• Registered: 2007-04-26
  • Posts: 28

Topic: Scales practice and what to do with em ?

As a relative novce (been playing 3 years) I enjoy practicing scales (I know that may seem weird but there you go).   Physically am getting quicker in going up and down the fretboard using different patterns etc....however I aint sure exactly what to do next... I get a sense of acheivement in remembering the scales but feel as if I should be moving on from just going up and down the fretboard..any ideas, tips, suggestions ? 
Tommo

If its too loud yer too old.
  • mrjay
  • Senior Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2007-04-19
  • Posts: 174

Re: Scales practice and what to do with em ?

Hey Tommo,

My suggestion is try to find backing tracks to jam to and use the scales (same key) over them to practice making licks. Just go up and down the scale at first and then try to make melodies by mixing up the different notes.

Even better, if you can find someone to jam with instead of using backing tracks, it would help you to improve not only your scales but also your rhythm.

Good luck & Have fun

  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,662

Re: Scales practice and what to do with em ?

MrJays's suggestion is a very good one. I have a cheap keyboard with full chord playback with 100 or so various drum beats/styles. This is a fantasic practice tool. Also this little chart is helpful in jammin'.

Major  ///  Relative Minor
A               F#m
B                G#m
C               Am
D                Bm
E                C#m
F                 Dm
G                Em

What this chart tells you is if a song is in the key of Amajor, playing the F#m scale will work, and vice versa.

Here are a few additional scales that you may find beneficial;
http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/?url= … ranspose=0

http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/?url= … ranspose=0

http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/?url= … ranspose=0

This one is tough!!!!
http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/?url= … ranspose=0

Peace and Guitars,
SouthPaw41L

Give everything but up.
  • From: A black hole in deep space
  • Registered: 2007-10-28
  • Posts: 7,863

Re: Scales practice and what to do with em ?

Tommo heres a cool site to practice your scales to just choose any playback machine and adjust the tempo and you can play in any key major or minor smile
http://www.jamcenter.com/

"Growing old is not for sissies"

Russell_Harding's Website

  • Registered: 2007-04-26
  • Posts: 28

Re: Scales practice and what to do with em ?

Thanks for the feedback everyone...very useful

Tommo

If its too loud yer too old.

6 Reply by canudigit (edited by canudigit 2009-07-16 15:58:34)

  • Registered: 2007-09-01
  • Posts: 71

Re: Scales practice and what to do with em ?

If anyone is interested, I am willing to create scale practice track.  Post the following info and I will get a track together to practice to.

What key do you want the track in?
What tempo?
Give me a chord progression to work with?
Pick either electric or acoustic guitar?
Do you want bass guitar ?
Do you want drums?

This is plenty of info to get the first track done.

Thanks

Steve

  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,662

Re: Scales practice and what to do with em ?

canudigit wrote:

If anyone is interested, I am willing to create scale practice track. 
Steve

Something similar to this;
http://www.jamcenter.com/index.html

Just click on a jam machine and digitally recorded backing tracks are right there. Also, the practicing musician can choose style of music and scale mode to practice. I've been using this fine resource for many years and I link to my guitars students to practice in between our lessons.

Here's another great modern resource for scalin' and wailin';
http://12bar.de/scale_generator.php

and then there's good ole justin;
http://www.justinguitar.com/en/TB-000-TheBasics.php

This one is for entry level players, each step ties in the last step and evolves as fast or as slow as the learning guitarist needs.

There's lots of great resources out there in cyber land folks and they're totally free. Some do have the opportunity to make a small donation to help maintain the site(s) but on a volunteer basis only...

Give everything but up.

8 Reply by canudigit (edited by canudigit 2009-07-16 15:54:17)

  • Registered: 2007-09-01
  • Posts: 71

Re: Scales practice and what to do with em ?

I have checked out Jamcenter before and it is a cool practice tool. 

Band In A Box does just about the same thing, but lacks the feel that a human being brings to music.

Jamcenter is a GREAT tool to use.

I am offering to create tracks with NO ADVERTISING and no pitch for any kind of cash whatsoever.  I wanted to do this EXLUSIVELY for the chordie members.

Also I did not see any tab or transcriptions of any kind.

I was going to add the notation and give scale suggestions to solo over.  This way we can share ideas of what scales worked best and we could work together with feedback from humans.

I agree there are a lot of resources out there, but I have yet to see one that is not full of distracting advertisements.

If there is someone out there who wants to send me the practice track info (see the earlier post) I will get started. 

Thanks

Steve

  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,662

Re: Scales practice and what to do with em ?

canudigit wrote:

Jamcenter 

Also I did not see any tab or transcriptions of any kind.


Steve

On the left hand side of the opening page click on "Guitar Scale Patterns". 12 modes are available to choose from. In addition to this, the jam machine and style of music the practicing musicians employ have a mode suggestion(s) to best accompany their selection.

Give everything but up.

10 Reply by canudigit (edited by canudigit 2009-07-17 15:21:30)

  • Registered: 2007-09-01
  • Posts: 71

Re: Scales practice and what to do with em ?

I didn't even notice.  I was realy just looking to let the machines be machines and create some music from a human being that can give feedback in a great forum like here at chordie. 

The jam tracks cannot offer human feedback and share the learning experience with each other here at chordie. 

Also, I am not asking for donations of any kind (WOW I know it's hard to believe). 

The only donations I would like to see is a donation of time and sharing learning experiences.

I AM ASTONISHED at how everything I say here a chordie seems to be wrong.

Thanks

Steve

UPDATE:

I will not try to force anything on anyone, I was just trying to help out.

I will be adding jam tracks with some of the lessons that I post so you can apply what you are learning directly to the guitar which is more of a "Practical approach"

I understand that most of you in this thread are using Jamstation which is a great tool.

I was just trying to offer the human element instead of random generators creating the music. 

If you like, search on author canudigit to find lessons that I post. 

There are some great moderators here at chordie and we are all out to help each other. 

I look forward to seeing your feedback on any lessons that are posted. 

The more feedback the better!

Thanks

Steve

  • Registered: 2008-06-06
  • Posts: 1

Re: Scales practice and what to do with em ?

I have just discovered the beautiful DADGAD tuning method used by a lot of country musicians, can anyone reccommend any sites to learn more about the chords for this particular tuning or anything, PLEASE.                                                                       Thanks Michelle

12 Reply by canudigit (edited by canudigit 2009-07-21 12:04:49)

  • Registered: 2007-09-01
  • Posts: 71

Re: Scales practice and what to do with em ?

I suggest using Guitar Pro Software.  I have been using this software for years and have had nothing but good things to say about the software.

You can choose from open tunings or create your own.  You can then add chords that will be created according to the tuning.

There are many, many more features that you can check out by going to the Guitar Pro website. 

I am not allowed to put a link here so if you are intersted, just search the net on Guitar Pro and you should find it.

Hope this helps

Thanks

Steve