Question on Scales

[MetAccoustica]

What are some good scales for a beginner to learn. I'm interested in metal music, but other scales would help, cause I do want to be an overall good guitar player. What scales should I learn and how do you practice scales? Those are my questions...thanks

[mjamer]

Hello =)

You can get started with scales here:
http://www.cyberfret.com/scales/index.php

For practicing, I would reccomend using a metronome and ascending/descending the scales.

Have fun =)

mjamer

[Coffee]

Metronomes an awesome idea. You'll be surprised how often it's beat changes (until your sense of timing get's better). I'd recommend a blues scale and any major scale. How to practice them. First, let's be real. KNOW absolutely where the root of the scale is in each fingering. That way when someone says 'C# blues', you'll know where to go instead of looking like an idiot, (like I've done on several occasions.)

Here's what I do. I take a progression I like in the key I want to play and with the metronome record the chord progression while the metronome clicks in the background. Play the progression for five minutes or so then rewind the tape. Play the tape and run the scale over it from beginning to last. Incidentally, this is an excellent time to learn how to play using standard notation. The only thing is, be sure the chords are diatonic, use only chords that use notes strictly within the keys natural scale. If you're not sure of how to do this you can simply play the root chord over and over and over. This will allow your ear to hear how it fits together. Or if you want, pick a couple of scales and a key and I can give you a couple of simple progressions.

After simply running the scale up and down, I then start playing groups of four notes, starting with the bass note in the fingering position. This will not necessarily be the root of the key. Then I play up four notes, drop back to the second note in that position, play up four notes, drop back to the third note in that position etc.

When you really have a handle on this, move on below.

Then I'll play the same progression and run the modes? Wait don't panic!. All that means is that you start from the root and change your starting point. Say you're playing a C major scale. Play an 8 note run starting with C, then play an 8 note run starting with D, then E, F, G, A, B. Guess what, you've just run a Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian mode. Same fingering pattern, just started on a different note. Don't let the names bother you, just learn the sounds.