How to Play Lead Guitar - How To Practice Scales

[froggofdoom]

im subbing u ghave some great lessons

[roohmz1000]

Great video - thanks for the helpful information. I'm going to use it in my practice.

[moneymilara]

dude u look like a young kevin smith

[rhysfoley09]

just a question ... when im soloing, i find it hard to get out of the box, i add little notes in, but i cant seem to move up the frets ... any tips?

[qxle]

@rhysfoley09

Learn some vertical scales. I had the same problem with my minor/major pentatonics, until i learned 2 vertical scales, and begun incorporating them in my solos and jams. Also try playing in an area of the fretboard, you are not used to. Hope it helps :)

[wkriski]

@rhysfoley09 I mention it here and also have a course called fretboard mastery where you learn 5 patterns in different areas of the neck and then connect them (CAGED) across the neck. Also when you learn a phrase/lick try playing it in different octaves locations.

[232Reaper232]

Do you know this solo scale by memory? or do you just randomly come up with it.

[wkriski]

@232Reaper232 the scale is memorized, then you improvise over the scale

[lightingyouup]

Thank you for the tips!

[knight1754]

damn it man one day i will try to battle you! i know i might lose though your effing awesome!

[wkriski]

@knight1754 thanks dude!

[420bodean]

knight1754 this quality sounds like shit.. & really dosent help at all.. glad im already a player. or id just be freaking out of luck!!

[wkriski]

@420bodean it's an older video but still helpful to many

[Mooimafish1340]

@wkriski I'll try that. Thanks.

[Mooimafish1340]

I am new to guitar and I was wondering how I can get my fingers to cooperate better with my brain. It almost seems as if my brain and coordination keep my fingers from moving at a faster pace. Will practicing scales help this?

[wkriski]

@Mooimafish1340 i'm a fan of learning actual solos so it's more fun and motivational. solos have scale fragments and arpeggios, etc. if you can pick fast with one note or an open string than it's more of a coordination with the left hand. slow down and play very cleanly and coordinated, then push the speed a little at a time. be patient and it will come

[Heineken1712]

hey could you do a video with some instructions or tips for the picking hand? i think that hand is more difficult to control and i have my struggles with it picking fast but sitll accurate and clean.

[liamzuid]

Do you have those weird frets or is that the cam making it look like you have them?

[Simotin]

Is learning the positions and the shape of one scale in one position helpful?

I mean, I usually play something like death metal, where the tuning is lower than standard E, so the patterns will change.

I would like to know, would it be better to learn the notes on the fretboard (where they are located) and then study what notes the scales include? It would take some time, but one would develop much as a guitarist by doing this imho. Can anyone tip me am I completely off course on this one?

[wkriski]

@Simotin i teach 5 scale patterns that are movable to other keys so yes learning each pattern in one position is helpful. to learn the notes you can say the note names as you play the scale in each position, or you can go up one string, etc. for alternate tunings you would need to adjust the scales for the alternate tuning. so yes learn the note names and understand how to use the scales, the scales themselves aren't that useful

[IsaSkyLimit]

Very nice, sounded awesome.

I myself been playing for some years now, like for 5 years but stayed at rythm guitar, until these two past years when I started to feel like i was staying at the back of the line.. so I felt this urge to go to another level and learn lead guitar. I need to learn it in order to feel peace withing my musician's heart hehe

[ozzy618]

I swear any one that owns a Ibanez sounds like this!!

[email11123]

@ozzy618 Yeah Ibanez sounds like ibanez.....on the bright side you can easily get the exact tone of your favorite pro's......if thats what you want...

[1992Scar4Life]

does you hand size matter, like if you cant reach over the guitar and stuff?

[chris123chris82]

canadain!!! WOOT

[DeliciousPoop]

aboot.............. loving it

[yourdollar]

what type of pedal board do you have and what do you set them at to get that god grunge rock sound

[wkriski]

@yourdollar I use the line6 podxt. I have a floorboard controller but I don't use it a much for the most part as i switch patches on the device itself.

[Ski4lif37]

i've taught myslef for about 6 months now, and i've had friends show me scales and ive looked at them and theres sooooo many and i dont have the patience to memorize any cuz idk how to turn them into a halfway decent guitar solo

[tit4tat4dat]

@Ski4lif37 Hey, hang in there, it will come to you, try to play to backing tracks, try to play old children-songs that you know off by heart, play anything that comes to mind, Last thing at night before you fall asleep-look at your guitar. First thing in the morning when you open your eyes......look at your guitar....say :``there are many of them, but this one is mine``......go down to the crossroads and sell your soul to the devil...

[AdanRobledo1972]

Your canadian! I can Tell by looking at your FACE! haha awesome video

[OneMustyDog]

are you canadian? you said "aboot" haha, awesome video man

[guitarpick678]

@OneMustyDog oh he's way canadian alright

[wkriski]

@guitarpick678 with us citizenship too :)

[demonseye316]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!

[certiffiedgala]

0:20-0:30

my favorite part :)

[nikhileshsingh]

your website doesnt exist

[wkriski]

@nikhileshsingh yes it does

[G1bsonlp]

Beautiful. *Applause*

[deathcore1239]

ibanez obviously but what is it an RG760?

[wkriski]

@deathcore1239 RG of some kind don't know exact model as i bought it in 1988 :)

[deathcore1239]

well the 760 is one of the only RG's ive seen with a single single double p/up pattern so yea keep that guitar its a good find i can never find one of those anymore

[wkriski]

@deathcore1239 that sounds about right. swapped in 2 EMG pickups too. i sold a guitar one time and still regret it, probably never a good idea!

[deathcore1239]

i know how ya feel i sold an Ibanez USA custom screaming eagel (cant spell oh well) for $100 come to find out that they were prototypes and there were 6 of that guitar in the world and the other 5 are 100% different

[Nelladagar]

@deathcore1239 find the guy you sold it too and steal it back!! ha

[AntoRPG]

@wkriski search the exat model in the ibanez guitar's archive

[Slacker996]

@wkriski It looks like an Ibanez RG570

[ciaramaglia01]

nice lesson!!!

[prosk8er85]

What did you use to print out the scales like you were saying?

[wkriski]

I now have 5 movable CAGED shapes I bought a program called Axmaster 2.2

[dcaid420]

2:41- 2:45 is hella funny when your high

[davemeisnerreggae]

lol ur soo right

[davemeisnerreggae]

soo right

[AhYaOk]

i dont get the thirds, fouth, fifths thing. meaning intervals or sequences?

[wkriski]

yes intervals c to 3 is third, c to f is fourth, c to g is fifth, etc. but you when you play them going up the scale it's like a sequence (repeated pattern of intervals).

[AhYaOk]

cool, i think i got it now. depends on how you look at it i guess.. rhythmically it could be groups of three and if you're going up a scale it will end on a major or minor third from the starting note. but are you playing it like cde def efg? its a little confusing to me because of the terminology, i always wondered what people meant by that.

[wkriski]

you're right. you just go up/down the scale and sometimes you have major/minor 2nds, 3rds, 6ths.

[AhYaOk]

thanks, you're a gentlemen and a scholar

[ThisisAlvaro]

I love Ibanez =]

[ManiacSerialKilleR]

lol watching people play guitar like that makes me feel like a newb :(

[gnikko23]

2212221 meaning whole whole half whole whole whole half, that the easiest way to learn scales, example

C

D -2

E -2

F- 1

if you get what i mean hehe great lesson anyway thx!

[chasetenney]

Sounds like Steve Vai!!!

[Laserhest]

teach me ? :D

[19rocknrollcircus68]

This is a really good lesson,thanks.

[MarkoSutherland]

Love your vids man,all 5* great way to learn watching you.

[666THRASHAHOLIC]

it looks like a mick thompson signature ibanez,cool sound

[rcbridgex]

At about 56 seconds you, how do you make that high pitch noise even though you are playing the low notes?

[wkriski]

that's a pinch harmonic or squealie :) - i have a video lesson on that (check my other videos)

[itiwere]

is a harmonic.... you play it with your right hand , barely touching the string with the pick and the finger as well

[wkriski]

ha thanks, hiding in Calgary! shhh

[kelly1002]

i would love to have this guy as my private guitar tutor.....

[wkriski]

that is possible via webcams :)

[Blikzje]

teach me O great one:D

[MrCDW]

good video and good lesson. but i cant stand the Ibanez thing

[moneymilara]

hahaha good call

[Ralphfers]

good lesson... please keep putting stuff out there.

[sanfiltj]

this is just sick. this is so sick im gonna throw up because im so disgusted. then I'm gonna watch it again because it rocks

[keyword45]

thanks man... this is really helpful

[lunasnuvs]

very very helpfull cant wait to get em down good!

[loucatuu]

thankyou so much! that was really helpful

[IPlay4G0d]

Thanks for posting this, it helped alot ;P

[MENELAOS182]

I love the strings that are not cut when they are put in............they may be dangerous but show tha tyou cant wait to play

[tpmporky]

thank you wkriski for posting this vid and sharing your obvious wealth of knowledge on the guitar in general. not the usual tat from utube. you deserve our respect.

[wkriski]

thanks that means a lot

[SkateboarderE]

lol he look crazzy did anyone notice it looked like he was glaring at u

[wkriski]

i'm a crazy guitar teacher :)

[jrezo757]

i like your guitar teaching man i wish i had some one to teach me how to play like you when i first started to play

[12579admin]

So f#$kin GOOD

[wkriski]

glad you liked it

[BartlesvilleGuy28]

thats a good tone.....what did you use?

[wkriski]

I use line6 podxt - very often the 'satch marshall' tone

[Travisrayguitarist]

you are a pro great guitar player just as good Vinnie Moore

[wkriski]

thanks a lot!

[aalexcp]

wow nice man!

[justAnotherINTJ]

posted 5 stars how long have you been playing and how long did you practice on a typical day?

thanks

[wkriski]

thanks! 28 years playing now...i would practice for many hours a day (6+) and still do, never ending amounts to learn! more important is focused and productive practice

[justAnotherINTJ]

thanks for the info, if you wouldn't mind telling me what all one should do to make sure it is a good practice. You know things to keep in mind that sorta thing so i don't waste time. It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the comment back I subscribed

[wkriski]

firstly make sure it's focused, no tv, web while practising.

secondly you need a systematic approach that's why i created the coaching program (see the vid. description for more info) - for soloing, start with the CAGED system, and learn the note names, chord tones, arpeggios, etc within each shape across the fretboard

[justAnotherINTJ]

Thanks for your time I hope your generosity is rewarded

[wkriski]

thanks me too!, hasn't happened yet!

hope to add more vids also

[OneBlazedDood]

This is a nice video.

And this is a perfect comment.

+1

[Noice01]

holy crap, man ur awesome.!

[kbillydj]

u are awesome!!!

[wkriski]

why thank you sir!

[kbillydj]

i'm a girl.

but you're welcome haha

[wkriski]

oops sorry!

[Alphawolfxtremerc]

Awesome thanks for the vid. Now, I actually have a framework to improve upon! Just wish I didn't sound so terribad. :( Oh, well, I keep telling myself more practice!

[wkriski]

thanks and good luck. i teach the 5 CAGED shapes in key of C and go from there.

[wahur300]

Did you learn the scales the same way? And how long it took, months, years?

[wkriski]

i used to print out a scale across the entire fretboard.

can't remember how long it took, and I still practice everyday....i now teach the 5 CAGED shapes and how to connect them.

[wahur300]

Thanks and btw you are an outstanding guitarist!

[hollywoodvox]

very nice playing dude just 1 thing are you an axe killer you look like a crazy person lol

[PHIL1245]

smooth playing dude nice. i love ibanez i have a 1985 roadstar 2 and i love it.

[HumanR0bot]

Oh you sexy man playing those seductive scales. Hahahaha very awesome though!!

[LadoApi]

i think i want to practise this with backing rhythm..

what chord should i play for my backing track to suit this c major scale?

thanks..

[wkriski]

that's a good idea. i used dm7 to G7. you can build a variety of chord progressions from a major scale. Try building ones starting with C or Am, the other chords you can use are Dm, Em, F, G and (Bdim not common). These are the chords built off of C major scale.

[LadoApi]

thank you very much :D

[joebonilla06]

tell me that's a $1000 neck... it looks like steve vai's custom frets...

[wkriski]

no standard ibanez rg series bought in '88

[tristansdew]

thanx man . That a good lesson . cheers

[tristansdew]

wow that guitar has some nice action..compared to my junky guitar lol

[2Luke]

thank you man!

[SomeWhiteGuy88]

i actually glued the notes to the hole fret bourd but i diddent get the notes off the net i sat doun and figgered it out it took me 2½ hours.

[wkriski]

yes i'm canadian but i also have US citizenship :)

[BOYWITHSUPRAHAT]

not trying to be a dick if you are but you sound canadian, good tip though.

[Hebi5159]

awesome video! what kind of ibanez is that?

[wkriski]

rg series. that's all i can remember.

[veers0r]

Thanks! Great lesson, thank you. One thing, the intro is a bit too long for my taste.

[wkriski]

no problem. some people complained i talked to much at first so you can't please everyone i guess.

[37thperson]

Do i get this right C scale is C,D,E,F,G,A,H,C (they thought us so in music school, is it the same for guitar?) Does that mean that in solo I can use all those tones anywhere on guitar neck?

Awesome video bdw.

[wkriski]

it's c,d,e,f,g,a,B,c (not h). you can use those notes if you're in the key of C, but you want to emphasize the chord tones of the current chord in the chord progression.

[Joshandguitar]

can you give me the tabs to the scale at 5:53 up and back down the fret board on B/E. Also i seen this vid another guy did and showed how you can play one scale in like 10 different ways or sumthin..and they all sound the same..it was confusing but im sure your brilliance understands wat im talking about aha! I was wondering if you could make a vid on that and explain it SLOWLY and IN-DEPTH for me. So that Medium Lvl guitarists (learning scales and sweeping) like myself can progress easily TYVM!

[wkriski]

check out onlineguitarcoaching [dot] com - where I go into detail about the 5 CAGED scale shapes. everything can be based off of those.

[maniccomp]

the major scale is huge, i wanna learn it...

[wkriski]

i now prefer to teach the 5 CAGED shapes for the major scale. then you eventually connect them together. It's great and makes it easy to visualize. check out onlineguitarcoaching [dot] com

[firooz123456789]

you are great it was awesome supper keep it up

[ASweetNoob]

Do I sense any Satriani-ism in that intro there?

[wkriski]

for sure, he's a big influence!

[kenneth0405]

my god! i wish i could play like that!! T_T just like joe dude... cool!

[wkriski]

thanks dude

[bandboy813]

Your Awesome!Keep up the amazing work man :D

[wkriski]

thanks

[windoes98se]

u rock!

[shredd99]

thanks for posting this dude!

[milancebre]

thanks man

[peterpetersbng]

is joe satriani an influence any chance

[wkriski]

Huge influence on me!

[peterpetersbng]

ime watching joe Satriani on 30 may 2008 in nuremberg germany......ill tell you what  its like i watched himm about 5 years ago .. but missed half the concert because i was late .. oh well . i hope ime on time this time ..,lol thanks john germany

[wkriski]

how was it? saw him at g3 with vai and malmsteen. it was awesome

[coryman44]

looks a bit like roger clemens.

[wkriski]

Is that before or after 'roids? o;)

I do lift weights on occasion!

[coryman44]

lol. i dunno.

[varunj34]

So to become a good lead guitarist, amongst other things, one HAS to know the following:

1) All scales A-G of different types (Major, Minor, Pentatonic etc), all over the fret boad. So is that something that we have to sit and root learn i.e: go through every scale one at a time and memorize where the notes fall all over the fret board?

[wkriski]

Ideally you should know all the scales across the fretboard as you mentioned. I think this should be part of the practice regimen along with playing songs, ear training, etc. The scales can be also played as intervals, triads, arpeggios, sequences and so on.

[rg550jcm2000]

Well remember that if you learned a major scale then you have learned a (relative) minor scale if that makes the task less daunting. But no, you do not need to know EVERYTHING, it would help. Most bands don't write songs in every key, they pick the key(s) that their singers can sing the best, hence Metallica writing 98% of their songs in Em.

[varunj34]

Hey, I think you make an excellent point. Thanks, this will help !

[JFender003]

aye will, when did u switch over to true temprement necks?

[wkriski]

Not sure what mean...that ibanez I'm playing was bought in like 1988. ;o)

[darkais776]

wow, ur really good.

this is such a random question. u being a very good musician, are u a fulltime musician?

do u get paid well? cuz i want to be a musician, ive been playing music for about 7 years, and ive been wanting to becoming a musician. i just want to know if i can make a living

[wkriski]

Hi there, thanks for your comments. I currently don't make any money from music. I do IT contracts and do songs/lessons/practising before and after work. I think you should go for it if that's your passion. Check out books by bob baker on music marketing so that you can make a living as a musician. Good luck!

[ByronJenness]

THATS BRILLIANT...whats your website mate???

[wkriski]

Thanks! To get to my website, check the 'About this Video' section to right of the video. Click on 'more' to see the full description where the link is. Then at my site click on Lessons and/or listen to my tunes.

[evilchrist213]

tnx for the reply..i hope and pray that you can post it soon...tnx..

[wkriski]

I posted the lesson you asked for using your chord progression. I hope to do more on this topic in the future. Let me know what you think.

[evilchrist213]

if im playing G Major scale,using a backing track which uses chord progression G-Bm-C-D,what should i do if after the backing track change to Bm,do i have to still play( solo) in G major or change it to D, C or Em scale accordingly? is it necessary that after the backing track play the chord C,is it necessary that the solo also end in note C?PLS POST VIDEO for this,a step a step method on how to use the scale in every chord progression,or what to do to the scale when the chord changes,tnx

[wkriski]

That is such an excellent question and is exactly what I want to focus on if I ever manage to write a book on soloing over chord changes. To get you started you can play G major scale over all 4 chords, but the best approach is to try to emphasize chord tones on beats 1 and 3. So for G major try to play G, B, D notes, over Bm, play B, D, F# notes, over C major, play C,E,G and over D, play D F# A. These are all notes from G major. I will try and do a video on this soon.

[robibm2003]

Good lesson, dude. This will definitely help a lot of beginners.

[asafapple]

This is definitely not a video for begginers! Please make a video where you teach the scales slowly!

[wkriski]

You can look at the tab to see what I am doing.

[pabli7o]

very can i download ur bg track?

Great vids. Keep up the good work.

[MonsterZero28]

Great playing! Neat tune also.

[lebowzki]

Thanks a lot. Your vids are a great help.

Cool site by the way.

[RobbCorp]

Excellent video. I've been searching for a good way to learn a scale across the fretboard, and not just a single shape with root note on the Low E. Thanks!

[wkriski]

Enjoy guys. The tab will be on the site later tonight (wed may 9, 2007) at my website.