| Copyright (c) 2010 Robert Hinchliffe | | | | once you have learnt a scale, keep going over it to |
| Many beginners on the guitar first learn the technique | | | | keep it in your memory and continue to improve it. I |
| of playing chords. However, there will probably come a | | | | have always recommended to my pupils that as they |
| time when they want to be able to play tunes or | | | | build up a few known scales that they play through all |
| melodic passages too. It is at this point that they will | | | | of them before turning to the one that they are |
| need to learn guitar scales. Scales are the basis of all | | | | currently studying. |
| melody as they are, quite simply, all the notes of a | | | | POINT NO.3: - Make sure that you have access to |
| particular key played in ascending or descending order. | | | | good practice material so that you know the notes to |
| Whatever instrument you play, scales are important if | | | | play and how to play them. Whether you have a |
| you are ever going to master the instrument. Many | | | | teacher, a tutor book or you are using an online course, |
| people find the thought of playing scales daunting, but | | | | it is important to be absolutely clear about key |
| they shouldn't! The secret with scale practice is the | | | | signatures and correct fingerings. This is, obviously, vital |
| 'little and often' approach. Spend just a few minutes at | | | | in learning guitar scales correctly. |
| a time on a particular scale and then work on | | | | POINT NO.4: - Once you have acquired a significant |
| something else before returning to the scale later in | | | | number of scales in your repertoire, start up a scale |
| your practice session. | | | | box. This consists of a small box or tin into which you |
| Here are a few other suggestions which will guide you | | | | place small folded bits of paper, each with the name |
| through the process of how to learn guitar scales. | | | | of one of your known scales on it. You then begin |
| POINT NO.1: - We are all different so you must find an | | | | each practice session by picking two scales out at |
| approach that works for you. Bearing in mind the 'little | | | | random and playing them through. Put that piece of |
| and often' issue which I mentioned in the previous | | | | paper on one side (e.g. - in the lid of the box or another |
| paragraph, you must have an overall plan of when and | | | | tin). Over a few days you will run through all the scales |
| for how long your practice sessions will be. You can | | | | you know in random order. When your box or tin is |
| then incorporate your guitar scales method into that. | | | | empty, put all the folded papers back in, shake them |
| This plan of action will obviously be dictated by your | | | | up and start all over again. This ensures that you don't |
| daily schedule and lifestyle. Do remember that without | | | | forget scales you have learned as they are all being |
| regular practice you will make very little progress on | | | | played on a regular basis. As you learn new scales |
| any aspect of learning the guitar. Practice sessions | | | | you add them to the box. |
| don't need to be lengthy as long as they are regular. | | | | I hope that this article has been of help in showing you |
| Twenty minutes a day is far better then two hours on | | | | how to learn guitar scales. Remember the basic |
| a Sunday and nothing on the other days of the week. | | | | messages; - make sure you know the key signatures |
| POINT NO.2: - Study just one scale at a time. Don't try | | | | and fingerings, practise them little and often and keep |
| to learn several simultaneously as that is likely to | | | | practising them once you have learnt them. |
| confuse both your brain and your fingers. However, | | | | |