this has been so far my learning progress of scales
Pentatonic scale pattern 1: I can play the position across the fretboard, realizing the root changes. I can plaz this on in my dreams and it sounds really musical. (not only in my dreams)
C major scale in the open position. I can also play this confidently, but have only recently learned the notes on it. It really helped to internalize natural notes sequences.
These are the only notes I can quicly point to. for others i have to count
as a begginer I thought that major scale patterns will use the natural notes and to my grand despair learned that the scales will use the same intervals but not the same notes. What is an f in one position can become an f# in a differebt key in a different position. (Aaaarghhhh)
Now here comes the question: should I continue learning the c major scale in position 1 and then position 2, etc and learn the fretboard and onthe way learn where the natural notes are. Or should I learn a different key major scale in 1st position (g major scale next?) and if so, what key would that be.
Or: should I explore another shape of the major pentatonic as this one is the easiest to make real music with and have fun.
Btw: the Hijaz and the Han Kumoi and other are great for messing around and getting finger practice insead of doing endless spider movements. ( i play these looking at the scales from time to time.)
I sincerely appreciate any input on this. Any advice would greatly help me making sense of it all as i am approaching my year 1 of guitar learning!
Thank you: I am learning the major scale for the following reason: mainly to train my ear, but especially to connect the neck and being able to find all natural notes.
How far along are you in the Beginner Course. The reason I ask is knowing where all the natural notes are on the neck won’t be much help to you at this stage.
The only scales that contain only natural note are the C major and the modes that are derived from it. The most common one being the A minor scale(Aeolian mode) all other 11 major scales contain sharps or flats.
You’d be further sticking to the course and learning songs.
At this stage, the most important skills you are learning by practicing scales is
left hand / right hand coordination
finger dexterity
Note names, other than in the 1st 4 frets, doesn’t really help you at this stage.
So, my advice is to only work on the scales that Justin has indicated in his lessons. Worry about the different positions, Minor scales and modes, etc. for later.
That being said, if you really want to add more scale practice to your routine, my suggestion would be to practice the G Major scale pattern with the lowest root on the E string, played with the 2nd finger. You’ll find that having this “closed position” (every note is fretted) Major scale pattern under your fingers to be useful, it will be another of the 5 Major scale patterns (you already learned one with the C Major scale in “open position”), and G Major is a very popular key for guitar-based music.
It’s not clear to me why you would want to know where the natural notes are. If you’ve come from a piano background I get it (I come from a classical piano back ground). However, on a pattern instrument (like a guitar, or a bass guitar) you can get an awful long way without needing to know whether the note you are playing is sharp, flat or natural.
I’m still at beginner stage on guitar, but way beyond that on bass. I think knowing whether notes are sharp, flat or natural does sometimes help me on bass, but usually I’m just playing patterns off the root note along with the knowledge of whether it’s a major or minor chord.
If you know where all the notes are, you can find any root note anywhere on the neck and then apply the pattern you want to play there. To me, this is a big benefit of knowing the notes.
Knowing the natural notes is just a shortcut. If you know where the natural notes are, you can find all the sharps and flats by moving up or down one fret.
This gets my vote. Fun is the main goal, isn’t it? But don’t get too hung up on learning the full shapes. I’ve heard a lot of people say they only use parts of them (eg the top half of pattern 2). More important to be able to connect them horizontally and see how they fit together.
I do wonder if B.B. King ever practised his scales.
