John asks…
What is the best way to learn scales on a guitar?
I’ve been playing guitar for a while now and know a good amount of scales, I just need to learn a lot more of them and learn the fretboard better. How should I go about doing this and is there any website you can point me towards?
josh answers:
Ir you already know the scales practice them every day.
Practice with metronome and try to play scales up and down the neck. Play them in triplets, quadruplets, sixtlets e.c.t.
Play arpeggios, play them with sweep picking
Robert asks…
How do I learn scales on the guitar?
I want to learn how to improvise on the guitar so I want to learn some scales. But how do I learn them? Do I just have to play them in order over and over again?
Thanks!
josh answers:
Well, when you rcv a new scale, you gotta play them over and over again until you can get it right.
First you gotta concentrate on your fingerings- like the best fingerings you should use in order to play the scale smoothly.
Next listen carefully on your tone. If theres buzzing or muting, check that you’re pressing hard enough.
G’luck!
David asks…
How important is it to learn scales when learning to play guitar?
Or is it alright just to learn chords and a few lead runs?
josh answers:
Scales are only particularly important if you want a greater understanding of why things are where they are on a fretboard. If you’re just planning to play chords in a band or something there’s not really much reason, but I’d recommend learning them 
Sandra asks…
How do you learn scales on the guitar?
I want to be able to play the guitar by ear and I’ve read that you must learn scales in order to do so, namely the major and pentatonic……. is this right?
Anyway……. I am not exactly sure how to “learn” these scales. I’ve tried playing them in order over and over again although I don’t really feel I am doing anything. Is this the correct way, or am I meant to play songs using only the notes in that scale, or what???
Thanks to whoever answers!
josh answers:
Buy a book full of guitar scales !
Straight up, there are MANY different scales, for different keys.
Whilst taking private lessons, i was given a 400 page (atleast) book full of scales and songs in which they are well used to learn for university music. I’d really recommend maybe even a few lessons with a skilled teacher as well. He/she could get you on your way, and if you chose to stick with them you can learn so much more, also by learning the technical parts of the scales.
Steven asks…
how did you learn all your guitar scales?
just boring repetetive drill after drill? or were there certain songs that helped you learn certain scales? and what were your songs ot techniques that you used to get through the endless hours of scale playing… im great at like
josh answers:
Well you really don’t LEARN anything from drills.
Drills are designed to focus in on your technique and improve it. Technique is just a means to an end… Other colors on your palette. The only reason you work on your technique is to properly equip yourself to express something musically.
You learn scales by hearing them in use in actual music. I like to refer to it as “out in the wild”. Learn a song and analyze it. Figure out what’s going on. What scales are being used? What sort of fingering patterns are being employed to play those scales? What other techniques are in use?
I’ve probably learned more about scales and modes from Joe Satriani than any other guitarist. His music always has several extra layers of complexity added to it, but it’s also wrapped up in a very musical package. He’s not out there going “Hey, look at me! I’m using a bunch of weird scales! That makes me cool right?” He makes real music (and very accessible music at that).
If you can do something unusual musically without anybody noticing that something was weird (like using uncommon scales or time signatures), then you’re doing it right.
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