i need help learning scales... please&thanks

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alright guys i am a rhythm type of player, i can play some solo's but not very well and fast.. I can play songs and lots of them, but when it comes to the lead work.. well i am not fast enough and dont know any scales.. so i am wanting to start learning scales.. i play metalcore,deathcore, well METAL.. :rock: so im playing drop tuning like drop D C,B,A# i was wandering what would be a good place to start.. because frankly i have no idea were to begin.. im self taught and really couldnt tell you any thing theory wise... I can read tabs thats about it.. I am going to start talking lessons here after christmas due to spending thousands of bucks on gifts.. so guys if you can steer me in the right path on where and how to become a better lead player. i would be very grateful... thanks..

what are good scales/modes to start with.. in drop tuning..
what are some good exercises for speed and whatever else..

BTW i have tired to learn scales and it seems for some reason it is very hard to get.. :doh: ive got many scale/theory/learn how to play books and DVD's and nothing seems to be working on the scale department.. thanks
 
There are several ways you can go about learning these.

If you want to get a grasp on theory and learn all the notes across the fretboard then I suggest starting with the C major scale and learning it every position. The key of C has no flats or sharps, so it's a great place to start. C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C

Once you learn that, you can start flatting your thirds, sixths and sevenths for natural minor, or your thirds and sevenths for Pentatonic Minor, or whatever you want.

Seeing as how you play in drop D a lot and are into metal stuff, you could start with the D melodic minor scale and learn it all over the neck. It would flow well as far as adding lead parts to open D aggressive rhythm chugging stuff. :thumbsup: Key of D major has an F# and C#, with the rest natural, while D minor is D, E, F, G, A, A# (or Bb) C.

It can be very overwhelming at first, but once you learn your Major scale in one key, the rest just falls into place. One very important and helpful thing to keep in mind, is that the first mode; the Ionian mode is the Major scale. Same thing. A lot of people get stuck on the "modes" concept but the theory behind them is really simple.

In fact, all the modes are the Major scale, but starting from the different notes in order.

So basically what I'm saying is that C Ionian/Major = D Dorian = E Phrygian = F Lydian = G Mixolydian = A Aeolian = B Locrian. If you're playing in any of these modes/scales, you're actually playing all the same notes as C major, just with a different root note. For example F Lydian resolves or is rooted in F, but the notes are the exact same as the C major/Ionian scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, no sharps or flats.

(Aeolian is also the same as the natural minor scale, and A Aeolian/Minor is the relative minor to C major)

If you need help feel free to pm me. :)
Jordan



Yeah, I know that's a lot info, but just start with C major and you'll have the basis for everything under your belt! This site is a great place to start.

http://www.all-guitar-chords.com/gu...LL&scch=C&scchnam=Major&get2=Get&t=0&choice=3
 
First things first: If you don't know your scales, don't come to this site; It will suck away all of your time! I would suggest getting a good teacher. It seems like you just need a little catching up in the theory/ soloing dept. Once you've got some theory under your belt, then come back and nerd out about gear. Technique/ Theory knowledge > gear knowledge
 
severinsteel":1k25kym2 said:
First things first: If you don't know your scales, don't come to this site; It will suck away all of your time! I would suggest getting a good teacher. It seems like you just need a little catching up in the theory/ soloing dept. Once you've got some theory under your belt, then come back and nerd out about gear. Technique/ Theory knowledge > gear knowledge
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Not necessarily. You can't say not to come to Rig-Talk if you're not a theory god. Some people don't even want to know it, and that's fine. It's like a guy who likes Ferraris but isn't a mechanic. You don't have to know how it all works to enjoy it. :)

It's a GREAT thing to know, but many great songwriters and musicians don't know a bit of theory. In some ways, knowing how everything works takes away some of the magic of music. You go from listening and feeling something, to over analyzing and picking it apart.

It's good to learn theory, especially if you're going to try to be a hired gun (then it's a must) but if you just want to write tunes, be in a band, or whatever then you should learn enough to get your ideas across, but not so much that it makes music clinical and boring.

kaeli0430, keep it simple for now. C MAJOR!!!
 
glassjaw7":1mpfr4as said:
severinsteel":1mpfr4as said:
First things first: If you don't know your scales, don't come to this site; It will suck away all of your time! I would suggest getting a good teacher. It seems like you just need a little catching up in the theory/ soloing dept. Once you've got some theory under your belt, then come back and nerd out about gear. Technique/ Theory knowledge > gear knowledge
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. You can't say not to come to Rig-Talk if you're not a theory god. Some people don't even want to know it, and that's fine. It's like a guy who likes Ferraris but isn't a mechanic. You don't have to know how it all works to enjoy it. :)

It's a GREAT thing to know, but many great songwriters and musicians don't know a bit of theory. In some ways, knowing how everything works takes away some of the magic of music. You go from listening and feeling something, to over analyzing and picking it apart.

It's good to learn theory, especially if you're going to try to be a hired gun (then it's a must) but if you just want to write tunes, be in a band, or whatever then you should learn enough to get your ideas across, but not so much that it makes music clinical and boring.

kaeli0430, keep it simple for now. C MAJOR!!!
Click to expand...

I've heard that same thing before. Somebody told me their teacher made them learn all this theory and then they told them to just pretend like they never learned it and play guitar :doh: :lol: :LOL:

I actually think it was someone from here IIRC.
 
as a teenager, i was taught by a jazz and classical teachers. Spent many years learning all the scales in every position, and 1 million arpeggios every day, Well it paid off, landed alot of gigs, session work and with all types of music genres, can read all scores and write scores, am always hired when i audition. Took all that music theory and techniques and applied it to the situation. If I was not as adverse in the music theory, I would not have had all the opportunities that i had. Got to play in a pro touring rock act for many years, living the rock n roll dream, Great experience. Find the best teacher or teachers in your area and practice those scales and arpeggios, and advance to triad inversions. After posting this reply, its got me thinking ! I'm gonna go and contact my old jazz teacher, he is my guitar hero
 
pstar":27jrp2vi said:
as a teenager, i was taught by a jazz and classical teachers. Spent many years learning all the scales in every position, and 1 million arpeggios practising every day, Well it paid off, landed alot
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Truth! :thumbsup:
 
long time lurker, 3rd-time poster

i would recommend going to youtube and typing in the search field "guitar scales lessons" or "guitar modes lessons" or "guitar theory lessons" or "guitar pentatonic minor scale lesson" or "guitar pentatonic major scale lesson", or "guitar blues scales lesson"

and gather up as many youtube accounts as possible and subscribe to them all.
 
Buy some guitar magazines, they have lessons in them all the time.
 
pstar":3pux564x said:
as a teenager, i was taught by a jazz and classical teachers. Spent many years learning all the scales in every position, and 1 million arpeggios practising every day, Well it paid off, landed alot
Click to expand...

okay i here ya landed alot.. im slightly on the slow side so i cant tell if your being a smart ass or well being a smart ass.. truth i play for enjoyment,hobby, because i like it.. i started at on older age where i had other factors play in.. work,daughter, hot wife that wants my johnson every night.. :D household work.. well still have those im only 34.. didnt have the luxury of being a teen and doing nothing but playing guitar and jacking off to the jcpenny catalog bra section. :confused: but if your not trying to be a smart ass then cool and thanks for the post!!!!! i am wanting to take it more serious now that i have slightly more time..
 
Theory is very important, but technique and feel are essential.

-C
 
spirit7":131zyz6c said:
Theory is very important, but technique and feel are essential.

-C
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thats what im starting to realize.. becasue im kind of at a stopping point and it seems i CANT LEARN or dont know how to learn. whats next.. if that makes since.. im beating my brain trying to figure out what comes next.. so that is why im asking for every ones help on here.. thanks
 
Search youtube for riff of the week. Or go to www.daveweiner.com

If you want to learn,theres plenty of people that will teach you. You hafta commit yourself. Spend some cash and put in the time.
 
Gorehog":3199t9nv said:
Search youtube for riff of the week. Or go to http://www.daveweiner.com

If you want to learn,theres plenty of people that will teach you. You hafta commit yourself. Spend some cash and put in the time.
Click to expand...

well there is actually a really good teacher in my area, and im going to him here after christmas.. i always thought i could learn on my own since when i picked up a guitar a few years back learning songs came sort of easy.. throwing in a TOOL, around the fur "deftones" machine head type of stuff came to me quickly.. well now that i am liking alot of parkway drive, as i lay dying, shit like that.. im like WOW this shit is fast and takes alot longer for me to learn it.. alot more single note type of stuff..and i get really pissed at myself when it takes a long time.. plus im wanting to widen my skills more break out from the metal era.. im just wanting to learn everything i can dont want to only know a certain genre of music.. thanks
 
hey, not being a smart ass, tryin to help with the right advice. If u r serious, there is a ton of infor. on the net to learn from BUT alot of the techniques will not be shown to u and no one is there to correct u, when that is the most important aspect to playing an guitar, learning it right, or for that matter of fact, any instrument.
 
keith richards don't need scales and he ain't a bad rhytym player. don't worry your hear it if your doing it wrong.
 
pstar":1f2jhmig said:
hey, not being a smart ass, tryin to help with the right advice. If u r serious, there is a ton of infor. on the net to learn from BUT alot of the techniques will not be shown to u and no one is there to correct u, when that is the most important aspect to playing an guitar, learning it right, or for that matter of fact, any instrument.
Click to expand...

well i didnt think so.. like i said im slow and all the drugs i did in my younger years prob dont help me much either!!!! :confused: but yes learning it right is my most concern.. but thanks for the input!!!!
 
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