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.
Learning about the major scale modes can be a great starting point to really expand your guitar soloing skills. There are seven different major scale modes created by starting on a different note of the major scale. So, in all keys there are 49 different guitar scales, which can provide plenty of variety to your lead playing. Remember, the modes are constructed from the major scale, but by starting and finishing on each of the seven notes, completely different sounds can be created.
Ionian Mode. This is the "straight" mode or standard mode. When you first learn guitar scales, you will first learn the Ionian Mode (or the Aeolian Mode, but we'll talk about that later). The Ionian mode simply means beginning and ending the playing of the scale on the root tone. The formula is : Root Tone -T-T-ST-T-T-T-ST, where T means a full tone or 2 frets and ST means a semi tone or 1 fret. If you play a C scale in Ionian Mode, the first note you hit is C and the last note you hit is C.
Dorian Mode- used in rock and blues. This mode begins and ends with the major scale's second tone. So in the key of C, simply start and end on the D note.
Phrygian Mode- Those who want to learn guitar 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. So in the key of C, the Phrygian mode would begin with E, and end with E as well.
Lydian Mode. This is great for giving a "neo-Classical" or even Renaissance feel to a guitar solo (or if you're doing a jazzy solo it works wonders for that, too). To play a guitar scale in Lydian mode, you begin and end the lead break or solo on the scale's fourth tone. So, in C, you will begin and end a solo on the F note.
Mixolydian Mode. This is widely used for rock and jazz guitar solos and can be easily played over power chords. To play a guitar scale in Mixolydian, begin and end on the major scale's fifth tone. So, in C, you'll begin and end your solo with a G note.
Aeolian Mode- also known as the natural minor scale. This scale will create a sad feel to a song or solo. It is used in many different styles of music, from ballads to metal. Here you will start and finish with the A note of the C major scale.
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.
When you learn guitar scales, be sure to also learn the modes. Your possibilities become endless!
Learning about the major scale modes can be a great starting point to really expand your guitar soloing skills. There are seven different major scale modes created by starting on a different note of the major scale. So, in all keys there are 49 different guitar scales, which can provide plenty of variety to your lead playing. Remember, the modes are constructed from the major scale, but by starting and finishing on each of the seven notes, completely different sounds can be created.
Ionian Mode. This is the "straight" mode or standard mode. When you first learn guitar scales, you will first learn the Ionian Mode (or the Aeolian Mode, but we'll talk about that later). The Ionian mode simply means beginning and ending the playing of the scale on the root tone. The formula is : Root Tone -T-T-ST-T-T-T-ST, where T means a full tone or 2 frets and ST means a semi tone or 1 fret. If you play a C scale in Ionian Mode, the first note you hit is C and the last note you hit is C.
Dorian Mode- used in rock and blues. This mode begins and ends with the major scale's second tone. So in the key of C, simply start and end on the D note.
Phrygian Mode- Those who want to learn guitar 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. So in the key of C, the Phrygian mode would begin with E, and end with E as well.
Lydian Mode. This is great for giving a "neo-Classical" or even Renaissance feel to a guitar solo (or if you're doing a jazzy solo it works wonders for that, too). To play a guitar scale in Lydian mode, you begin and end the lead break or solo on the scale's fourth tone. So, in C, you will begin and end a solo on the F note.
Mixolydian Mode. This is widely used for rock and jazz guitar solos and can be easily played over power chords. To play a guitar scale in Mixolydian, begin and end on the major scale's fifth tone. So, in C, you'll begin and end your solo with a G note.
Aeolian Mode- also known as the natural minor scale. This scale will create a sad feel to a song or solo. It is used in many different styles of music, from ballads to metal. Here you will start and finish with the A note of the C major scale.
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.
When you learn guitar scales, be sure to also learn the modes. Your possibilities become endless!
About the Author:
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