I just learned my first 2 octave G scale on the guitar. I plan on getting all or most of the G scales up the neck. My question is How many other scales are essential to know?
What kind of music are you interested in picking? Bluegrass, old time, jazz, blues?
I pick mainly bluegrass, gospel and old time country so for that genre, I'd learn G, C, D to begin with then add A and E, all major scales.
If you're going into jazz or blues, you'll need to learn more.
quote:
Originally posted by TexasbanjoWhat kind of music are you interested in picking? Bluegrass, old time, jazz, blues?
I pick mainly bluegrass, gospel and old time country so for that genre, I'd learn G, C, D to begin with then add A and E, all major scales.
If you're going into jazz or blues, you'll need to learn more.
Perfect, yes bluegrass, gospel and old time country is exactly what im shooting for! thank you for the info!
I recommend using Mel Bay's "Flatpicking Up The Neck". I has notation and tab for different positions. You download the audio from Mel Bay - it is free. In the book, you do scales and exercises for the keys of G,C, and D. It also has some tunes where you apply what your learn. With that knowledge you can easily "build" on the three keys the book covers. The book also teaches how scales in different neck positions relate to the chord for that neck position. You can start learning "down" the neck, and gradually go up the neck. The content is a project to be accomplished over time. Learn this and you can use what you learn to modify tunes already play. After you are comfortable with those three keys, just go to library, get a book, and learn the diatonic scale. Changing a note or two will have you playing in keys of than those taught in the book. This book has been the most effective instructional for learning the fingerboard and scales on the fingerboard.
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