where do I go from here?

[_tom_]

I'm sure this has been asked millions of times (probably by me aswell :lol:) but what the hell..

I have only just really learnt and remembered the 5(?) different minor pentatonic shapes/inversions along the neck.. Dunno where to go from here. I looked at modes but all the theory confuses me.

I just want some more melodic scales than the pentatonics really, but nothing too advanced. The thing I like about pentatonics is that they are easily movable for different scales, and have different shapes/inversions, so if theres something like this but more melodic, it sounds like it would perfect!

Thanks alot :D

[big steve]

learn the mixolydian and the natural minor. the natural minor is just like a pentatonic with a 2nd and a 6th added, and the mixolydian is a fairly bluesy sounding scale i suppose.

[chrisola]

i dont even know the pentatonics yet :(

I know some shapes, but not the names of the notes...

need to work on the theory.. damn my attention span !

[_tom_]

I'll have a look for the mixolydian thing then. I'm guessing I can move the root note to any position and it'll be in that key? I dont want to learn to shred or anything, its just pentatonics are so bloody boring!

chrisola, I got the new total guitar and theres an interview with some "new" guitarists - Trivium, Opeth, Shadows Fall etc. Most of them say they actually dont know theory, they just play what sounds good! If you play from knowledge, it sounds sterile, doesnt come from the heart! I agree with this, so I will learn as little theory as possible to be able to play some more melodic stuff  :D

[jt]

:D Learning scales & some good basic theory will help improve your playing no end & will help your creativity as well. Don`t sell yourself short here boys by thinking that you can play great & effectivly "Bluff" your way through things. The problem with that is that at some point you`ll get found out, & it`ll happen at a crucial time. [ Sods Law ]

The Major scales like the Pentatonic have different positions on the fret board. Once you`ve learnt these you can actually play the same Major scales you`ve learnt over Minor Chords !!! It`s called modulating & it`s really a lot easier than you think. It also sounds F***ing Great !!!!  :P

You might find it helpfull to find a guitar teacher as this will help cut down on the time it`ll take you to learn Theory & give you someone who can explain things clearly to you.

 :D  8)

[indysmith]

I'd love to argue against this point - but then when i think about it - all the most soulful players dont know theory. Players that do know oodles of theory can usually play amazing stuff - but not from the heart, just from the brain (VAI!!!). I think there's a balance to go for. My old guitar teacher knew loads of theory (obviously - he's a teacher) and played very soulful stuff...

[Steve-Mr Pig 2U]

Dont get too hung up on learning all of the different scales.... The great Dimebag only knew two scales, the pentatonic and the blues and he managed to write some of the best metal riffs and lead ever written!

[HJM]

Van Halen had the best approach, there's twelve notes, what you do with them is up to you!!

As for modes, think of them each as individual scales. Don't think of them as modes of the major scale.

The Natural minor is a mode, the major scale is a mode. A natural minor and C major have the same notes, but by placing the emphasis on the root A for the minor and C for the major you get completely different 'sound worlds'. This works for the other modes too.

Don't be frightened of using pentatonics as a basis, and borrowing the odd note from one of the modes to create a run (kind of heading towards Van Halen's idea.  Zakk works a lot like this also.

For the most part you can get by with the major and minor pentatonics, major scale and natural minor. Then push on to the mixolydian if you play a lot of blues (Robben Ford likes this scale- works well of seventh chords). The Dorian is very useful, and the Phrygian is great for meta riffs! If you want to sound like Yngwie get the harmonic minor down!!

There's a system that some people call CAGED. What you do is learn all the notes built around the chord shapes of C A G E and D. That way you learn the intervals and the scales in five positions to cover the fretboard but you can then related them to chords they will work with.  There are a few books on this, one that's OK is by (I think) Paul Ford (apart from the fact he keeps calling a b6 in a minor scale a sharp 5...)  :lol:

I get the feeling it could be a good time to find a teacher for a couple of lessons - just to make sure you don't get in a rut!! Good luck!

[_tom_]

I actually go to lessons every few months or so. My teacher gave me a shee with some modal shapes on but I compared these with some on the internet and they dont match  :?

[Underground_Player]

The clip I posted recentlyish has mainly a blues scale or a mixolydian vibe, or a mixture of the two. You should be able to recognise the blues stuff, so I guess if you like the tonality of the non-bluesy stuff......learn the mixolydian!

[TwilightOdyssey]

My web site will be up soon and it addresses that very question:
NOW WHAT?!

Melodic Rock Guitar Concepts, coming soon!!!!

[Bird]

I'd love to argue against this point - but then when i think about it - all the most soulful players dont know theory. Players that do know oodles of theory can usually play amazing stuff - but not from the heart, just from the brain (VAI!!!). I think there's a balance to go for. My old guitar teacher knew loads of theory (obviously - he's a teacher) and played very soulful stuff...

I think it really depends on the player and how they apply that knowledge. A good example is John Frusciante, he knows theory inside and out, but he's got a ton of soul and feel out the wazoo. Eddie also knows all about music theory although he likes to downplay it. But you don't take 8-10 years of classical piano and not come out knowing your stuff. I think a guy like Vai would still sound like he does even if he didn't know jack about music theory. I totally agree with HJM about Eddie's 12 note philosophy,  even though I can't pull it off myself.  
P.S. Dimbag Rules :twisted:

[Searcher]

You can learn theory without destroying your "soul". :) After all, even if all you do is play for years and years and never even learn what notes are what on the fretboard, you're still going to learn how the notes actually sound, right? You'll still be learning theory, only you won't know the words for it, just the sounds.

But getting back to learning the names without losing feel, just make sure your practice is balanced, that's all. So learn the modes and then apply them creatively. If all you do in practice is whizz up and down the scales, then that's all you'll do when you play out, but if you spend a good portion of your practice time in applying theory, then you'll still play creatively.

A good way to deal with modes is to play a power chord and loop it. Then play the modes over the recorded power chord so that you get the sounds of them in your head. Then improvise over a backing track and you should find yourself reaching for those sounds without even thinking about it too much. At least, that's what happens eventually. In the beginning you might think about it a bit. It helps when you get to the stage where you know how a note on the fretboard will sound before you even play it.

[dave_mc]

^the way i do it is, i know how the notes sound in a scale- for example, if i'm letting rip (badly, i might add), i'll know i'm playing in the natural minor scale. If you asked me in the middle of shredding what note i just hit, i couldn't tell you. I know it's in the scale I'm using, and i know how it'll sound when i hit it, and IMO, that's what matters. (I'm not saying i don't know the notes- gimme 5 seconds, and i'll be able to tell you what note it is!)

since you know the minor pentatonic, i'd suggest the natural minor and blues scales.

[_tom_]

Sounds good, cheers! I'll have a browse through the UG lessons etc.