Guitar Scales - A Reference Video

[IndyCarGirl93]

Thank you very much for this! This is very helpful indeed. =)

[xorhirhiox]

the numbers confuse me :s

[Jasaxos]

So te pattern is the same for each scale?

Like the 3rd note could be minor too?

[turkishpower08]

What about the minors?? Is there a video on that as well?

[HenfieldWill]

@turkishpower08 No - I haven't done a separate video for minor scales. In general, flattening the 3rd note of the scale gives you the minor - but there are ascending and descending minor scales, so it's not quite as straightforward. :-)

[Bazgann]

i dont get it why i cant just find all the notes of major scale by this pattern W-W-h-W-W-W-h on ONE string. Why do i need to move to other strings

[HenfieldWill]

@Bazgann Well of course you can play a scale just on one string. Nothing to stop you. But if you want to extend that knowledge to chord construction, then playing scales across strings is a first, logical step. It's also more economical of movement to play across the fretboard, rather than up and down it.

[Bazgann]

@HenfieldWill I see. Thanks for response.

[Dschulinho]

@Bazgann you dont have to but other strings can give you other tones imagine high E and low E. and further imagine you wanna play fast with and with hammer-ons pull-offs and slides. you cant play it on one string

[calebandrewmichael]

@termite289

Actually they're for beginners. Music isn't a competition. I'm sure you sucked as soon as you picked up a guitar. So don't judge the beginners on their ability, or you're just a hypocrite.

[alydagreat]

hey guys .. i wanna learn scales .. is there any CD tutorial available for that . or something ... please answer

[termite289]

i think it is very helpful, and you were at least kind enough to include tabs for the morons.

[GuitarJamTracks]

If it helps, I'm currently working on GuitarJamTracks(.)com

I'm gathering a collection of free guitar backing tracks created by different people and organizing them by key, tempo, suggested scales. I would love to get any feedback I can get so I can make the site more useful.

[SuperPavian]

How this scales can help you?

[blackmetalrockdeath]

F is wrong. its only has 1 flat which is B.

so, F G A Bb C D E F.

[HenfieldWill]

@blackmetalrockdeath Yes - I know! It was a typo which was too complex to correct...

[robertrobin10]

@HenfieldWill so you would rather have viewers learn the wrong thing

[HenfieldWill]

@robertrobin10 Of course not - but the typo - the only one in a complex production - has been clearly pointed out over and over again.

[frexspar76]

@HenfieldWill

I really appreciate the video (: you can also probably just put a text box over the wrong F or whatever he's talking about

[punkhed101]

@blackmetalrockdeath i saw that 2 :S

[SuperPavian]

@blackmetalrockdeath Only F is wrong or ?

[blackmetalrockdeath]

@SuperPavian maybe.

[FLpolo]

@blackmetalrockdeath i knew something didn't sound right

[Cloud98]

Wow, I finally found a helpful lesson/introduction to scales.

Thank you so much.

[kalista34]

I really enjoyed this video, will! it has been very helpful and I feel like I have a good grasp on my scales. however, it would also be helpful to maybe have another video explaining where else on the fret board you can play these. I will do some research and continue to practice, so this was a great first step. thanks!

[HenfieldWill]

@kalista34 Glad you found it useful. You can work out - and should know :-0 where all the notes on the fretboard are. If you know the fretboard from the nut to the 12th fret, then the scale notes can be applied anywhere. :-)

[ctguy1955]

Thank you so much!!!

[ruformyhead]

I think B may be on the wrong fret in the scale of F

[kmax1940]

thanks for this video it is very helpful. here is my question... these scales dont seem to fit any of the "finger patterns" i see online..... 2,4 1,3,4 etc etc.

Do these major scales not have finger patterns like that to help in learning to play them?

[HenfieldWill]

@kmax1940 The question of fingering is a separate issue from the theory I'm showing here - which is to give very basic reference points for scale notes in root positions. The nature of the guitar allows multiple places to play the same note, so the actual fingering used will depend on where the scale is being played. That's beyond the scope of this video, I'm afraid. :-)

[samrap5]

Awesome movie! Very helpful, thank you for your contributions.

[Craigster312]

Hi Will! Your easygoing, unpretentious approach to teaching guitar is very helpful.

I hope other students appreciate how much effort goes into the way you present your information. Although I've been playing for many years without knowing much about music theory, practicing your lessons has really helped me. **THANK YOU, WILL! ** Craig from New Jersey, USA.

[thehomefront]

so whats the difference with the pentatonic scale and the magor scale,

do you need to know both?

[HenfieldWill]

@thehomefront Knowing the major scale is a great help when leaning chord structures. For example, if you know the major scale of D across the fretboard - and you know that a minor chord is made from the 1st, flattened 3rd and 5th notes of the scale - then you can work out where to play this chord all over the fretboard. The pentatonic scale is used very much in blues playing and crosses very subtly through major and minor chords. :-)

[mongee05]

@thehomefront the pentatonic scale has only five notes (omitting the 3rd and the 7th of the scale for the major pentatonic, 2nd and the 6th for the minor pentatonic) while the standard major/minor has all seven notes. knowing both is just the basics actually. it gets really challenging when you change keys.

[thehomefront]

this might sound silly but nobody explains what scales are for and how they will help us. i've learnt some of these scales from this video, i dont understand how its benifitted me.

[HenfieldWill]

@thehomefront The point of knowing scales is really to improve your knowledge of the fretboard - where notes fall - and this, in turn, will help in being able to play harmonies and chords up and down the guitar fretboard.

[mongee05]

Pretty good but I think putting them in the circle of fifths order would've been a lot helpful in remembering which keys have this number of sharps or flats, etc.

[HenfieldWill]

@mongee05 Fair comment. :-)

[vjlord]

didn;t get anything... :( what shud i do... ?

[BMXBOBO]

he will fly

[acid9757]

could make a video for minor scales too

[HenfieldWill]

@acid9757 True - but time is of the essence (!) and this video took quite a time to make... :-) A short cut of sorts is to play the scales but flatten the 3rd notes of the scale on the way up...

[NONAMESLEFTNONE]

I was using this video to learn my scales when I noticed something that doesn't seem correct. At time 2:24min the 'Scale of F' calls out for B-flat (Bb, I think) but the note displayed on the fret board is a B, I believe. This also does not jive with the coinciding tab on the right.

(I now see that bassnpiano below also said the same thing.)

Thanks so much for this video. It's a slow process but a lot of fun!

[sOulrOckmelO]

thanks you man. now i understand. after i saw how you scaled the C i started guessing the other scales correctly. this is just what i needed. btw i just want to ask the difference of these scales and pentatonic scales. it confuses me. are pentatonic scales made up of minor keys?O.O

[venzine]

I would like to know which fingers should I use. Thank you!

[HenfieldWill]

Well, methods vary but, if you're playing open strings as part of a scale in the root position, you could use the index finger for notes on the first fret, the middle finger for notes on the second fret, the ring finger for notes on the 3rd fret, and the little (pinkie) finger for notes on the 4th fret. This is just one way. :-)

[shelynjames]

thank u sir i really was i need of this :)

[keltickev27]

Hi WIll

What software do you use for the diagrams on this and the other instructional vids?

TIA

Kev

[HenfieldWill]

I use Adobe Photoshop which allows me to create moveable layers. :-)

[keltickev27]

@HenfieldWill

ah right....so just graphics then...I thought it was more interactive than that....it works though ;o))

[skillkung]

Thx very much!

ขอบคุณมาก

kamsahnida!

[bassnpiano]

I thought the scale of F had a b flat, and that the scale of C was the only scale with no sharps or flats.

[ItsChippendale]

Very Helpful :D

[shon9514]

FINALLY, PROPER THEORY, thanks , I've been searching for this exact teaching technique. THanks so much! I hate straining to see a guys left hand while the entire room is in the shot. (i guess they want to be famous instead of actually teach) Best 6 minutes of lessons I've had yet!!!Peace

[asphixa]

@shon9514 I'll teach you something usefull too. for instance: if it says 4 sharps F# C# G# D# it means its in the key of E. An easy trick to remember is that if you go half a step up from the last sharp you end up at the note of the key its in like F# C# G# is in the key of A. With flats its the flat before the last one thats the note of the key so: Bb Eb Ab is in the key of Eb or Bb Eb Ab Db is in the key of Ab =)

[smichael61]

Thank you, very helpful.

[cyberblood21]

Thank you very much!!!

your lessons really helped me out!!!

[Orion579]

Thanks for taking the time to post this vid.

It helped out a lot.

[jobxforxaxcowboy]

I think the F scale is wrong Bb is on the first fret 4th string not 2nd fret

[chaoskev]

thanks dude :)

[musty911]

thanks, Will!

[sulmatull11]

hi im just starting to player guitar now been playing for six months why is it so important to learn scales???

[HenfieldWill]

See the answers below. You don't HAVE to learn scales, but knowing how a major scale works and what the intervals are between notes helps you to understand how chords work - and helps you find your way around the guitar fretboard. You can play the guitar without knowing any theory whatsoever, and never reading a note of music - but it helps if you do - in the long run! :-)

[HenfieldWill]

This video isn't saying you MUST learn scales. All it's doing is saying - if you want to learn major scales, here they are...

[HenfieldWill]

Solos can come from a variety of sources - like chords, or variations on the main melody - but knowledge of scales, knowing intervals for example, can help this process. :-)

[Energi2dmax]

solos are made out of scales,am i right? Explain a little if u can

[jeremydavis32]

cn sum1 tell me whats the point of knowing scales ?

[HenfieldWill]

A knowledge of musical scales helps your in chord construction, in improvisaton, and in knowing your way around the fretboard. Many guitarists don't bother - that's their choice. For those who do - this video's a simple guide. :-)

[Rory5027]

Thanks, this is really helping alot:)

[jabahut1]

Were is the B-flat in the F scale? he played B not B-flat. F-G-A-B-C-D-E-F

[jobxforxaxcowboy]

the video was wrong Bb is the first fret on 4th string

[rheaub1]

Henfield has it right, of course, both as tabbed and as it sounds. As for your point about Bflat: on a six string guitar, the fourth string is D so fingering at the eighth fret would be B flat. However, the fifth string, which is A, fingered at the first fret, is B flat. EADGBE, right? Just trying to clarify for those who could be confused by your posting.

[iKakashiSensEii]

im gonna bookmark this page. thnx a lot

[AngryMusicalSloths94]

do i need to learn the scales if i want to be good at improvising?

[AngryMusicalSloths94]

i can barely remember 3 let alone 11 :(

[xmattvsmondayx]

tell me about it, dude :( I gotta learn scales for my audition to get into music tech at college in 2 weeks and I know I won't fucking remember them lol :(:(:(

[AngryMusicalSloths94]

what do they teach in the music colleges and universities cos im thinking of applying

[HenfieldWill]

Improvisation can be done in many ways - by simply playing what comes into your head from hearing a piece - by playing through chords and taking notes from the sequence - and by knowing the scales and intervals which constitute the chord progressions. So scales help... :-)

[Staelars]

Thanks alot mate!

[neegz]

very helpful im going to practice these

[wootz09]

5/5 man

thanx for this awsome vid.

helped me lotz.

[rockittees]

AWESOME! Thank You!

[LudwigLive]

very nice... thx for the video.... realy helped me

[giggitygoo619]

thanks for taking the time to make this vid

[j30345]

thanks. awesome video, keep em coming!

[j30345]

Will it be exceptional if I can play the notes but on different strings?

[HenfieldWill]

Not at all. I chose the simplest placings, i.e. a combination of open and fretted notes, but you can play the notes wherever it's the most appropriate or comfortable for you. :-)

[j30345]

ahhh i see. So basically everyone has their own way of playing scales then?

[HenfieldWill]

Absolutely - depends on one's fingering preferences... :-)

[funkyboy90000]

Yes!!!!!!!!! finally some one on youtube knows what thier doing!!!!!!! Ive been on the computer all day searching for scales and trying to figure out what key i'm in and no one has been able to (effectively) do it except you thank u very much!!!!!!! ( i'll say it twice to show how gr8tfull i am thank u very much!!!)

[HenfieldWill]

Glad it's useful - there's a slight mistake in the F scale section, but you'll have learned the theory by the time you get there! :-)

[Luk3TV]

Sweet! I'm glad I'm starting to catch onto things. I was at your website and noticed that the tab was incorrect and came and saw your comment. Thanks again for the video, fantastic work mate, always wanted to learn my scales! =)

[sledwards]

Excellent thanks. I downloaded your PDF for reference too.

[Choille7]

Really helplful, thanks :) but can you tell me, please, what is it actually used for, and should i learn it by heart? Is it all i need to know about scales?

[HenfieldWill]

You can use the theory in building guitar chords. See my YT video "How To Build Guitar Chords" for instruction on how to do this. :-)

[CRAZYCRAZY833]

very helpful video. i was about to comment about the F scale but just noticed "jataka77" already did ha

again thanks for posting this it really helped

[ipodmonkeymoo]

thankyooouuu! I've needed to learn these for a while and this is the ideal video. But could you possibly out this up in a higher quality as it is hard to read the written music. thanks x

[icklekins]

This is exactly what i was looking for. thank you!

[yutubetom]

Very helpful. Thank you. 5 stars!

[xemovegx]

if you were my teacher ud make me learn those till my fingers bled huh?

[HenfieldWill]

Nope - this is a REFERENCE video - which means you dip into it when you need the information. I've done a lot of teaching and I never coerce or force a pupil - it has to come from within. The only person whose fingers bled when he was learning were mine - 40+ years ago! :-)

[xemovegx]

hopefully im still playin 40 years from now

[daywalker4229]

I know the pain, I thought the whole "playing till your fingers bleed" was a joke, till a couple of years ago, when I bought a guitar and couldn't put it down even despite the pain :)

[jataka77]

Very helpful thanks a lot. There is just one slight error in the F Scale. On the tab, on the A string you have 0 1 3 which is correct, but on the fretboard chart at the right hand side it is down as 0 2 3, sorry to be so picky.

[HenfieldWill]

Thanks! I'd already spotted another error elsewhere, so this comment is useful for when I revise this video! :-)

[MatthewRMX]

thanks im writing them in my book this is very helpful dude thanks a lot...im subscribing 2 u formore videos!! :]] but in my books i dont need to write the type of notes...it doesnt matter...thanks again

[jataka77]

Excellent reference video, thanks a million.

[cosmo1pug]

Thank you for posting this. I almost got it down.

[Yavie]

Can we get this for the violin?

[HenfieldWill]

It's certainly possible - just time! :-)

[smilodon]

There's a mistake on the fretboard diagram for the F Maj Scale. It's showing B on the fifth string and it should be Bb.

[ArtyHelen]

Superb! Just what I needed! THANX!

[metalheadnick1992]

hey, extremely helpful, thank you so much

[ishiho]

its a nice how to,but its so boring i almost stapled my eyelids to my forehead to liven myself up.

[HenfieldWill]

It's a reference video - you dip into it to find the scale you need - you don't have to look at all of it all the time... :-)

[MccQuacken]

very. very nice. this is a very easy way to learn the scales.

thank you so much!

[abalonecircle]

thanks for your great instructionals! Very much appreciated and added to my learn to play playlist. =)

[royjpas]

Excelent video... Thank you very much

[Rubydoobiedee]

This is very helpful to me...thank you.

[jessyquedens]

A classical guitarist would avoid the open strings--but perhaps this is more straightforward.

[HenfieldWill]

Yes - I thought long and hard about the fret positions - then opted for the open strings for simplicity. I also decided to limit the scale to one octave and to the bottom 5 frets! :-)