help me get better?

[CJ]

any suggestions for trying to memorize the scales in all the different keys? i've got the patterns memorized, but only in C major. would you think it'd be better to work on a different key every day, or like one per week.

[dave_mc]

if you've got the patterns memorised it's only a matter of moving them around, surely? apart from if you run out of frets or something. EDIT: locrian's not pointless!

[CJ]

if you've got the patterns memorised it's only a matter of moving them around, surely? apart from if you run out of frets or something. EDIT: locrian's not pointless!

well yeah, its just a matter of moving them around. but if you've told to play say an E minor scale, shouldn't you know how to play it without looking in your book and figuring out which position you need to play where?

[Johnny Mac]

repetition works
have you tried the Tascam units that let you slow music down and loop it whilst retaining pitch?

Yes they can help you learn a lot as you can put passages of music in loops and repeat them over and over. Yes the slowing down feature helps too.

You should start with pentatonic scales in ALL postions and keys. See how they link into each other. This is what you see when players are moving up and down the neck. Burn these shapes into your brain. Start with the common basic shape and use it to improvise over music you like or backing tracks. Don't under estimate the importance of RHYTHM! Learn basic Shuffles and 12 bar blues progressions. Then think about major scales and modes. In my opinion this will confuse you if you dont get a good grounding in pentatonics. They have 5 notes from octave to octave as opposed to 7, or intervals as its known. the website www.looknohands.com can show you all your chords and scales. Find melodies on the neck from anything you hear, like adverts on the telly, anything really. Loosen up when playing as you won't sound so stiff. Try choking instead of barreing chords as that can help. It takes around 10-15 to just warm up so don't stop that soon. Take meal and drink breaks, not beer!
Good luck  :D

[Johnny Mac]

if you've got the patterns memorised it's only a matter of moving them around, surely? apart from if you run out of frets or something. EDIT: locrian's not pointless!

well yeah, its just a matter of moving them around. but if you've told to play say an E minor scale, shouldn't you know how to play it without looking in your book and figuring out which position you need to play where?

Changing keys is easy. If your in A then what I do is look at the basic A minor Pentonic shape at the 5th fret. You remember this because thats where A is in a Barre Chord. Then the shapes going up the neck all link into each other until you get the 17th fret which is where the shape is the same and so are the notes but an octave higher. In C From The 8th, G from the 3rd.
You figure it out using this method quicker the more you do it.

[CJ]

repetition works
have you tried the Tascam units that let you slow music down and loop it whilst retaining pitch?

Yes they can help you learn a lot as you can put passages of music in loops and repeat them over and over. Yes the slowing down feature helps too.

You should start with pentatonic scales in ALL postions and keys. See how they link into each other. This is what you see when players are moving up and down the neck. Burn these shapes into your brain. Start with the common basic shape and use it to improvise over music you like or backing tracks. Don't under estimate the importance of RHYTHM! Learn basic Shuffles and 12 bar blues progressions. Then think about major scales and modes. In my opinion this will confuse you if you dont get a good grounding in pentatonics. They have 5 notes from octave to octave as opposed to 7, or intervals as its known. the website www.looknohands.com can show you all your chords and scales. Find melodies on the neck from anything you hear, like adverts on the telly, anything really. Loosen up when playing as you won't sound so stiff. Try choking instead of barreing chords as that can help. It takes around 10-15 to just warm up so don't stop that soon. Take meal and drink breaks, not beer!
Good luck  :D

you really think its good to learn the pentatonic scales in all keys and positions on one day? 35 different scales seems tough to handle in a day. but i could see how over time you'll eventually just "get it". and do you think pentatonic is more beneficial to learn than the regular major/minor scales? i hear a lot about pentatonic, but what's the point if it is just the major scale with less notes?

anyway, yesterday was another record for me. played for 4 hours straight, and i must say, my ass hurt for like another 4 hours after that. i'll have to remember to take little breaks from now on.

[Johnny Mac]

repetition works
have you tried the Tascam units that let you slow music down and loop it whilst retaining pitch?

Yes they can help you learn a lot as you can put passages of music in loops and repeat them over and over. Yes the slowing down feature helps too.

You should start with pentatonic scales in ALL postions and keys. See how they link into each other. This is what you see when players are moving up and down the neck. Burn these shapes into your brain. Start with the common basic shape and use it to improvise over music you like or backing tracks. Don't under estimate the importance of RHYTHM! Learn basic Shuffles and 12 bar blues progressions. Then think about major scales and modes. In my opinion this will confuse you if you dont get a good grounding in pentatonics. They have 5 notes from octave to octave as opposed to 7, or intervals as its known. the website www.looknohands.com can show you all your chords and scales. Find melodies on the neck from anything you hear, like adverts on the telly, anything really. Loosen up when playing as you won't sound so stiff. Try choking instead of barreing chords as that can help. It takes around 10-15 to just warm up so don't stop that soon. Take meal and drink breaks, not beer!
Good luck  :D

you really think its good to learn the pentatonic scales in all keys and positions on one day? 35 different scales seems tough to handle in a day. but i could see how over time you'll eventually just "get it". and do you think pentatonic is more beneficial to learn than the regular major/minor scales? i hear a lot about pentatonic, but what's the point if it is just the major scale with less notes?

anyway, yesterday was another record for me. played for 4 hours straight, and i must say, my ass hurt for like another 4 hours after that. i'll have to remember to take little breaks from now on.

One day  :lol: No. You won't so take your time. Its not a major scale with less notes, god almighty! Don't just play scales put them into a musical context too.
Yes I do think its a good idea to learn them as well as other things you want to learn. I don't think I've ever met a guitar player who knows modes and majors but not pentatonics!

[CJ]

repetition works
have you tried the Tascam units that let you slow music down and loop it whilst retaining pitch?

Yes they can help you learn a lot as you can put passages of music in loops and repeat them over and over. Yes the slowing down feature helps too.

You should start with pentatonic scales in ALL postions and keys. See how they link into each other. This is what you see when players are moving up and down the neck. Burn these shapes into your brain. Start with the common basic shape and use it to improvise over music you like or backing tracks. Don't under estimate the importance of RHYTHM! Learn basic Shuffles and 12 bar blues progressions. Then think about major scales and modes. In my opinion this will confuse you if you dont get a good grounding in pentatonics. They have 5 notes from octave to octave as opposed to 7, or intervals as its known. the website www.looknohands.com can show you all your chords and scales. Find melodies on the neck from anything you hear, like adverts on the telly, anything really. Loosen up when playing as you won't sound so stiff. Try choking instead of barreing chords as that can help. It takes around 10-15 to just warm up so don't stop that soon. Take meal and drink breaks, not beer!
Good luck  :D

you really think its good to learn the pentatonic scales in all keys and positions on one day? 35 different scales seems tough to handle in a day. but i could see how over time you'll eventually just "get it". and do you think pentatonic is more beneficial to learn than the regular major/minor scales? i hear a lot about pentatonic, but what's the point if it is just the major scale with less notes?

anyway, yesterday was another record for me. played for 4 hours straight, and i must say, my ass hurt for like another 4 hours after that. i'll have to remember to take little breaks from now on.

One day  :lol: No. You won't so take your time. Its not a major scale with less notes, god almighty! Don't just play scales put them into a musical context too.
Yes I do think its a good idea to learn them as well as other things you want to learn. I don't think I've ever met a guitar player who knows modes and majors but not pentatonics!

ok, i get it. but i do know my pentatonic patters very well, just not in all the different keys. since i know the patterns, i figured i would just learn all the major scales in all the different keys. then, if i knew the major scale of a certain key, it would be easy to just play the pentatonic scale in that position.

[Johnny Mac]

repetition works
have you tried the Tascam units that let you slow music down and loop it whilst retaining pitch?

Yes they can help you learn a lot as you can put passages of music in loops and repeat them over and over. Yes the slowing down feature helps too.

You should start with pentatonic scales in ALL postions and keys. See how they link into each other. This is what you see when players are moving up and down the neck. Burn these shapes into your brain. Start with the common basic shape and use it to improvise over music you like or backing tracks. Don't under estimate the importance of RHYTHM! Learn basic Shuffles and 12 bar blues progressions. Then think about major scales and modes. In my opinion this will confuse you if you dont get a good grounding in pentatonics. They have 5 notes from octave to octave as opposed to 7, or intervals as its known. the website www.looknohands.com can show you all your chords and scales. Find melodies on the neck from anything you hear, like adverts on the telly, anything really. Loosen up when playing as you won't sound so stiff. Try choking instead of barreing chords as that can help. It takes around 10-15 to just warm up so don't stop that soon. Take meal and drink breaks, not beer!
Good luck  :D

you really think its good to learn the pentatonic scales in all keys and positions on one day? 35 different scales seems tough to handle in a day. but i could see how over time you'll eventually just "get it". and do you think pentatonic is more beneficial to learn than the regular major/minor scales? i hear a lot about pentatonic, but what's the point if it is just the major scale with less notes?

anyway, yesterday was another record for me. played for 4 hours straight, and i must say, my ass hurt for like another 4 hours after that. i'll have to remember to take little breaks from now on.

One day  :lol: No. You won't so take your time. Its not a major scale with less notes, god almighty! Don't just play scales put them into a musical context too.
Yes I do think its a good idea to learn them as well as other things you want to learn. I don't think I've ever met a guitar player who knows modes and majors but not pentatonics!

ok, i get it. but i do know my pentatonic patters very well, just not in all the different keys. since i know the patterns, i figured i would just learn all the major scales in all the different keys. then, if i knew the major scale of a certain key, it would be easy to just play the pentatonic scale in that position.

Well it depends a bit on what shape majors your learning, some of the ones I use are all 3 notes per string shapes, which are great for legato. Look under the spider exercises thread for some 3 note major scales!  Anyway the keys are the same as where you will find the chords basically speaking. Try and improvise and work on phrasing. Also see how you can fit licks in on different rhythm patterns.

[indysmith]

Play everything using the A minor pent, or the C Major scale... works for me :lol:

[CJ]

Well it depends a bit on what shape majors your learning, some of the ones I use are all 3 notes per string shapes, which are great for legato. Look under the spider exercises thread for some 3 note major scales!  Anyway the keys are the same as where you will find the chords basically speaking. Try and improvise and work on phrasing. Also see how you can fit licks in on different rhythm patterns.

enough with that insanely long quote.

i forgot about my three note per string scales! i learned them a while ago but i forget them. i'll take a look at them, i have a feeling they'll be a lot more useful than the traditional scale patterns. also, i'm finding it much easier to learn the scales in new keys now. after only one day i'm starting to not see the scales as C major scales anymore, and rather just patterns. i also realized that all i have to do is find all of the say, d notes (if i'm playing d minor), and then i know exactly what scale pattern i have to play since i know my root notes. before i was trying to memorize them in relation to the C major/A minor scale, but its a lot easier just using your root notes.

improvising is something that i do all the time. also, after working on my scales so much now, i'm finding i'm using them a lot more in rhythm type stuff as you said.

i've also been doing the spider exercises. very difficult to play fast! i haven't even attempted anything over like 100 bpm on the first and 80bpm on the second. they're good exercises though.

[Johnny Mac]

Root notes is how i visualise the different keys, the same as where you would find barre chords. Well thats how i do it. The shapes are the same, i look at the basic A Minor Pentatonic shape in the different key positions and relate the rest of the shapes to it, which is how everyone does it I should imagine.

As for using a metronome on the spider exercises, they're not musical exercises, just finger exercises, so a metronome isn't really necessary. Just keep it sounding even.

Practice those 3 notes per string majors using legato. That will give you a work out!

[CJ]

Root notes is how i visualise the different keys, the same as where you would find barre chords. Well thats how i do it. The shapes are the same, i look at the basic A Minor Pentatonic shape in the different key positions and relate the rest of the shapes to it, which is how everyone does it I should imagine.

As for using a metronome on the spider exercises, they're not musical exercises, just finger exercises, so a metronome isn't really necessary. Just keep it sounding even.

Practice those 3 notes per string majors using legato. That will give you a work out!

yeah, i know they're not musical exercises, but i'm trying to use the metronome as much as i can right now. if you've listened to any of my clips you'd know why. plus, it gives me a good reference to go by. i know what speed i did them at before and i can try to improve it.

and legato would mean only picking one note per string (in this case), correct?


again, thanks for all the help guys.