Playing lead guitar

[ics1974]

I know this is not SG specific but I hope I can get some advice from you pros out there.

I am still pretty much a beginner as I have been playing guitar for about a year and a half now.

I started looking into guitar theory a little. Is it necessary to learn all those scales and modes for lead guitar or is there an easier way? If you need to know theory...What scales/modes do you find most important and use on a regular basis?

 

Edit

 

BTW I am mostly into Rock, Metal and Blues

 

Thanks

[jimmiJAMM]

The pentatonic scale is quite helpful for playing rock lead guitar. There are also minor scales commonly used in Metal and various Blues scales as well. In general yes, scales are a good foundation and help you learn your way up & down the fretboard but don't be afraid to close your eyes, open your ears and feel your way around as well. As with other forms of music some play by ear while others study and study and practice. Knowing all the scales in the world isn't going to make you great. Lots of guys with scale knowledge and no feeling or soul sound like robots. A good blend is best but whatever works for you is the important thing.

 

Apparently The Beatles couldn't read music (I find that hard to believe) and according to Frank Zappa, Hendrix was incapable of writing music.

 

Like I said, a good foundation is very helpful but not necessarily crucial to rocking out. Good luck to you! Jamm on

 

For the record, you can consult the world's largest FREE online music lesson database... YouTube.

[ics1974]

The pentatonic scale is quite helpful for playing rock lead guitar. There are also minor scales commonly used in Metal and various Blues scales as well. In general yes' date=' scales are a good foundation and help you learn your way up & down the fretboard but don't be afraid to close your eyes, open your ears and feel your way around as well. As with other forms of music some play by ear while others study and study and practice. Knowing all the scales in the world isn't going to make you great. Lots of guys with scale knowledge and no feeling or soul sound like robots. A good blend is best but whatever works for you is the important thing.

 

Apparently The Beatles couldn't read music (I find that hard to believe) and according to Frank Zappa, Hendrix was incapable of writing music.

 

Like I said, a good foundation is very helpful but not necessarily crucial to rocking out. Good luck to you! Jamm on

 

For the record, you can consult the world's largest FREE online music lesson database... YouTube.[/quote']

 

Good advice. Thanks. Do you use other scales besides the pentatonic?

[jimmiJAMM]

Personally, I don't use a lot of scales, at least that I'm aware of.

[vourot]

Minor pentatonic and the major scale are good places to start. Get really, really good at the first positions and know how to use them before you move on to anything else. Also, learn and memorize where every single note can be found on the fret board.(learn the note circle) You do this and it will expand your playing tenfold and it will make further learning so much easier. You could also check out justinguitar.com and try his music theory download, he makes it easy to understand.

[redraptor]

Minor pentatonic and the major scale are good places to start. Get really' date=' really good at the first positions and know how to use them before you move on to anything else. Also, learn and memorize where every single note can be found on the fret board.(learn the note circle) You do this and it will expand your playing tenfold and it will make further learning so much easier. You could also check out justinguitar.com and try his music theory download, he makes it easy to understand.[/quote']

Agreed! I have yet to apply this to the guitar, but I have just completed my first semester of music theory (And yes it is VERY confusing and is more of life long thing) but I can DEFINATLY see an improvment in my playing just from that semester. Also take a look at this video, helped me out SO much(plus the dude cracks me up)! Good luck and keep rocking!

 

[ics1974]

Minor pentatonic and the major scale are good places to start. Get really' date=' really good at the first positions and know how to use them before you move on to anything else. Also, learn and memorize where every single note can be found on the fret board.(learn the note circle) You do this and it will expand your playing tenfold and it will make further learning so much easier. You could also check out justinguitar.com and try his music theory download, he makes it easy to understand.[/quote']

 

Sorry but what is the note circle?

[kruliosis]

Hal Leonard:Incredible Scale Finder

 

http://www.halleonard.com/item_detail.jsp?itemid=695490&order=1&catcode=00&refer=search&type=product&keywords=incredible+scale+finder+

 

I've NEVER needed any lessons, just this book. Of course, I've taken many tips which always helps! But this book is the scale dictionary. You'll be flowin' in no time!

[Nick Beach]

i'm going to say learn them all. when i started i thought it was stupid and usless, but i learned one, then another, then another, and now i know more than i ever thought i would even know existed. i even use most of them at least once a week. using them in improve is really nice. and being able to use a scale that not everyone is using, so you sound completly diffrent is a plus for me.

[Flight959]

Why don't you post this question in the Lounge? Its a great question!

 

Regards

[ics1974]

 

Why don't you post this question in the Lounge? Its a great question!

 

Regards

 

I will... I have the SG section bookmarked so I forgot about the Lounge section. Thanks

[frankafru]

if you're gonna learn scales, learn the major scale(s) in the diagonal form, so then you can just modify that shape into the other scales (like if playing phrigian dominant, b2 b6 b7). also, learn the modes, which is basically the major scale but starting on a different tonic root (in the key of C, ionian-c dorian-d phrigian-e lydian-f mixolydian-g aeolian-a locrian-b octave-c)

[hbomb76]

"Blues" solos are a cinch to nail note-wise with your basic pentatonics, but take a lot of work to get the FEEL right (that's why I can't stand to listen to most people play what they call "blues" because it sounds so sterile). Rock/metal solos often start from pentatonic forms, but often blend a bunch of other style scales in there. Like the mixolydian mode/scale, sweep-picking and a lot of other things, I find it's much more fun when you have no clue what you're doing. Sometimes just lifting a phrase here, or stealing a lick there from your favorite players can help you create awesome lead work. Just aim for making WHATEVER you're playing to FIT. So many people I know (and have played with) who throw a blues-box solo on EVERYTHING, and you know, sometimes they really honestly don't fit. Sometimes a hook or melody is crucial to a good lead instead of fitting all the notes in the scale in there. Pick up some Cheap Trick, Free, or even some Queen and just listen to some of the melodies. They'll inspire ya'!

 

H-Bomb

[James Allen]

There's definitely great advice here. I'd add this: I got really serious about learning guitar last year, and I began taking lessons from a great teacher. I already knew the pentatonic, but when we began studying the other modes and applying them, it was like the scales were taken from my eyes. I began playing more melodically and creatively. I began learning how to add other modes to solos that were basically all pentatonic.

 

I went from being a lousy player to one who occassionally gets an appreciative look from my brother and his bandmates, who have all been playing for two decades or more in various bands.

 

I say learn it all. Then you will understand what to throw away.

[Murph]

 

Why don't you post this question in the Lounge? Its a great question!

 

Regards

 

Because it would sink like a rock.

 

The Lounge is for God bashing, and politics.

 

Don't cha know?

 

Just sayin'......

[Murph]

Serious, as a lead player booked through next Jan., and a bar player all my life, I thought a scale was to weigh a fish.

 

I grew up in bars and play by ear.

 

When the lead break comes, try to "sort of" follow the vocal pattern sometimes.

 

Or rip off in a "Scotty Stoneman" tangent.

 

The only rule is to kick butt.

 

Scales are for "non thinkers". IMO....

 

I write my solos "on the fly", and it's never failed me.

 

Best of luck, pal.

 

Murph.

[vourot]

I agree, I wouldn't post any sort of intelligent question in the lounge. Look at all the responses you got to your question in the good'ol SG forum.

[ics1974]

Serious' date=' as a lead player booked through next Jan., and a bar player all my life, I thought a scale was to weigh a fish.

 

I grew up in bars and play by ear.

 

When the lead break comes, try to "sort of" follow the vocal pattern sometimes.

 

Or rip off in a "Scotty Stoneman" tangent.

 

The only rule is to kick butt.

 

Scales are for "non thinkers". IMO....

 

I write my solos "on the fly", and it's never failed me.

 

Best of luck, pal.

 

Murph.[/quote']

 

So you don't even use the pentatonic scale?

Do you just use the chord tones of the current chord going on and add in other notes for color?

[80LPC]

 

Why don't you post this question in the Lounge? Its a great question!

 

Regards

 

A good question needs to be in a good forum...

[80LPC]

Serious' date=' as a lead player booked through next Jan., and a bar player all my life, I thought a scale was to weigh a fish.

 

I grew up in bars and play by ear.

 

When the lead break comes, try to "sort of" follow the vocal pattern sometimes.

 

Or rip off in a "Scotty Stoneman" tangent.

 

The only rule is to kick butt.

 

Scales are for "non thinkers". IMO....

 

I write my solos "on the fly", and it's never failed me.

 

Best of luck, pal.

 

Murph.[/quote']

 

Experience....the best lesson of all.

 

And listen to some Jimmy Bryant...

[kruliosis]

Practicing on your own is great when you have instrumentals you can just improv to. Like most of the guys who have already posted on this topic, I also believe mood is mandatory. What I do is turn on my TV and play to the Smooth Jazz station. It's so easy to get lost in it all.

 

You'll find yourself excelling alot faster when doing leads is fun and natural. If you just go through the motions of militant exercises, you'll have to kick yourself in the a$$ to stay motivated.

[guitar_randy]

I'd probably get a good amount of people who would disagree with me on this but I believe many of the best guitar players are those who just are somewhat a natural.People who pick it up by ear and can play with such feeling and groove without really knowing any music theory or scales.When it comes down to it ,music is just something which sounds pleasing to your ears,makes you tap your foot and sing along.There are very good players who are very technical and very good players who know little to nothing as far as scales or reading music.I tend to believe in most cases those who have it in their hearts,who pick it up by ear and have incredible rythym and melody,but no nothing of music theory,are among the best players out there.

[redraptor]

I doubt this will really help you out, but I figured I would post this anyway. This is my quick bite sized version of what was said in this

I posted earlier.

 

You know that each of the strings are E,A,D,G,B, and E (going from the thickest to thinest strings) and those obviously mean that when each of those strings plucked make that note. Now look at this image, it shows each and every note in the proper order.

*Notes in ()'s mean they are the SAME note as the previous one*

*Underlined notes mean they are half steps*

*#-sharp, b-flat*

 

So now look at your fret board. Take the bass string (Thick E string) put your finger on the first fret and pluck it. Now look at the image. What is the note right after the E? The F note is! Now finger the second fret and strum it. What not do you think that is? Yep, F sharp! Its as simple as that. Just follow the other strings and go on from there. A string first fret is A# (or Bb). Now just go out and memorize each of the notes and thier position on the fret board (something I still need to do!). Oh well, I have no idea if that helped you at all, but that has been one of the most beneficial lessons ive EVER learned.

[lespaul214]

Its certainly helpful to learn all the scales if you intend on writing your own material or improvising solos. The most helpful scales you will ever come across is the E minor pentatonic scale positions.

[kruliosis]

Its certainly helpful to learn all the scales if you intend on writing your own material or improvising solos. The most helpful scales you will ever come across is the E minor pentatonic scale positions.

 

Totally agree!