degrees in the pattern? Can you play a bunch of licks with the notes of that pattern? If not, then spend time doing that. If so, then you can add the next pattern up the fretboard.
Many beginners learn a scale as a visual pattern of notes to play, but nothing more. And that's a great place to start! But then you need to start working on understanding why you are playing that pattern. Why that shape? Why those notes? So, you learn the scale degrees to really understand the sound of the scale & what you can do with it musically. And the best way to do that is to use the scale to make music. Learn licks & riffs with the scale. Learn to hear the sound of scale in your mind before you even play the notes!
This tutorial is in G, but it will show you various ways to make music with the pentatonic shapes.
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial/1147/
This tutorial is in A, but will show you how basic blues scales can be moved all over the fretboard to make a variety of licks from just a few shapes & patterns.
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial/2380/
Hope that helps!
When you are playing music all over the fretboard, are you thinking in shapes, degrees, notes fret numbers, etc? Its incredible how one can know each position of the keys and it doesnt seem like thinking in scale shapes helps with that.
When you are playing music all over the fretboard, are you thinking in shapes, degrees, notes fret numbers, etc? Its incredible how one can know each position of the keys and it doesnt seem like thinking in scale shapes helps with that.
First I pick a lick I want to play, then I look for the note & scale degree (or degrees) I want to use. If I'm playing a blues in A, then I look for an A note, think of that as scale degree one, then play the lick I want to play. The lick usually involves seeing the scale degrees around the one, or in the shape I'm using for that lick.
This is why it's important to learn licks (little musical phrases). Otherwise what are you going to do with the scale pattern? If you don't know licks, then you are just playing the scale straight up or down, or randomly. That won't sound musical or last for long.
But all of this requires a lot of work up front. Learn some licks, build your vocabulary. Then while you are doing that, look at the scale degrees you are using in the licks. That's why the lick sounds the way it does. Find another way to use that lick. Move it up or down an octave. Change the rhythmic phrasing. Play it in reverse order. Learn another lick, repeat the process.
Make sense?
Christopher Schlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Christopher Schlegel Lesson Directory
First I pick a lick I want to play, then I look for the note & scale degree (or degrees) I want to use. If I'm playing a blues in A, then I look for an A note, think of that as scale degree one, then play the lick I want to play. The lick usually involves seeing the scale degrees around the one, or in the shape I'm using for that lick.
This is why it's important to learn licks (little musical phrases). Otherwise what are you going to do with the scale pattern? If you don't know licks, then you are just playing the scale straight up or down, or randomly. That won't sound musical or last for long.
But all of this requires a lot of work up front. Learn some licks, build your vocabulary. Then while you are doing that, look at the scale degrees you are using in the licks. That's why the lick sounds the way it does. Find another way to use that lick. Move it up or down an octave. Change the rhythmic phrasing. Play it in reverse order. Learn another lick, repeat the process.
Make sense?
definitely!!
