All Scales Are Easy Guitar Scales
from Guitar Theory Day Two this is page 2
The term "easy guitar scales" is really a misnomer and a bit misleading.
The truth is that there isn’t really much technical difference between any guitar scales. It is true that some scale forms are a little trickier to master. This is especially true in the classical genre. Classical guitar tradition has some prescribed fingerings that fit into particular contexts. Not least of these contexts are learning guitar scale forms to pass an educational board/body formal graded examination performance. Even so other than some longer fingering patterns to memorise and a bit of stretching for some forms, the underlying technique and physical principles remain the same for all guitar scales. Whether you call them easy guitar scales or not the basic skills are the same. Jump straight to lesson videos
Why Are Some Called "Easy Guitar Scales" Then?
The answer to this lies in how easy you can you remember a scale and how easy you can use it. In reality if you can play an "easy guitar scale" then you can play any darn scale.
Look at it like this: it may be a little harder to memorise a new phone number including the extra area codes and extensions but once you’ve got it, it’s no harder to “dial” than any other phone number now is it?
Ok so your local taxi company or directory service for your own country and city try to make it simple to remember (“easy phone numbers” ?) but using the phone doesn’t change now does it? The truth is that you will commit the idea to short term memory. Then if you use it enough (i.e. the number/scale) you will to make the break into long-term memory.
I suppose if we were really bent on naming these things we could or should really be saying “easier to remember guitar scales”.
As far as ease of use this really depends on what genre and style of music you are playing. A simple four note fragment of a pentatonic scale for soloing over a blues tune could work. A handy chunk of the dorian mode over a jazz II V I or a latin rock groove, why not? A simple open position scaler run in a renaissance lute or vihuela transcription, awesome! Horses for courses! yeeehah!!
What Do I Do Now?
What you do know is choose a scale. If you have no idea what to choose don't worry. I will choose the G major (Ionian) scale for you. It is as good a place to start is any, in fact better than some.
Here is what you do. Play through the videos below.
Use your Theory (Head). Use your Technique (Hands). Use your Ear Training (Hearing). Use your Expression (Heart) to make it musical.
Click here for more details for each listed item below and download if desired
Introduction
Memorise (by any means necessary) Use your Head..
Add Decision and play meticulously Use your Head and Hands
Add Pulse Use your Head your Hands and your Hearing
Add Tempo Use your Head Hands Hearing and your Heart
Add Technique Use your Hands
Add Symmetry Head Hands Hearing Heart
Add Goals Head Hands Hearing Heart
Add an Ocatve Head Hands Hearing Heart
Add Method Head Hands Hearing Heart
Add Practice Head Hands Hearing Heart
Add Patience Head Hands Hearing Heart
Add Discipline Head Hands Hearing Heart
Go Improvise Head Hands Hearing Heart
If you are already a practising musician yourself or you are looking for a way to get started playing with real people, you may want to check out some of the free musician matching sites in your area of the world to help you get playing with like minded "musos" with compatible styles and levels to your own. Just beware of the "free" service scams that are really "join free" and pay later to get the information!
Once you get the hang of practising to make all scales "easy guitar scales" you're only a hop, skip and a jump away from some powerful improvising capabilities that you can use live with other real musicians. You can always just start with the videos above and sign in to my RSS feed to get notified of the upcoming videos. Happy Playing! For more ideas and resources go straight to my YouTube Channel here
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