Home › Forums › Music Theory › Best way to Practice scales and rythum progressions for beginners
- This topic has 13 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 9 months ago by Marty V.
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July 23, 2017 at 9:18 pm #75259
Learn and memorize each note on each string up the fret board..(plenty of beginner lessons here om Active Melody and tons of free tutorials online ,,learn the notes ,, than it will be much easier to learn the scales *major /minor/etc…and you will see what makes a major scale and minor scale..as well as what grouped notes create major or minor chords and all them chords you want to learn to read off PDF tab sheet etc. ..It gets more involved but this is all you need to get a broad idea what practicing is all about theory wise. I Read elsewhere on active melody request for how to learn pentatonic shapes using looper pedal,, and the replies distracted me enough for deep concern so I wanted to start my own thread for those who are free to read if I’ve not been spam filtered etc,, cause it really doesn’t matter or answer the question what kind or make the looper pedal is right????
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July 23, 2017 at 10:41 pm #75261
A loop player to learn pentatonic shapes ?
Guess I got even more to learn. I only loop my backup chords & rhythm when playing over it. Even easier to do on the Logic Pro program
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July 24, 2017 at 2:31 am #75262
For a beginner?
To be honest, I think memorizing every note up and down the fretboard is a waste of time. Especially for a beginner.
I’d say to focus on learning only the notes on the fifth and sixth strings, because that’s where the root note is for the barre chords. And start with the sixth string (because the note at the same fret on the fifth string is always the IV chord).
It makes more sense to learn the scale patterns — the minor pentatonic, that is — because with that knowledge, you’ll always know which notes (i.e., frets) you need to play. Knowing the exact name of each note isn’t really necessary. Certainly for a beginner.
Memorizing the fretboard really depends on your personality and your goals with guitar. If you’re looking to become a classical musician, obviously, you’re going to want to know the names of notes, because you’ll be reading musical notation, not tablature.
But in my opinion, focusing on the names of notes obscures the real genius behind the way the guitar is set up — the scale patterns and chord shapes do a much better job of revealing how magical the guitar is.
Anyway, I’m not trying to disagree with you, just show a different way of looking at this. Whatever works for you is best!
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July 24, 2017 at 5:20 am #75265
For a beginner?
Anyway, I’m not trying to disagree with you,
Damn, can’t edit this anymore. It should read “I’m not saying you’re wrong” (because, obviously I disagree!) because in this case, there’s no wrong or right, there’s only what works for you.
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July 24, 2017 at 8:20 am #75266
Marty,
I agree learning the note names on the 6th and 5th strings is fundamental, the other strings..not so much in the beginning.
I see my own learning as coming in levels. Learning the pentatonic boxes is a great first step as it is so practical and gets you playing music. I think many members then started to realize that knowing where root notes were, in all those boxes, helped to understand licks. Next came some integration of major and minor pentatonic opening up a whole different blues sound. Then I started getting interested in major scale (and modal boxes) and what the interval shapes were in those boxes and how to find intervals with a modal flavour outside the pentatonics. I then started applying this to CAGED chord shapes and small chord shapes. With this came the understanding that where there’s a scale there’s a chord and vice versa. It’s like Brian says “the chord shapes begin to light up on the fretboard”. Finally, I’m starting to look at highlighting chord tones and outlining chord changes in a lead. Only now, am I seeing the utility of being familiar with note names all over the fretboard to help highlight chord tones in chord progression or as scale choices change over chords.
I don’t know if my journey is typical. I bet we all have our own learning styles and ways of integrating the fretboard over the years. It certainly doesn’t all happen at once.
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July 24, 2017 at 9:39 am #75267
My point was this.. some newbie participant questioned how to learn pentatonic scales using his/her new purchased looper pedal.. some of the replies were not even relevant to the question,, my point was/is, one must learn or practice the pentatonic shapes/positions/patterns how ever you want to term the five=note scale has nothing to do with any pedals to help benefit practicing and memorizing these scale shapes using basic general theory.I don’t expect any beginner having fun trying to learn every note on the fret board.. but instead of explaining to the newbie the looper is irrelevant device for understanding/practicing pentatonic shapes /boxes/patterns/the positions in any key on the fret board .. some of the answers remarkably were just as irrelevant ( like what difference does it make what make model looper the newbie purchased? Sure , learn the pentatonic 5 note scales ,,practice with a looper but the looper does not help or train you to learn the scale .. that is like asking how to use a looper pedal to recognize all the notes using a pedal! .. wow Gilligan !!! what did I say Skipper?!!! A pedal to see all the notes you play on the fret board!!! you did it again little buddy!!! i’m outta here later lol
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July 24, 2017 at 9:59 am #75268
I think all he wanted to do was loop a bit of a rhythm track so he could solo (i.e., practice his scales) on top of it.
At this point, I tend toward a fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants approach. For me, that’s what works best, especially with blues. I find it very hard to believe many of the great blues greats could name every note on the fretboard, or even the notes in the scales they were playing.
They learned to play by watching others play, and then developed their style from there. I got enough on my mind, if I have to worry about what notes I’m playing (instead of what notes sound good), then I’d really get the blues!
That’s why I like Brian’s approach. While he’s showing us the notes to play, he’s also sneaking a lot of useful information in there, without getting bogged down in it.
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July 24, 2017 at 9:15 pm #75295
He asked now that I have a new looper, what is the formula for progressions in the key of A using the pentatonic shapes?.. so i read the replies and wanted to help by starting a new thread.. loopers are cool but have nothing to learning a bit of basic theory. All your replies are helpful and agree with all.
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July 24, 2017 at 10:05 am #75269
I think the good news is that no practice or learning is wasted. In time, if you stick at it, things will integrate in a way that you need them to. So, do what interests you and what you enjoy.
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July 24, 2017 at 10:26 am #75270
I tend to agree with John (Charjo) in that beginners probably can get by with knowing the notes on strings five and six and a shape or box for your chosen scale. Beyond that, I think you will realize when you need more. For me it was when I started trying to play to jazz tunes where the scale might change with each chord. You can start with shapes for scales or arpeggios, but this leads to disjointed lines (at least to my ear) because you have to jump boxes to play a new scale. For me, when I learned the notes all over the fretboard, I began to be able to connect my lines by going to the nearest chord tone rather than changing to a new box.
Bob
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July 24, 2017 at 11:01 am #75271
My own opinion of this is a beginner shouldn’t necessarily mix music theory and playing guitar.
Now, writing directly to any new guitarist, I’m not saying to avoid music theory, but you should mess around, discover the octaves and other pleasing sounds/shapes, copy the music you want to play as best you can, or make it up as you go along. I’d say that’s a year of “study” right there. If you want to learn a particular song, there are all kinds of ways to learn them, but I’d wait a while before going to any tools—not because tools are bad, but until you’re comfortable on the neck, they just make it harder to play.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have someone show you the best ways, or let’s say the many different ways, to hold the guitar and get sounds from it.
If you already know theory and sing or play another instrument, by all means, bring that understanding with you.
Don D.
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July 24, 2017 at 4:15 pm #75286
I’m at the point Bob is talking about: Learning how to transition from one scale position to another seamlessly. My learning has gone pentatonic > arpeggios > free-form (wandering all over the fretboard trying to avoid hitting bad notes). I take some comfort in knowing that lots of professional guitarists only ever play in the pentatonic scales. We can do better.
Sunjamr Steve
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July 25, 2017 at 5:46 am #75314
Have you ever wondered how legends such as B.B. King get that indescribably sweet sound from their phrases?
Yes, it’s partly to do with tone and vibrato.
But in terms of note selection, it’s not all minor and major pentatonic. There’s something a little more sophisticated going on.
Today I’m going to show you how to get that sweet sound by using a scale called Mixolydian.
As soon as you hear its magic work, and get to know its ins and outs, you’ll understand why Mixolydian and blues is a perfect match
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July 25, 2017 at 7:05 am #75324
Did BB King actually study the mixolydian scale, or did he just play?
My favorite mixolydian noodler is Tom Verlaine.
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