All of the below scale examples and lessons are in the key of C.
Practice these scales along with the Backing Tracks. You have to find the ROOT NOTE of each backing track by listening to it, and then play the scale in the SAME KEY.
Practice these scales along with the Backing Tracks. You have to find the ROOT NOTE of each backing track by listening to it, and then play the scale in the SAME KEY.
The Minor Pentatonic Scale
The first scale everyone learns. It's made from 5 "strongest" tones. The less resolved, "weak" tones are thrown out. This scale is used the most in blues and rock, and perfect over a minor chord in the same key. This scale is physically easy to play, and will come in handy over any style of music, as it can be moved around and played in different positions, producing different sounds.
The first scale everyone learns. It's made from 5 "strongest" tones. The less resolved, "weak" tones are thrown out. This scale is used the most in blues and rock, and perfect over a minor chord in the same key. This scale is physically easy to play, and will come in handy over any style of music, as it can be moved around and played in different positions, producing different sounds.
The Major Pentatonic Scale
The exact same "boxes" and "shapes" as the Minor Pentatonic, but played 3 frets down from the Minor Pentatonic. It produces a completely different, happy and relaxing sound. Can only be used over major or dominant chords. It will sound wrong over minor chords, because the 3rd is Sharpened (Major).
The exact same "boxes" and "shapes" as the Minor Pentatonic, but played 3 frets down from the Minor Pentatonic. It produces a completely different, happy and relaxing sound. Can only be used over major or dominant chords. It will sound wrong over minor chords, because the 3rd is Sharpened (Major).
The Major Scale (also called "Diatonic" or "Ionian")
This scale is the basis for all of western music, and you must know it to be able to play over anything you hear. Just learn the 5 patterns, and you're done. Connect the patterns together, by practicing connecting 2 patterns at a time. Print out the diagrams, and put them everywhere around the house, carry them around, until they are in your brain permanently.
This scale is the basis for all of western music, and you must know it to be able to play over anything you hear. Just learn the 5 patterns, and you're done. Connect the patterns together, by practicing connecting 2 patterns at a time. Print out the diagrams, and put them everywhere around the house, carry them around, until they are in your brain permanently.
The 7 Modes of the Major Scale
Now we unlock the true power of the major scale. You do not need to memorize any extra patterns at all! Just use the major scale patterns you already know, but start playing from 7 different Notes. This produces 7 different sounds. Each one has their own applications, and sound character. You will get huge mileage out of the major scale by using these!
Now we unlock the true power of the major scale. You do not need to memorize any extra patterns at all! Just use the major scale patterns you already know, but start playing from 7 different Notes. This produces 7 different sounds. Each one has their own applications, and sound character. You will get huge mileage out of the major scale by using these!
The Harmonic Minor Scale
It's a new scale, BUT remember: it only has 1 note different from the Aeolian Minor scale (which you already know, if you learned the major scale, or the modes). This scale has a very distinctive "jump" from minor 6th to the major 7th, which gives it a very classical, "sinister" character. This scale gives you 7 more BRAND NEW modes that you can use. By learning this, you are learning 7 more scales automatically.
It's a new scale, BUT remember: it only has 1 note different from the Aeolian Minor scale (which you already know, if you learned the major scale, or the modes). This scale has a very distinctive "jump" from minor 6th to the major 7th, which gives it a very classical, "sinister" character. This scale gives you 7 more BRAND NEW modes that you can use. By learning this, you are learning 7 more scales automatically.
Harmonic Minor Modes
Here, you will find the fingerings for the 7 modes of the Harmonic Minor scale. You will already know all of these fingerings, if you learned the 5 patterns of Harmonic Minor (above).
Here, you will find the fingerings for the 7 modes of the Harmonic Minor scale. You will already know all of these fingerings, if you learned the 5 patterns of Harmonic Minor (above).
The Melodic Minor Scale
Also called the "Jazz Minor". This scale and it's modes unlocks tremendous flexibility for you, if you're interested in Jazz. Again, it is only ONE NOTE different from the Dorian Mode or Major Scale. So you just have to memorize where the 1 note is. This is a fantastic, mysterious sounding scale, and it's modes will give you much variety when playing Jazz.
Also called the "Jazz Minor". This scale and it's modes unlocks tremendous flexibility for you, if you're interested in Jazz. Again, it is only ONE NOTE different from the Dorian Mode or Major Scale. So you just have to memorize where the 1 note is. This is a fantastic, mysterious sounding scale, and it's modes will give you much variety when playing Jazz.
Melodic Minor Modes
These modes allow playing over altered dominant chords and other tension building chords in Jazz. They have sound character ranging from "spicy" to "tenuous" to "majestic" to "ominous". All of these have some degree of "tension" - which will "tweak" your ears, if you are only used to standard pop and rock music.
These modes allow playing over altered dominant chords and other tension building chords in Jazz. They have sound character ranging from "spicy" to "tenuous" to "majestic" to "ominous". All of these have some degree of "tension" - which will "tweak" your ears, if you are only used to standard pop and rock music.
Diminished Scales
This scale is actually much simpler to learn than any of the other scales so far. This is because it only has 2 patterns, which repeat 4 times per octave. This scale has a lot of uses in Jazz. You can play 2 versions of this scale: starting with a whole step OR a half step. This scale has a very tense, spicy and unresolved sound: even more so than the melodic minor.
This scale is actually much simpler to learn than any of the other scales so far. This is because it only has 2 patterns, which repeat 4 times per octave. This scale has a lot of uses in Jazz. You can play 2 versions of this scale: starting with a whole step OR a half step. This scale has a very tense, spicy and unresolved sound: even more so than the melodic minor.
Whole Tone Scale
The easiest scale to learn out of all of them (only 1 pattern which repeats up and down). 6 note scale. Used mainly over Altered Dominant chords in Jazz for creating a lot of tension.
The easiest scale to learn out of all of them (only 1 pattern which repeats up and down). 6 note scale. Used mainly over Altered Dominant chords in Jazz for creating a lot of tension.
Exotic Scales
These scales have exotic sound character reminiscent of many world cultures. Experiment with these, and classify them into "Major", "Minor" or dominant. Use them appropriately over "Major", "Minor" or "Dominant" chords.
These scales have exotic sound character reminiscent of many world cultures. Experiment with these, and classify them into "Major", "Minor" or dominant. Use them appropriately over "Major", "Minor" or "Dominant" chords.
