Guitar Scales

[heymyfriend04]

I think I've come to the point in my guitar playing that I need to learn how to solo, and also to better understand the music that I am playing, but I have one problem.....I have no knowledge of scales. I'm not asking anyone to explain them to me or anything, but does anyone know a good book, website, etc. that could give me some instruction?

Thanks

-Jamie

[cj4258]

A major scale is built on a specific set of intervals: (W=Whole, H=Half)

WWHWWWH

So, we take those intervals and place them within a four-fret position, and we get:

Major Scale Shape
|-0-|-X-|---|---|
|---|-0-|---|-0-|
|-0-|---|-0-|-0-|
|-0-|---|-0-|-X-|
|-0-|-0-|---|-0-|
|---|-X-|---|-0-|

These fingerings are not fret specific, meaning you can play this shape anywhere on the fretboard. The octaves, denoted by X's, are your root note and whatever they are is what scale you are playing. So, yes, with this shape you are playing two scales in two different octaves.

My advice is, get to where you have the sound and feel of a major scale purely engrained (sp?) in your finger muscle memory and in your ear. Sit in front of the TV and play the scales over and over, not looking, and train your fingers to be able to do it at any time, under any circumstance. Then, once you have major scales down, move on to minor.

--------

This site isn't particularly guitar-based, but it will teach you what a scale is and what it does. It also has a pretty cool "guitar trainer:"

http://www.musictheory.net

Email me if you need any more help, I'd be happy to respond.