Learning Guitar Scales – Five Scales You Should Know

For budding guitarists, learning guitar scales on their guitars may seem tiring and boring at first but it is actually the best way to improve one’s shredding skill.

Scalar knowledge shores up your melodies, arrangements and harmonies.

After a couple of weeks and a heavy amount of patience, you’re off to being your own unique musician.

Here are some basic examples of scales:

The Major Scale in G

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When learning guitar scales, beginners are encouraged to learn the minor and the major scale because anyone can easily improvise upon mastering these scales. The Major scale is based on scale degrees. These are determined by half and whole steps. You can think of a half step as going up or down one fret. Like from B to C or D to D#. A whole step is like going up two frets. B to C# or A to B.

The Minor Scale in G

The Minor will add harmonies to your sound, making it more distinct. The trick is to use your pinky finger extensively.

Minor Pentatonic Scale in G

The Minor pentatonic scale is a five-note scale that can be determined by its minor third interval from the first note of the scale to the second note of the scale. Pentatonic scales are more widely used than any other scale because of its flexibility—it is used in nearly all forms of western music. Here’s a tip: memorize the pattern or fingering on the low E string, whatever position you start from on the fret board, it is the same for any key that you are working in.

Minor Pentatonic Blues Scale in G

Also when you’re learning guitar scales, give your rhythms a bluesier tone just by just putting the fourth note between the minor 3rd and 5th of the pentatonic scale. Play around with the chord and plucking to produce a sensual feel of blues to your sound.

Dorian Scale in G

If you’d like your sound to have more a funkier feel, the Dorian scale is for you. A sub-genre of funk, the Dorian Funk, is derived from the licks or riffs that can be heard off this scale. On moving forward with the scales, convert the pentatonic scale into a Dorian minor scale by adding in the 2nd note and the 6th note onto the original five notes. You can now insert your own flavorful strums and compose your own funky guitar riffs.

Scalar knowledge is best for self-learners and beginners because it prevents any musician from playing faulty chords. One must know that even if a scale doesn’t sound good, it should still be learned. Learning guitar scales can also be helpful to those who want to play guitar without enough inspiration. Once you’ve mastered the basic scales, moving forward to more challenging guitar lessons will seem pretty easy.

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