GuitarIQ.com
  • Home
  • Books
    • Total Guitar Workout
    • Total Guitar Technique
    • Learn Your Fretboard
    • Learn Your Guitar Chords
    • Learn Your Guitar Scales
    • 5-Minute Guitar Jams
    • Lead Guitar Breakthrough
    • Lead Guitar Book Bundle
  • Journals
    • Guitar Notebook
    • Song Notebook
  • Workshops
    • Fretboard Memorization Workshop
  • About
  • Connect
  • VLOG

10 Quick Tips for Mastering Guitar Scales!

29/4/2016

 
Picture
So many scales, so little time! Have you ever felt like this? For many guitar players, learning scales can seem overwhelming. While feeling intimidated is understandable, it isn’t necessary. There are numerous languages in the world, but a person doesn’t need to know them all to say something worthwhile. This article offers some simple tips for learning scales and getting more out of the ones you already know.

Learning Scales

While there are no overnight solutions for learning scales on guitar, there are several learning habits that make this process much easier. In short, the task isn’t simply about memorizing endless shapes on the fretboard. We want to understand how these patterns are built, how they function, and how they relate to one another. Below are some key guidelines to consider:

1 | One at a Time: Learning scales isn’t a race! Focus on learning and using one shape at a time. It’s far more beneficial knowing a handful of patterns really well than knowing many of them poorly. Ensure you can create something musical out of each shape before moving on to the next.​

​2 | Play Slowly: Playing scales fast isn’t the initial goal; playing them accurately is. Start by practicing slowly at a comfortable tempo and increase speed only when each pattern can be played cleanly. Remember, playing fast is different from playing badly at a fast tempo.​​

3 | Don’t Practice Mistakes: When we consistently practice something on guitar, we form playing habits. Pay attention to your playing and get used to correcting mistakes, not practicing them. Focus on playing things accurately, being mindful of both the tone and tuning of each note.

4 | Learn to Self-Correct: Rather than being frustrated by limitations, learn from them. These challenges teach us to see gaps in our understanding or issues with our technique. The roadblocks we encounter in our playing are signs telling us what to work on next.

5 | Focus on Root Notes: Always remember that we’re learning scales, not just shapes. The root note forms the tonal center of a scale. As such, it’s the central anchor point for our melodic ideas. Understanding the sound and structure of a scale is vital for applying it musically.

6 | Look for Shortcuts: While they can seem like endless amounts of information to memorize, in reality scale patterns include a large amount of repetition. Often, one shape will have multiple applications. Paying attention to these similarities will help streamline the learning process.

7 | Make It Musical: Scales don’t always have to be practiced the same way. Make it interesting! Try alternating the rhythm, note sequence, tempo, or dynamics being used. Be sure to play along with songs or make use of jam tracks. Remember, learning scales is never the end goal — making music is.

8 | Play in Context: Don’t just practice playing scales; practice hearing and using them in context. Listening to and experimenting with the ways other guitarists use these patterns musically is essential for developing your own creative vocabulary on guitar.

9 | Repetition Is Key: Learning scales isn’t a difficult task, but it’s a repetitive one. Consistent practice is key. Be sure to prioritize shorter, more regular practice sessions over longer, more infrequent ones.
​

10 | Be Intentional: Sometimes, learning something effectively isn’t just about the time we spend; it’s about how we spend our time. Ultimately, focused practice is efficient practice. Be mindful of each specific thing you’re looking to improve, and then structure your practice time accordingly.

Copyright © 2016 Luke Zecchin

Picture

Want to learn more?

This article was an excerpt from Learn Your Guitar Scales written by Luke Zecchin. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental patterns that underpin everything we do on guitar. Beyond simply demonstrating what these shapes look like, this book explores the sound, structure, and common uses of each pattern in context. This guide also offers various tips and exercises for applying this information practically. Insightful and easy to understand, this is a must-have handbook for any guitar player wanting to make sense of how it all fits together!
For more information or to get your copy, find it online at:
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Comments are closed.

    Articles

    10 Chord Mastery Tips!
    ​Guitar Chords 101
    ​10 Memorization Tips
    Fretboard Memorization
    ​Fretboard Anatomy 101
    ​Guitar Setup Basics
    ​4 Keys to Great Playing!
    FREE Jam Tracks!
    10 Tips for Better Solos
    ​Playing vs Practice
    ​10 Scale Mastery Tips!
    ​Guitar Scales 101
    3 Simple Guitar EQ Tips
    Rode NTR Mic Review
    ​iZotope RX - On Guitar  
    Dealing with Latency
    Slate VCC | VTM Review
    GarageBand v Logic X
    5 FREE Guitar Plugins
    Logic Pro X for Guitar
    Pedals vs Multi-Effects
    How to Roll Leads
    ​
    Stop Breaking Strings?
    When to Change Strings
    Using Neck Diagrams
    5 Essential Tuning Tips

    7 Beginner Mistakes
Copyright © 2024 GuitarIQ.com
All rights reserved.
Privacy & Terms
Photos from Skies for me, thegrid.ch, sanbeiji, captain.orange, Stewart, thestevenalan, Mo Kaiwen 莫楷文, rockmixer, JoshArdle Photography, Ben Fredericson (xjrlokix), -cfs-, basti_voe, Dagget2, audiomixhouse, José Goulão, KPR Photography, derekGavey, Bill Selak, SGPhotography77, Made Underground
  • Home
  • Books
    • Total Guitar Workout
    • Total Guitar Technique
    • Learn Your Fretboard
    • Learn Your Guitar Chords
    • Learn Your Guitar Scales
    • 5-Minute Guitar Jams
    • Lead Guitar Breakthrough
    • Lead Guitar Book Bundle
  • Journals
    • Guitar Notebook
    • Song Notebook
  • Workshops
    • Fretboard Memorization Workshop
  • About
  • Connect
  • VLOG