If you want to be a great lead guitar player, it's imperative that you learn guitar scales. You might already know this, but many new guitar players think of scales as being the blues scale. Those pentatonic blues scales are definitely important to rock guitar lead playing, but they're not the whole story. You should expand your guitar playing so that you are using scales that demand the use of your pinky and have more notes. This is not to just be technically impressive, it's because when you learn guitar scales beyond the blues you expand your aural palette. You have more colors to work with to create dazzling lead guitar playing.
When you begin to learn guitar scales, you should learn the various modes. Each key that you can play in actually has seven different modes. Seven keys times seven modes equals 49 different guitar scales for you to play with! Guitar scale modes are created by differing where you begin and where you end playing the scale. This may sound simplistic, but this makes a significant difference to the sound and feel of the scale and, therefore, your lead playing.
Ionian Mode- This is the standard or "straight" mode, and it's the first one you will see when you learn guitar scales. So, starting on the root tone, we add T-T-ST-T-T-T-ST where the "T" stands for full tone/2 frets, and the "ST" means semi-tone/1 fret. Just remember that in the key of C, this scale will begin and finish with C.
Dorian Mode. This is widely used in rock music. Playing a guitar scale in Dorian means you start and end with the scale's second tone. So, to play in the key of C, in Dorian, your first note and last note are both D.
Phrygian Mode- If you want to solo with a little "Egyptian" or Middle Eastern feel should check out the phrygian mode. Here you will start and end with the major scale's third tone, creating E Phrygian.
Lydian Mode- This mode is similar to the major scale, but we simply sharpen the 4th, giving a "spacey", bright feel to the mode. Joe Satriani and Steve Vai use this mode extremely well to create dazzling solos. Start and end on an F in the key of c to create this mode.
Mixolydian Mode- If you love rock or even jazz guitar solos; then take advantage of the mixolydian mode. In C major, create this mode by starting and finishing with the G note. This mode sounds similar to the major scale, but with a flattened seventh, giving a bluesy feel to the sound.
Aeolian Mode. This is the "natural minor scale" of the Ionian Mode. So playing a guitar solo in Aeolian Mode allows you to give a minor scale feel to your solo. To play a C scale solo in Aeolian mode, you'll begin and end your solo on the A note.
Locrian Mode. This is a great mode to use to create a high level of tension in a solo, because it emphasizes the Leading Tone, the note that suggests the root note is coming. To use C as the example, C Locrian solos will begin and end with the B note.
So if you want to learn guitar scales, check out the modes. The sounds you can create are endless when working with a variety of different tonal "colours".
When you begin to learn guitar scales, you should learn the various modes. Each key that you can play in actually has seven different modes. Seven keys times seven modes equals 49 different guitar scales for you to play with! Guitar scale modes are created by differing where you begin and where you end playing the scale. This may sound simplistic, but this makes a significant difference to the sound and feel of the scale and, therefore, your lead playing.
Ionian Mode- This is the standard or "straight" mode, and it's the first one you will see when you learn guitar scales. So, starting on the root tone, we add T-T-ST-T-T-T-ST where the "T" stands for full tone/2 frets, and the "ST" means semi-tone/1 fret. Just remember that in the key of C, this scale will begin and finish with C.
Dorian Mode. This is widely used in rock music. Playing a guitar scale in Dorian means you start and end with the scale's second tone. So, to play in the key of C, in Dorian, your first note and last note are both D.
Phrygian Mode- If you want to solo with a little "Egyptian" or Middle Eastern feel should check out the phrygian mode. Here you will start and end with the major scale's third tone, creating E Phrygian.
Lydian Mode- This mode is similar to the major scale, but we simply sharpen the 4th, giving a "spacey", bright feel to the mode. Joe Satriani and Steve Vai use this mode extremely well to create dazzling solos. Start and end on an F in the key of c to create this mode.
Mixolydian Mode- If you love rock or even jazz guitar solos; then take advantage of the mixolydian mode. In C major, create this mode by starting and finishing with the G note. This mode sounds similar to the major scale, but with a flattened seventh, giving a bluesy feel to the sound.
Aeolian Mode. This is the "natural minor scale" of the Ionian Mode. So playing a guitar solo in Aeolian Mode allows you to give a minor scale feel to your solo. To play a C scale solo in Aeolian mode, you'll begin and end your solo on the A note.
Locrian Mode. This is a great mode to use to create a high level of tension in a solo, because it emphasizes the Leading Tone, the note that suggests the root note is coming. To use C as the example, C Locrian solos will begin and end with the B note.
So if you want to learn guitar scales, check out the modes. The sounds you can create are endless when working with a variety of different tonal "colours".
About the Author:
Play your very own great sounding guitar solos over the next 7 days and truly amaze your family and friends! (Even if you are new to lead guitar) Click here - Learn Guitar Scales to receive your FREE soloing guide not available anywhere else. This E Book will help you master Pentatonic Guitar Scales in no time at all, using the same techniques as professional guitar players use.
No comments:
Post a Comment