[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by Tanque Verde

Forgive me if this is obvious, but which scales? Do you mean pentatonic? Thx.

Hi TV...
No, just simple major scales. In scale degree 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8, or do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do

Pentatonic scales leave out the half steps 3-4 and 7-8 so a Pentatonic scale is only scale degrees 1-2-3-5-6 in the major sense, and 6-1-2-3-5 in the minor. They are usually taught to get lead players up and running with no 'wrong' notes, but I see lead parts and melodies produced with pentatonic scales as pretty limited without 1/2 steps.

All our common chords in Western music are based on and derived from the major scales. And the 5 guitar keys which we love to play in 1st position (cowboy chords) are in key of C, A, G, E and D.

The across the neck scales up the neck in 3-4 positions can come later, but incorporating and focusing on open strings is unique to guitars and mandolins (and banjos) and are where we derive hammers and pull-offs and faster runs with less effort.

So learning the 5 basic scales in conjunction with their associated chords and progressions puts players miles ahead in the jamming world, and learning songs by listening and figuring songs out without tab or chord charts.