Introduction to Guitar Scales

By Darrin Koltow

Here's some quick info on guitar scales, plus links to more resources on guitar scales.

Which scales to practice?

Jamie Andreas says ALL players should learn and practice the following

• major scales in the first position (with open strings) in keys C, G, D, A, E.
• major scale pattern: Root on 2nd finger, 6th string
• major scale pattern: Root on 2nd finger 5th string
• major scale pattern: Root on 4th finger, string 6, then string 5, same finger

If you want to play blues and rock, learn the 5 common pentatonic shapes. Here they are:

If you want to learn jazz, learn all of the scales just mentioned, plus:

• Learn the melodic minor scale and the diminished scale.
• Play all scales starting from each degree of the scale.

Follow this link for major scale patterns.

How to practice: with a metronome, every day, at each position. Start on other notes besides the root.

Don't try to do it all in one day. Don't spend more than a half hour on scales.

Here are some lessons and articles that tell you how and why to play scales:

• Guitar Basics 5. Gives reasons for practicing scales.
• Example of flowing scales over chord changes.
• Jamie Andreas gives a perspective on scales.

Guitar Chords (GC) builds your chops and helps you identify the most important chords by ear. GC shows you how to substitute and combine chords; play Jazz, Rock and Blues progressions; transpose songs; put chords to a melody; apply fingerpicking, alternating bass, arpeggios, and much more.