Scales

[Muckquaiker]

How do you read the scale diagrams?

[Dux]

Scale boxes are generally read as if you were looking down on them from above or upside down. This means that the Bass [fat] strings are on the bottom of the Chart, and the Treble [thin] strings are on the top--with the head of the guitar facing to the left.

If you are talking about reading fish scales however, I can't help you.

[This message has been edited by Dux (edited June 08, 2002).]

[Muckquaiker]

http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/confused.gif Do you play all the numbers shown in the scale diagram? How do you play this one?

|-1-|-2-|---|---|
|---|-2-|---|-4-|
|-1-|---|-3-|-4-|
|-1-|---|-3-|-4-|
|-1-|-2-|---|-4-|
|---|-2-|---|-4-|

Thanks



[This message has been edited by Nirvanaroolman (edited June 15, 2002).]

[skubasteve120]

what your showing is major scale pattern. you could start that pattern any fret. each set of little bars like this | indicate a new fret. the first bar in the pattern you showed (the column with all the ones) could be any fret, because taking the same pattern and moving it up and down the neck still gives you a valid scale, just a different one. the second column, with all the twos, is just one fret higher than the ones column, and the threes are higher than that, and the fours another fret higher than that. so if the column with the ones was, hypothetically, the 5th fret, then the twos would be the sixth fret, 3s the 7th fret, and 4s the 8th fret

|-1---|---2-|-----|-----|
|-----|---2-|-----|---4-|
|-1---|-----|---3-|---4-|
|-1---|-----|---3-|---4-|
|-1---|---2-|-----|---4-|
|-----|---2-|-----|---4-|


in this case, the numbers just tell you what finger to use.

1- index finger
2- middle finger
3- eh... ring finger??
4- pinky

your supposed to fret a note with the finger indicated by the number, or at least when your just practicing the scale. when your actually doing licks and such, you'll be using whatever fingers are most convenient for you to use. the numbers are only there as a guide.

[StoneDragon]

Do you play all the numbers shown in the scale diagram? How do you play this one?

It depends on what you're trying to accomplish. If you're just learning the scale, it's usually a good idea to play the notes in order from low to high or high to low:


---------------------------2-3------------------
-----------------------3-5----------------------
-----------------2-4-5--------------------------
-----------2-4-5--------------------------------
-----2-3-5--------------------------------------
-3-5--------------------------------------------


That way, you hear the notes as a scale.


Once you know the scale and can play it ascending and descending fluidly with no mistakes, then it's good to start noodling around with the notes... mix 'em up... and see if you can come up with anything that sounds cool.

[Muckquaiker]

e|--o--|------|-----|--o---|----
b|--o--|------|-----|--o---|----
g|--o--|------|--o--|------|----
d|--o--|------|--o--|------|----
a|--o--|------|--o--|------|----
e|--o--|------|-----|--o---|----

So how do you play this one? I'm sorry i'm a bit slow and so don't get these scale things. Do you have to learn how to read music to play the guitar or can you just keep with tablature. I play the piano as well and can read music a bit (notes from c to a, but then i get stuck) i tend to just memorise how a tune sounds then just practice and pay no attention to the music...wow i've waffled on for quite a bit...sorry! http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/confused.gif

[skubasteve120]

thats a minor pentatonic scale. the notes ur supposed to use are marked O. you could play it like this:

---------------------5-8--------------------
-----------------5-8------------------------
-------------5-7----------------------------
---------5-7--------------------------------
-----5-7------------------------------------
-5-8----------------------------------------

this is an A minor pentatonic. if you take that same pattern and bring it all up or down a couple frets, you could form other minor pentatonic scales, like these:

g minor
---------------------3-6--------------------
-----------------3-6------------------------
-------------3-5----------------------------
---------3-5--------------------------------
-----3-5------------------------------------
-3-6----------------------------------------

b minor
----------------------7-10------------------
-----------------7-10-----------------------
-------------7-9----------------------------
----------7-9-------------------------------
------7-9-----------------------------------
-7-10---------------------------------------


the difference from this scale pattern and the last one you posted (other than its a different scale!) is that the last one told you what fingers to play the notes with. this one didnt, it just showed the pattern.