Learning Guitar Scales
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Guitar Scales - An Important Exercise to Learn
This article by Andrew Koblick gives us an overview of what guitar scales are and also gives some great tips on how to benefit the most whilst practicing them.
Do you know your guitar scales?
If youre learning to play guitar, scales are an important exercise for you to learn. Scales are often neglected on the guitar, for some reason. But you would be hard pressed to find a good pianist who didnt have at least some level of proficiency at scales. The same should be true for guitarists.
The benefits of learning guitar scales Learning to play scales on your guitar can have many benefits. One of the benefits is that you learn the notes of each particular scale, and become comfortable playing those notes. When you play a song in that key, you will already be used to playing each of the notes and will know where they are.
Here as an aside is a great video showing us the minor pentatonic scale being played.
And the article continues ….
Playing guitar scales also has great technical benefits. Playing scales can help you increase your dexterity, precision, and speed of your playing. If you play scales each time you practice, over time youll notice your playing skills increasing from this simple exercise. Learning and playing guitar scales.
There are dozens of different scales, but youll want to start out with a few common ones. The most common scales for guitar are probably C, G, D, & A. Id suggest that you start with major scales, as they are generally easiest and more commonly used. Later you can go on to minor scales plus other scales.
When you first start learning a scale, play it slow enough that you can play each note correctly and cleanly. As you get better, you can speed it up.
However, never play them fast enough that you lose control. When you play a scale, each note should be perfect - clean, and in steady rhythm, tone, and volume. As a teacher of mine once said, ‘Make your scales like a pear necklace - each note, perfect, round, and beautiful!’ Follow this advice and watch your playing improve!
Andrew Koblick has taught guitar for over 25 years. His website www.guitar5day.com features guitar lessons, free learn guitar newsletter, discussion forum and blog.
