Guitar Scales Introduction

What is guitar scales ?

Guitar scales is a compilation of musical notes that arrange in different tone in set of pitch.In one pitch of scale there are either 7,5,4 or etc of musical notes depending on the type of scale.There are various type of guitar scale that derived from basic scale.Different scale give different of tone level.For examples,when you climb stairs,you will climb stepwise or skip the step,as well as the guitar scale.Imagine that you walk along on guitar fretboard that have you set.If you go stepwise you will be safe but you will lose time.If you skip the stairs,you will get faster but less safe to your destination.In guitar scale,if you play the scale that you want to play perfectly,play all notes in the scale,you can get your tone that you want base on scale that you choose(scale as stairs).If you skip the note on your selected scale,you will get other tonic,your scale was change.For example,in basic scale,such as major scale.Interval notes in A minor scale are : A,B,C,D,E,F,G.If you play all the notes you will experience an A minor scale.If you skip B and F notes,what scale you play ? this is ‘Pentatonic scale’.As well as other scale that has their own tone level or sound.You must remember that,guitar chord derived from guitar scale,without know guitar scale,you unable to create triad chord or other chord.

How to read & play guitar scales ?

Diagram below show how to read guitar scale diagram that you find from Guitar lesson website or book.

Black-fill dot represent root notes as starting note that determine what kind of scale.On fretboard above,root note on 5^th fret,this is A note.Dark-lined dot represent all notes in the scale based on what root's note you start to play.If you start with A note,the scale become A scale,then look the pattern of scale use is major scale.So,this is root scale ‘A major scale’.Scale has it own mode pattern.To understand more detail about basic guitar scale see here and guitar modes,see here

To play guitar scale,pluck the note either whote note,half note or eight note.Play the scale with your own style.Example, in A minor scale,Notes are A,B,C,D,E,F,G.Play all the note increasing or decreasing pattern.

Type of Guitar Scale

There are many type of guitar scale from basic guitar scale,modes to exotic guitar scale.Guitar scale is different from various style of music and country.Basic scale are pentatonic,major/minor,harmonic minor, & blues scale are often use by guitarist

Below show various of scale that you must know :

Basic scale

1) Minor

2) Major

2) Harmonic minor

3) Harmonic major

3) Pentatonic minor

4) Pentatonic major

5) Pentatonic minor harmonic

6) Pentatonic major harmonic

7) Blues scale

8) Diminished