Could you help me?

[guitar_music]

Hey guys, a couple of questions here:

Ok, i've been playing for 6 months now and have recently started learning scales. I'm learning the minor pentatonic scale at the moment and have been improvising solos and melodies well. However, i don't understand what the 'root' means and how you can play scales in different keys. Could you explain this for me please?

Also, i'm in a 4-piece band. Being the guitarist i'm looking for an effects pedal which meets my needs. The type of music is grungy, like silverchair, but has many lead parts in it. Could any of you suggest an effects pedal which i could use?

Thanks alot
James

[wise]

If you want to play a 'C' scale for example, all the C's would be the roots. Same goes for any scale. The title of that scale (i.e. - A minor pentatonic) gives away the root, namely 'A' in this case.

Playing a scale in different keys simply means playing say your minor pentatonic scale in the key of 'A', or 'B', or 'C#', etc...whatever you want...the scale is simply a shape applicable in any area of the fretboard, just realize the roots of that scale shape determine which key you're playing in.

As for the effects pedal, can't help you there, im an acoustic guy.

'Chris

[Jools]

What wise said :) and...

say that a G blues scale pattern looks like this



D|-----------3-5
A|----3-4-5-----
E|3-6-----------

So the pattern is

D|--O-R-
A|--OOO-
E|--R--O

"0" is the fret to play and "-" is a fret you skip. "R" is the fret you play but it's the root.

This pattern works all over the neck and there are many other "relative" patterns to ease the memorisation of scales (and for beginners who don't know how to construct scales or don't know the name of the notes on the fret (yours truly, well I know them after I think for about 10 seconds:)).

Anyway, there's a scales section on cyberfret so check that.

As for the pedal, go to the shop, pick the most expensive guitar, or the one you really want but can't have and choose the pedals they have on display go from the most expensive, to the middle one and the low end. Play around in the store, ask the store people questions, enjoy the guitar and compare the pedals. Try not to look at the prices before playing them so you can be more objective...

[fretfire]

In Response to your Pedal Question, I have the DOD FX 69 Grunge Distortion Pedal and it gives a pretty sweet sound

[suppaenitetere]

Do not buy any of the low end DOD pedals. They make some alright high end stuff but their cheaper pedals are crap. Most dont have true bypass so the effect is always on, just to a lesser degree. The lack of true bypass also muddies up your tone when not using the pedal.