Learn Rock & Roll with Free Lessons & Tips

C7   ==> C Mixolydian / C Lydian Dominant / A Minor Pent

F7  ==> F Mixolydian / C minor Pent

C7  ==>  C Mixolydian / C Lydian Dominant / A Minor Pent

C7  ==>  C Super Locrian / Eb Minor Pent

F9  ==> F Mixolydian / C Minor Pent

F#7#9 ==> F Half Whole Diminished / Diminished Hybrid Pent

C7 ==> C Mixolydian / C Lydian Dominant / A Minor Pent

A7b9  ==> A Phrygian Major / A Phrygian Major Hybrid Pent / E Minor Pent

Dm9 ==> D Dorian / D Melodic Minor / A Minor Pent

G7#5 ==>  G Super Locrian / Bb Minor Pent

scale choices in a 12 bar blues setting

2 BeatsC7 C Mixolydian A Minor Pent

A7 A Mixolydian / A Phrygian Major / E Minor Pent

Dm9 D Dorian / D Melodic Minor / A Minor Pent

G7#5 G Super Locrian / B b Minor Pent

Long time back, during my initial phase of learning guitar (will be learner forever), I was unable to figure out scale. Also, most of the time in a song, for example, in R&B, "I believe I can fly", by mistake I used to get excited, "Wow! That's a great scale changing !". I was absolutely wrong! It's not about changing scale, it's about changing KEY. There are lot of songs composed with changing KEY on a scale. Why, it's like that ? I am pretty sure, one of the great reasons of changing KEY is harmony consideration. We say, C major scale, pentatonic A minor or blues enthusiasts say, "Blue C minor". Every time we say a SCALE and a KEY. Here, KEY C in Blue minor scale. Those are familiar with Indian classical, must be familiar with "malkosh", "vhairabi", "iman" etc. These are all different scales. Quick question may come into your mind, can we change scale in a single song ? Answer is no as well as yes. Be careful about changing scale while you're composing a song or a piece of music. Often, scale has direct relationship with song genre. Scales of JAZZ, BLUES are pretty much defined. Still, you've option to use different scales in a single piece of music. You have to be creative enough to do that and in this case your experiment should be with honest MIXING of scales, NOT CHANGING scales. Listen carefully, Steve Ray Vaughan's ballad in electric guitar, "Lenny". How he used both Pentatonic minor and Blue minor in a single piece !

To play guitar like a pro, your left and right hand must sync well. That means, for each up and down stroke, each finger must work individualy. Chromatic exercises are very powerful exercises for syncing your left and right hand. Although it seems easier, if you do right, it will help you gain your speed and accuracy.So lets take a look into the exercise. This is a single string exercise. Best to start from the first string. 
Use all fingers from 1 to 4, one at a time (That means index, mid,ring and pinky finger). Play from the first fret to fourth fret in the order 1-2-3-4 using each finger for each fret. (Eg : 1st fret-Index finger, 2nd fret-Mid finger, 3rd fret-Ring finger, 4th fret-Pinky finger). Use alternate picking on right hand. (Use Down-Up-Down-Up picking). Move forward on the fretboard with the same pattern and the same fingering. (1-2-3-4, 2-3-4-5, 3-4-5-6..... ) Continue till 12th fret. As this is a bi-directional exercise, as you reach 12th fret, play it backwards.(15-14-13-12, 14-13-12-11, 13-12-11-10 .... )

Some tips for correct practice methods are :

1. Start with a speed that you are comfortable. Dont rush. Use metronome to keep you in the same speed.

2. The first note in every 4 notes must be played in higher accent than the remaining 3 notes. This will keep your pattern in correct order everytime.

3. Dont underestimate the power of this exercise as its simple.

Thanks and always remember; With Practice, Passion and Patience, Anything is possible !

6  5. 4. 3. 2. 1 open strings on the guitar responding to the notes you need to learn and memorize start picking exercises from 1st string to 6 ad per note E,B,G,D,A,E you have to practice the picking up and down motion of you are hand to get them into synchronisation etc. Sit on a stool upright position keeping the guitar on your knees as you feel the right way to practice till you become familiar with the six strings on the instrument.

If u want to play a guitar buy a guitar... I have met many students that says like, 'I want to learn guitar but i dont know.. if i could learn it so... teach me some if i feel easy i'll buy one'.. or bla bla bla.. any reason...listen to ur heart deep down inside if u want to play guitar then go grab one.. n start learning. It takes time learning belive it. The longer u be with ur guitar the batter guitarist ull be patience is the key. Listen to GnR patients  (song) keep trying ur best ull play guitar before u knew it.

Well thats the first step dont ever go to 2nd step without compliting the 1st. After compliting the first step which is buying a guitar.. now the 2nd step which is im going to start now. 

Tuning a guitar:

It is not easy s a beginner but very important. Im not talking about buying a tuners or downloading a tuning apps. What im saying is tune it using ur ears. This will improve ur ears. This is very important.

U can practice by using a tuning apps u can tune ur guitar with ur ears n let the apps be the teacher..

Well, the next step is.... when ur traning ur ears.. u can also start learning notes. Every tuning style will change the sound of a guitar n the position of ur guitar notes on ur fread boards. So quick explain: there r 12 notes on a guitar.. same.. s keyboards. A to g. N with a sharp notes. Sharp not is nothing but.. half step up wrd the notes. A note higher..there r 2 notes which dont hav a sharp not that is B and E.

Now! After all thoes step you must hav lernd how to tune n all the  notes.

If u still cant tune.. ur guitar thats fine. But do not give up keep... practice.. u can achieve it.. its just a matter of time.. once ir familiar whit the sounds.. u can tune it easily.. so tune a guitar try it.. by listening a guitar tuning video from youtube.. once u finish tuning chack it with a tuning apps.. n fix ur mistake do it every time u sit for practice do this practice first. Traning ur ear is must..

N the notea on a fread board.

Now.. practice:

How to play chords n solo... in this stages u cant !! actualy!!.... what I mean to say practical is.. to build your muscle memory... its a long way from playing songs. But patient is the key.

Learn some scale n practice every day... n some chords progression... if u hav some free free time.. u can speed up the process by starting some brain works.. like family chords how r thay form how to figer it out. N scales progration pentatonic scales n so on... 

U may lern every theory there is to know for the song type u choose... but still cant play or cant make it sound gud... well dont worry like i said the longer u stay with ur guitar the batter u will b... you should focus on chord changing. It should b smooth. N u should understand to use a metronome. N play along with it it will improve ur rythm. N for solo... u should understand which chords is marching with which notes n scales... depending apound ur chords progression u should constructed ur solo.

Well if u want to copy n play... the only thing u hav to focus is fingerstyle n rythm style.. like learn some scale n practice different style of playing like legato hammer on pull off. Banding release make ur finger ready for any up coming songs... s well s rythm. Learn some struming styles. Like down up up  down up up down up down up!

N so own...

Well thats it for buiginners lesson... there r lots of things beep in side but i cant expln on text. U i hop its not borring. I try to shortn it.. so that the readers will feel bord.. actualy theory is bord in every subject... hop i help you...  

Here is a free lesson for beginners extracted from my course guide.

Click on the image for a larger view

Download the blank fretboard image by clicking the image below and print it out so you can practice plotting the notes correctly.

Thanks for reading.

All the best!

Sebastian