Scale Theory
To be able to play by ear, you will have to master chord patterns, scales and construction. A scale is a series of notes played in any order. The order of the notes is governed by the mode. There are various modes in music. The mode of music also governs various styles of music, example, Rock, Jazz, Classical, etc. So if you wanted to play a classical piece on the key of Fmaj., then you would play a particular order of notes belonging to Fmaj. and like wise if you wanted to play a Jazz piece in the key of Fmaj., then you would play a different order of the notes belonging to the key of Fmaj., and so on. More on Modes soon!
There are some basic scales, which are fundamental to all guitar players. To use your fingers efficiently use one finger for every fret. If you use finger 1 on fret 1 then use finger 2 on fret 2, finger 3 on fret 3 etc. We will briefly look at the following scales. The picture shows the 1st string on the right and the 6th string on the left. The black dots are the root note. So if you wanted to play an A scale, then simply start at A which is the 5th fret on the 6th string and if you wanted to play a G scale then start on the 3rd fret on the 6th string. That is what the black dot depicts. Follow the pattern for the rest of the notes in the scale. Soon you will be able to improvise on the scales below. For example you can jump from string 1 to string 3, or you can switch the order of the notes on the same string, as long as you play the allowed notes on the particular scale. Eventually you will be able to improvise even further by adding more notes NOT in the scale, to discover really melodious scales.
The major scale
Look at the picture. The black dots are the root notes of the chord. So if you playing an ‘A’ chord then the ‘A’ notes on that scale is dotted black. You will have to memorize these patterns. You can play this pattern anywhere on the fret board sliding all the way form fret 1 to the end of the fret board, and the scale will still be a Major scale, but in a different key. If you want to play a lead solo for a song in the Major scale, then follow this pattern. As you improve you will change the order of these patterns to improvise on your lead solos.
The Minor Scale
Look at the picture and play this pattern. Use this scale if you want to play a solo for a song in the minor scale. Memorize it. You can slide this pattern all along the fret board and the scale will still be a minor scale. The only thing to change is the key.
The Major Pentatonic scale
The Minor Pentatonic Scale
The Blues Scale
This is very similar to a Minor Pentatonic scale. The only addition is one note. Note the difference on the pictures.
After having tried out all these scales, you should be able to identify the difference in the note patterns. If you can’t then keep playing and it will come over a certain period of time. You have to be able to identify the difference.
