Introduction to the Concept of Scales Guitar Lesson
Introduction to the Concept of Scales
Chris Liepe is back in lesson 5 with an introduction to scales. In this lesson, you will learn how to play up and down simple scale patterns.
Taught by Chris Liepe in Basic Electric Guitar with Chris seriesLength: 21:07Difficulty: 1.0 of 5
Here is a synopsis of what's covered in the first chapter:
- Theory: sharps and flats, whole steps and half steps.Chapter 2: A Bit of Theory
- The notes on the guitar - learning the fretboard.
- Learning the scales.
- Playing the scales with a click and backing track.
This is used to help you understand the fundamentals behind this lesson:
-Accidentals are notes that have a '#' or 'b' symbol with them that indicates if they have been raised or lowered by a half step.Chapter 3: Learning the Notes on the Guitar
-In this lesson, everything will be referred to as a 'sharp' (#).
-Whole Step = distance of 2 frets, abbreviated as 'W.'
-Half Step = distance of 1 fret, abbreviated as 'H.'
-Every major scale has this whole step/half step makeup between the notes: W-W-H-W-W-W-H
You will learn the notes that these scales create for each string:
-Learning the neck.Chapter 4: Learning the Scales
-If you have the names of the strings memorized by now, you can count up fret by fret to name the notes on the guitar.
-For example on your 6th or E string, fret 1 would be F, fret 2 would be F#, 3 would be G, 4 would be G#, 5 would be A etc...
-You can do this for each string.
-Learning the one string major scales and naming the notes while you play them will help you learn the notes on the guitar and help you become familiar with the sound of the major scale.
Here, you will apply the technique to learn the scale for each string:
-Refer to the provided tab under "Supplemental Content."Chapter 5: Playing with a Click and Backing Track
-Each scale has the same positioning; they are simply played on different strings.
-Note the fingering that is used to play each scale.
Now is the time to apply what you have learned to playing with a click or backing track:
-Take things slow. Focus on the fingering and naming the notes while you play before you try to play to a click or the backing track.
-Use alternate picking to play these scales: continuously alternate between down and upstrokes.
-Remember proper picking technique and hand position!
-Play each scale ascending and descending two times before moving on to the next string with the track.
Supplemental Learning Material
Basic Electric Guitar with Chris
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsChris will guide you through the world of electric guitar in this series.
Lesson 1
Introduction to Your Electric Guitar
Chris Liepe talks about the absolute basics of the guitar, including tuning, the guitar parts, and proper technique.
Length: 23:21 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Playing Your First Chords
Chris Liepe introduces you to your very first 2 chords, E and A. Since this is your first chord lesson, Chris also introduces a backing track for you to slowly play along with. Practicing in this manner...
Length: 28:54 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
3 New Chords: Complete the CAGED Method
Here in lesson 3, Chris teaches the C, G, and D chords. Once you have mastered the chords taught in this lesson and the previous lesson, you will have learned the CAGED method of remembering open chord...
Length: 12:22 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
The Basics to Tablature, Chord Charts, and Musical Notation
Chris is back with his most information packed lesson to date. In this lesson, you will learn how to read tablature, chord charts and musical notation. All of these tools will drastically help you in your...
Length: 25:38 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Introduction to the Concept of Scales
Chris Liepe is back in lesson 5 with an introduction to scales. In this lesson, you will learn how to play up and down simple scale patterns.
Length: 21:07 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Beginner Electric with Chris Liepe: Barre and Minor Chords
In this lesson, Chris introduces minor chords and barre chords.
Length: 25:23 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Strum Patterns and Time Signatues
Chris Liepe lays down some grooves in this lesson! He provides instruction on rhythmic strumming patterns and time signatures such as 4/4, 3/4, and 6/8.
Length: 21:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
All About Intervals
Intervals, Intervals, Intervals! Chris Liepe explains what they are, where they are found, and how to play them in this lesson.
Length: 14:07 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Intervals Pop Quiz
Sharpen your pencils and grab your guitar. It's pop quiz time. Chris Liepe adds to his beginner lesson series with a quiz on intervals. This is a hands-on lesson that will undoubtedly improve your ears....
Length: 15:39 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Triads: Everything You Need to Know
Chris Liepe breaks through his 10th lesson with a detailed discussion of triads. Dig in and take these triads for a ride!
Length: 24:14 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Effect Pedal Mini Series
This lesson begins a mini-series on effects pedals. Chris breaks down routing and how effects work with each other.
Length: 8:20 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Effect Pedal: Compression
The compression effect pedal is one of the most misunderstood pedals around. Chris Liepe finally sheds some light on the subject. By explaining all the different options and sounds this pedal can create,...
Length: 14:12 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Gain Stacking with Overdrive and Distortion
Chris Liepe is back with the 3rd installment in his Effects Pedal mini-series. He explains the concept of "gain stacking" by combining an Ibanez Tube Screamer and a Boss DS-1 Distortion pedal.
Length: 7:54 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Effect Pedal: Delay
Chris Liepe adds yet another lesson to his effect pedal-mini series. Here he covers the delay pedal. This effect that operates on the principles of time and rhythm. Use this pedal to add depth to your...
Length: 19:52 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Effect Pedal: Chorus
Chris Liepe quickly demonstrates the chorus pedal with some 80's style licks. This pedal can create a deep and rich addition to solos or add the illusion of multiple guitars.
Length: 3:28 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Understanding Key Signatures
Key Signatures! How do they relate to one another? Chris Liepe explains them in lesson 16 of his beginner series. Getting familiar with your key signatures will help pull everything together that has been...
Length: 15:21 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Chord Harmony Basics
Chris Liepe demonstrates how to take a key signature (the set notes within a key) and stack 3rds on top of a root note to form chords. With the help of a modulating backing track, this should be a fun...
Length: 30:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Technique Basics: Alternate Picking
Chris explains and demonstrates the very basics of alternate picking. He also provides simple exercises to develop the technique in your own playing.
Length: 16:03 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Technique Basics: Legato Playing
Chris details and demonstrates the fundamental movements and suggested left hand position for legato playing -- specifically hammer-ons and pull-offs. He also provides exercises for developing the technique.
Length: 16:11 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 20
Technique Basics: Palm Muting
Chris talks about proper palm muting and discusses potential snags when first attempting the technique. He offers a number of exercises and patterns to help palm muting become a part of your rhythm playing.
Length: 9:22 Difficulty: 1.0 FREE
Technique Basics: Hybrid Picking
Hybrid Picking can add a fresh dimension to your chord and rhythm playing. In this lesson, Chris briefly covers how to get started with Hybrid Picking and offers two exercises that you can use to apply...
Length: 6:27 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Major Scale Positions in G (Part 1)
Chris talks about what it means to play in position and teaches three of the five "CAGED" major scale positions in the key of G.
Length: 12:44 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Major Scale Positions in G (Part 2)
Chris continues in his teaching of the five basic "CAGED" major scale positions in the key of G.
Length: 11:39 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
About Chris Liepe
View Full Biography
Chris Liepe was born on September 17th, 1981 in Portland OR. His first instrument was piano which he pursued until discovering his love for the electric guitar in high school. He became fans of such groups as Soundgarden, Collective Soul and U2 inspiring him to start singing, songwriting and helping others in their musical endeavors with teaching, co-writing and album production.
Having moved to Colorado with his family, he began gigging, recording and teaching in a number of music stores as well as out of his apartment until deciding to pursue music full time. He moved to Denver, CO to complete a Bachelors in Music Technology and was then hired on by Sweetwater Productions, a division of Sweetwater Sound and one of the largest, most successful recording studios in the Midwest.
Chris spent nearly 4 years at Sweetwater as a producer, recording engineer, studio musician and writer. During this time he had the privilege of working with many artists including Augustana, Landon Pigg, Jars of Clay, and Mercy Me. He also wrote for and played on numerous independent albums and hundreds of radio/TV commercials.
Wanting to get back to his favorite State in the world (Colorado) and feeling the urge to 'go freelance', Chris moved to Greeley, CO and opened his own recording and teaching studio. He continues to write and produce music for artists and agencies and is happy to be among the proud JamPlay.com instructors.
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Chris Could you tell us a range of how many hours of practice it should take for an average person to accomplish this task complete at say 100 beats per Min? Thanks
Quick question. I see an anomaly in the one string major scale --- it happens with GMajor (4th string) where only one note being sharp (F#). Why is that?
this will be explained later in this series if you decide to continue on with it in the "key signatures" lesson. Hopefully that will clear things up for you. The fact that you're already observing anomalies like this is going to be REALLY good for you as a developing musician!!
I'm all in Chris. Thanks for the encouragement. On to Barre Chords!
Chris, nice job man. I like how you explain things in great detail for non-brain-surgeons such as myself. I also love the different camera angles. There are a few other instructors in here where I often cannot tell what string their fingers are on. As far as learning the fret board there is a nice detailed picture of the entire neck and all of the notes I believe in the tools section of the site which is very helpful. I enlarged it, printed it and have a banner of it on my wall. Works great!
I feel like the Karate Kid when his instructor kept telling him practice wax on wax off, wax on wax off, Lol....
Great lesson, and a very important one.
wayy too confusing.... are scales even necessary?
2:45 - "Our AMERICAN music scale"??? Music and notes were invented in Europe way before America was discovered, my mate :D
I am sure he meant the Western Music scale. He can be forgiven this once.;-)
I have to skip this lesson...... its boring.....
It may seem boring to you now, but if you desire to become an advanced guitar player and write your own riffs and solos then you really need to know this stuff. Also, if you are new to guitar playing, repeating this exercise will help you learn to stretch and build up the strength in your 4th finger, something most new guitar players will lack, and again is essential for learning more advanced music.
Hey chris thnks for the lesson, i have short fingers and have trouble stretching my fingers the distance from 5th fret to ninth fret with finger 4, do you have to use the fingers that you taught or can i perhaps 1st finger 5th fret, 3rd finger 7th fret, 4th finger 9th fret?
I completly have no idea what this lesson is ment for.
I'm getting this...Thanks!!!
Great lessons so far, however I am having a bit of trouble with the naming of the notes in the scales. Maybe I missed something, but I am not sure where you are getting the order from. Any suggestions?
If you have the 'open' string note names memorized, then, if you travel up the neck 1 fret at a time, you can figure out each note name. Realize, that for our purposes right now, there no "B#" or "E#" so when you are traveling up the neck on the A string for example, you'd have, A (open) A# - 1st fret, B - 2nd fret, C - 3rd fret, C# - 4th fret, D - 5th fret, D# - 6th fret, E - 7th fret, F-8th fret etc... you can do this for each of the strings. When you are learning your "one string scales" you can use this method described if the tab and the 'scale' method of learning the notes is confusing. ...Hope this helps!!
I can learn and memorize the whole and half steps no problem, but I just completely get lost when it comes to learning the names of the notes as you go down the fretboard, I read if you know all the open strings you can just go down, So I'm thinking EADGBE but then when I try to learn going down the frets it doesn't mimic those notes at all, I could be getting this all wrong too though haha, is there an easier way to grab hold of this? I feel like once you know it's simple but I just can't get the concept.
I'm starting to understand it a lot more, thanks to something I found, I was thinking maybe throw it under your supplemental content? It really helped me. A lot less confusing. :) http://img228.imageshack.us/f/fret.jpg/
this is cool! there will also be a new series out soon on a special way to go about learning and memorizing the names of the notes on the neck. So look for that soon!
i think he should have the scales noted as were playing along for those who can read music
the names of the notes arent showing up on the TABs
im not getting the pdf file either
Can Seems to get the PDf file to show up or print
Chris, That was an excellent lesson. Well done! Whoever designed the note lay-out of the fret board must have had superior intelligence. I figured it to be too great a challenge to learn the notes to each key. Thanks for making it simple. I do have a question for you on proper fingering on the fret board. I was taught four fingers one per each fret. Then continue up the string on the next fret with the first finger and continue the pattern all to the 12th fret. Doing it that way using the low e string your fourth finger should end up on the 12 fret. Am I in error? Please let me know. Thanks, Jared
you were taught well! and what you have learned applies really well to position playing. In other words, if you're playing a scale on multiple strings but in an area of only 4 frets, you can pre-determine the fingering based on what fret with in that 4 fret span is being played. there are exceptions, but thats a good rule to follow. We'll be getting into more specific scale positions in this series soon! Thanks for the questions, keep 'em coming!
great lesson, the Notation/Tab under supplemental content seems to be missing...Thanks!
the tab is there for me when I check. called "one string major scales" do you see it? maybe it got temporarily taken down or something a few days ago.
thanks chris!!!! very nice lesson, very well explained too!!!!
I think I am finally getting the organization of the fretboard with this lesson... Good Job Chris!
That's good to hear!
Thanks a lot, now I can see it but yesterday there was no Notation/Tab. So everything is ok now ;-)
I really like your lesson, it's very useful for me. But I can't find the supplemental content you're talking about in the video (notes-scales), there's only the printable version of what we can learn in lesson 5 and the music tracks.
Can you see it in the supplemental content under the heading "Notation/Tab" ? It seems to be working for me but please let me know if you have any issues and if so what the specific error is. Thanks!