Mercury

How would you best explain the theory of playing scales? Any scale in general, but you can pick out a particular type if you like.

Mostly I'm having trouble picking out my steps. I've gone with the basic whole step, whole step, half step, whole step (i think that is a blues scale). problem is I cannot seem to make this work playing up and down. I can pwn the shit out of the E-string and I'd like to take it to the next level and incorporate the A string next.

So again I ask what is your theory. Please explain.


edit: oh btw I play bass but guitarists know what I mean.

Grieves

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Grieves

at his voice...

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Mercury

yes i know there's a hundered million youtube videos. but i like to read peoples own explinations.

Mercury

that is a pretty good video though. that fag is nice and clear.

krangs_androidbody

You know the names of the notes on your bass right? If you don't, start there.

Here's some tips/excercises:
• Start with C Major, this is the easiest scale in terms of notation since there are no flats or sharps.
• First play one octave (up then back down) using only one string (the A string for you)
• Then play one octave using three strings
• Then play two octaves using a combination
• Try starting from the lowest note of the scale on each string, so starting on different degrees of the scale. On the A string you can start with the 6th degree, A and then go as high as you can in the scale.

If you can start from any degree of the scale and can go up or down from that note then you know you know the scale good.

If you were playing guitar, piano or some other chordal instrument I'd recommend learning the chord qualities for each degree of the scale. Actually, this is good stuff to know regardless...
Chord Scale - Harmonizing the Major Scale With Triads

Waves

scales suck. just play along to music that you like. it'll start to click eventually and you'll have built your own organic style exploring music for yourself and you havent been bored to tears doing it.


<-- self taught guitarist and i think im pretty good

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krangs_androidbody

More knowledge > Less Knowledge

Practicing scales isn't very fun... at least at first. When you start getting out of the standard "block" of up/down, up/down and start getting more creative with the patterns it can be fun.

Nobody wants to hear music that's entirely scalular... but scales are pretty much the foundation of melody and chord progression.

I think they're good to learn but no substitute for actually making music with some friends.

Mercury

thanks krangs. starting with the lowest note makes a lot of sense.

Man in Black

I've pretty much got the pentatonic down, easy if you practice

if you are looking to learn the petatonic on the guitar, i would recommend Free guitar lessons - justinguitar.com - Learn how to play Guitar free here!, go to the beginners section and look for the lesson on the pentatonic and variations.

fucking fun as hell when you get it down nice and crisp.

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Mercury

^nice. i consider myself a pentatonic player at heart, but my mentor really stresses the importance of blues scales and their versatility, as he says.

Waves

...the pentatonic scales ARE the blues scales

i dont exactly know what you mean by 'blues scales'

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Waves

just to be clear im all for learning music theory, i just think theres a huge difference between the music theory itself and actually learning to play an instrument. for myself it was much better to pick up the guitar and learn by playing along with other stuff and also tabs, and then to learn the theory i needed once i was proficient in handling my instrument enough to actually do the scales.

i think the best way when it comes to just most efficiently learning in the shortest time is a balance of both but i dont have the patience for that stuff. id rather take longer and learn shit at my own pace.

i do think theres a high value in learning scales and theory but i also think that its equally important to be able to handle your instrument i guess is what im saying. i can do scales that i never actually learned just because ive played along to music that was in that same key and kind of chord progression.

maybe its just how my brain is wired i dunno. just clarifying what i meant.

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Mercury

i don't know how it is for 6-string but i'm talkin about bass. there is a difference between pentatonic and blues scales in bass because the blues add's an extra half-step to the pentatonic minor to give the bassline a more blusey bounce. it's

HTAM

Well, look who's come to dinner.....

Before you ever play, EVER, always make sure you are tuned. Not close, in tune. Always tune.

Adding what's here so far, I would also recommend you study the relation of A minor to C Major. Once you understand the interval relation between minor and Major, you can transpose to every other key. Combine this with what Krang posted and you will have some solid fundamentals to build off of.

Krang.....good stuff.

Stay with the Pentatonics right now. Look at A min Penta and C Maj Penta
There are core intervals in these scales that you'll want to know. I bet that extra half step you're talking about in the blues scale is a flat five. Hendrix drops it in the Manic Depression intro and uses it as a hook later on. Anyway, soaking up these scales, or at least understanding how the common I IV V 12 Bar relates to the Pentatonics.....I really think you should know that.

If you truly understand the pentatonics, I could leave you a post like this...
Merc, The scale is A harmonic minor. Play the natural minor scale with a #7th. So A, B, C, D, E, F, G#. Pedal on an open A and play those intervals on the D string.
...and you would know exactly what I mean.

Practicing scales can seem mundane, monotonous, and unrewarding. And they are, but only until you make the first connection. And another. And so on. They will be a tremendous ally in understanding fretboard theory and mapping(each note at each fret on each string).

You need to practice with a metronome too. Technique, rhythm, and attack of the string all develop out of vigilant use of a metronome. Play clean and in time. Speed will come later.

And stop when you feel the slightest discomfort in your hands. Just for a few minutes. Strain is the number one inspiration killer for new/beginner players.

HTAM

The operative word is 'play' and everybody plays different. To me as long as you are enjoying the journey with the instrument and the music you are playing, you're not doing anything the wrong way. I spend lots of time just studying tabs, or sheet music if I can't find the tabs, sometimes just for a phrase that's a few bars long.

I felt like I kept hitting a wall sometimes when it came to writing or phrasing, and that's what led me to theory, both music and fretboard.
The real bonus though, is watching other players. It's a lot easier for me to read what they're doing based on the location of their fingers, and recognizing the intervals in the scale or chords they are playing.

krangs_androidbody

word, "scales suck" doesn't get that point across, ya know?

but I totally agree with you, I think the important thing is to keep playing... whether it's with a teacher/books, by ear or both, learning scales or just fuckin' around, persistence is what will make you better.

krangs_androidbody

This is an exercise I like,

start on the first note of the scale then play a third degree away then down to the second note and repeat the pattern...

This is C Major: C D E F G A B C

try twisting it around like this

C E D F E G F A G B

then back down

C A B G A F G E F A E

C D B C

You can do that with any scale, but the above illustrates the idea, it's fun to do it in two octaves too.

The seizureboi

This thread makes me want to try teaching myself to play guitar again. My problem was I didn't have the self control to practice regularly, so I ended up playing only sporadically and ended up giving up.

I think I can do it properly this time though

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Silverleaf

What I kind of found helpful was looking at the fretboard like it's one big fucked up piano. Which it is. Running through scales does help, but one of the major improvements to my game was when I figured out the pattern of octaves and their fourths and fifths.

It really is such a genius instrument, the guitar is.

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