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The Two Most Important Scales in Western Music

Today I’ll show you the two most important scales in western music. The “Major Scale” and the “Pentatonic Scale”. If they are not in your vocubalary yet, be eager to learn. If you know your scales you can learn how to solo, improvise and much more. We’ll start with…

The Major Scale.
The major scale is the mother of all scales, because all the other scales, modes, intervals, chords and harmony in western music can be derived from it. If you want to learn anything about music theory you need to know how to play the major scale.

And why would you want to learn music theory? Because you’ll be much faster in learning to understand everything about guitar playing. Yes you’ll become a better rock, blues, metal, country, jazz guitar player. If you know music theory you know the short cuts to playing and transcribing guitar solos, chord progressions and improvising. It makes the life of a guitar player a lot easier.

6 Cool Major Scale Sequences to Get Better

By Klaus Crow 10 Comments

Photo by mikelao26

If you’re new to scale sequences I suggest you check out “6 Basic Major Scale Sequences / Melodic Patterns” first. That’s where I explain why and how you should practice scale sequences.

This is Part II of the previous post and if you got the basic scale sequences under your belt you’re pretty much up for this challenge.

I recommend you play these sequenses along with a metronome: “www.metronomeonline.com” It’s the best way to make progress in accuracy and speed. Start out really slow and gradually build up your speed. Only go faster when you can play each note clear and correctly.

The sequences are for the intermediate and advanced. They are tricky but incredibly fun to play.

Enjoy and improve!


SEQUENCE #1 ascending
e:-----------------|-------------------|
B:-----------------|-------------------|
G:-----------------|-------------------|
D:---------------2-|-------4-----2-5---|
A:-----2-5---2-3---|-2-3-5---3-5-------|
E:-3-5-----5-------|-------------------|
 
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6 Basic Major Scale Sequences / Melodic Patterns

By Klaus Crow 8 Comments

Photo by Gideon

When I first learned to play sequences I didn’t know what all the fuzz was about. Why was it so important to learn all these “sequences” or as some prefer to call them “melodic patterns”?

Anyhow, I did enjoy playing them because after a while I got into this flow and it sounded kinda cool.

Once I really got the hang of it I came to learn the benefits of mastering sequences

Sequences will improve your technique and ability to improvise and create melody on the spot.

Your playing becomes more flexible, creative and it’ll keep you from sounding like someone who is playing scales all the time. :-)

In other words… Want to improve your technique or want to improve your improvising skills?

Go ahead and work hard on these assignments.

Enjoy!

Assignment #1: Memorize the G Major scale and play it using alternate picking.

Assignment #2: Memorize the 6 sequences below (ascending and descending) and play them through the cycle of fourths. (in the key G, C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, B, E, A, D, G)

Assignment #3: Incorporate bits and pieces of each sequence into your improvisation.

Assignment #4: Try to make melodies from the patterns, play with the notes, experiment with timing and rhythm, turn things around, extend or shorten the duration/length of some of the notes, create pauses, etc.

These assignments will keep you busy for a while. Be patient and take your time!

G MAJOR SCALE e:-----------------------------2-3------| B:-------------------------3-5----------| G:------------------2-4-5---------------| D:-----------2-4-5----------------------| A:-----2-3-5----------------------------| E:-3-5----------------------------------| G MAJOR SCALE descending e:--3-2---------------------------------| B:-------5-3----------------------------| G:------------5-4-2---------------------| D:-------------------5-4-2--------------| A:--------------------------5-3-2-------| E:---------------------------------5-3--|

SEQUENCE #1 ascending e:----------------|-----------------|-------------------| B:----------------|-----------------|-------------------| G:----------------|-----------------|---------------2---| D:----------------|-------2-----2-4-|---2-4-5-2-4-5-----| A:-----2-3--2-3-5-|-2-3-5---3-5-----|-5-----------------| E:-3-5-----5------|-----------------|-------------------| Continue Reading

The Most Important Scales to Learn on Guitar

By Klaus Crow 8 Comments

Photo by Michael Mooney
The first scale I learned as a teenager was the minor pentatonic scale. That was a good starting point for me cause I was really into rock music and metal.

I only learned the first and classic position that most guitar players know, but l did learn it thoroughly though.

I also figured some blues boxes like the “Albert King box” and the “B.B King box”. (they are not official names).

They are just little pieces of postion 2 and 3 of the blues scale. I learned how to connect the minor pentatonic scale and some of these blues boxes together and tried to improvise over these scales in every possible way I could. (by creating licks, applying sequences, learning solos to gain input, building a vocabulary to understand soloing and improvisation, etc.)

Much later on I learned to use the other 4 postions of the pentatonic / blues scale. Then I moved onto the major scale and it’s modes, harmonic minor, melodic minor etc. But not all those scales are important or necessary for every guitar player.

So the big question is: What is the most important scale for you to learn?Continue Reading

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