Question

What is the best way to learn scales on Guitar? (I am an intermediate player who can play lots of songs using Chords and Arpeggios/plucking. Been playing for 10+ years but never learned anything formally).

Answer 1

download the tablature program tuxguitar (free) open the guitar fretboard on the main page when done downloading, click the scale button, and it will bring up pretty much any scale ever created and you can change the tuning you're in to fit that scale to the key that goes with your tuning, the fretboard button looks like a guitar headstock

Answer 2

Thanks - thats a great tool! I guess I am also looking for some structured learning tools to help me navigate the world of Guitar Scales. I mean how do I know which scales are the most common - where should I start, what next, and what next after that? How much practice do I need to know I can move to the next step? How do I know which scale to use with what chord progression, etc... many thanks in advance!

Answer 3

well dude, i'm not that advanced yet. like, i know how to mix uour standard minor scale with some harmonic minor thrown in the make it sound eerie/middleeastern. really, the best way i learned is try looking at mainstream music of every genre and see what a commonplace is within those songs, then when you see something, pull up your scales and see what you have,

Answer 4

It depends on your learning style. Pick one of the most common scales and start from there. I started with the key of G, because it's used in so much. D might also be a good one, as well as C. Just take it one step at a time. When you feel that you could play a scale if someone asked you, move on to the next one. The most common scales depend on the type of music that you're playing. For example, a lot of bluegrass music is in the key of G (though not all of it, or course). Hope this helped, and good luck!