Breaking the Mold - Rethinking Guitar Scales

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Practicing guitar scales builds muscle memory but can leave you stuck in a rut. Grammy winning Taylor Guitar Artist, Wayne Johnson, shows you a different way to approach scales, one that will help you recognize shapes, groupings, intervals and symmetry. By concentrating on single-string and random scale-note practice, you'll learn to break free of muscle memory and improve your melodic development.

This is a companion video to Wayne's article, "Breaking the Mold," from the summer 2011 issue of Wood&Steel. You can download a PDF of the full article at http://www.taylorguitars.com/woodandsteel/articles/breaking-the-mold-guitar-s...

Visit us at http://www.taylorguitars.com for more information.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• guitar
• lesson
• lessons
• electric
• waynejohnson
• taylorguitars
• scales
• taylort5

[TaylorQualityGuitars]

Remember, this is not a replacement for standard positional playing.You can study your existing scale forms in the different positions in order to locate and visualize the symmetry & shapes thus giving you the ability to then enjoy freedom from the limitations of standard positional playing. If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask either on this page or via my email. We'll do more of this in

future lessons as well as get to many of your suggestions such as

what are modes? - Wayne

[TaylorQualityGuitars]

I chose the reverse/opposite approach because this is the exact perspective a student has at a lesson while he/she is listening, visualizing and trying to absorb not only shapes and patterns, but even the proper string order from low to high. - Wayne Johnson

[TaylorQualityGuitars]

3 diff scale diagrams to consider

1) Reverse or opposite: Face to face — student viewing a teacher or video. This is what we see live or on a screen and what I’ve used.

2) Upside-down: From playing position. Flip guitar upside down, strings facing you so that low E is closest to the ground. This is conventional.

3) Mirror image: Like looking in a mirror. To me, this is the most accurate visual. Everything meshes up perfectly if the person you’re watching (teacher, live or video) is a lefty!

[TaylorQualityGuitars]

Regarding the orientation of the scale diagrams in the W&S article, this was totally my doing and not a miscommunication or misprint. I know this is an unconventional approach. Depending on the feedback, perhaps we’ll change it next time around.

-Wayne Johnson

[electricray3]

Great lesson i want more!!

[chaplainjerry]

Great video and I look forward to watching more!



[ronkroes]

Thanks for this lesson. It gives me a different look on scales

[kucerarichard]

awesome



[ChrisVGuitarist]

Taylor T5 soooo Beautiful! I want it so bad!

[scraggo]

combining positions - awesome idea. those patterns (symmetries) are very helpful

[krensky60]

I am not sure I understand how to take this lesson up the guitar neck like you did.

Thanks

Jane

[ztogo]

Great job. Very clear and concise.

[rumlerj]

Love, love, love that Taylor has started a lessons forum and page using the web! I play a Taylor GS, and I'm always looking to improve and learn. Thank you Wayne! I will be checking back often. Keep the lessons coming!

[MrJoeDestin]

Nice Job, thanks