Scales & Modes

 

Scales & Modes (index.shtml) | Updated: 21-Nov-2008 - 15:25

Do your know the essential scales used for the type of music your are interested in and play them in several positions?

There are six essential scales that would be considered a basic requirement for blues, rock, country and folk. an seventeen for jazz.

The six essential scales are: Blues or Minor Pentatonic, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian. Aeolian and Ionian. There scales are also known as Minor Pentatonic, Major Pentatonic, Minor, Dominant, Natural Minor and Major.

The order of learning (mastering) depends on the type of music you are most interested in.

Most people find the Blues and Pentatonic scales, being only five note pentatonic scales to be relatively easy to learn and use.

Sample page from: QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Guitar.

6 essential scales for guitar improvisation (link)

Sample page from: QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele.

6 essential scales for guitar improvisation (link). Available in "C", ""G" and "D" Tuning.

Learning Essential Scales & Modes

  • Reference Scales

    From just two scales you can derive your basic set of scales that are used in a wide variety of music.

  • Learning the Blues Scale - an approach to learning this essential scale.

    One of the first scales typically learn by beginning players. This is the most common scale used in rock music.

  • The Whole Tone Scale - "C" tuning, low or high "G"
  • The Diminished Scale - "C" tuning, low or high "G"

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Curt Sheller is the author of over 30 books on guitar, ukulele and music. A jazz guitarist and educator with over 40 years playing experience and 20 years teaching. Curt's JazzGuitarResources.com and UkuleleResources.com web sites are considered the top resource for jazz guitarists and ukulele players. Get a FREE subscription to Curt's newsletter.

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