Difference Between Pentatonic & Major Scales For Guitar

If the pentatonic scale pattern is built inside the
major scale pattern, what's the point of learning the
pentatonic? If you learn the major scale, you
automatically learn also the pentatonic, right?

This is a great question about learning guitar scales. I could add to it, "If all scales are derived from the chromatic scale, what's the point of learning anything else? If you learn every chromatic note on the guitar fretboard, you're touching on any and all types of scales."

Of course, is doesn't work this way. Guitar scales make unique patterns on the fretboard. If you want to create pentatonic sounds, you must know which major scale notes to skip over, hence pentatonic scale patterns.

Since the pentatonic scale notes alone are so widely used for melodies, riffs, solos and bass lines, it's critical for guitar players to map out and learn just these notes on the neck. It's also critical for players to learn how to execute techniques such as hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides and bends with the special two-notes-per-string pentatonic patterns.

Play Until Yer Fingers Bleed!
Desi Serna (Google me!)
http://www.Guitar-Music-Theory.com
Scales, Chords, Progressions, and More

Guitar Theory Numbers & Intervals On the Fretboard

Guitarists play and use intervals for melody, harmony, riffs, lead guitar solos, and bass lines. Understanding how intervals are played on the fretboard is an important part of learning about guitar theory, understanding music and popular songs. In this free guitar lesson you'll be introduced to what intervals are, how they're numbered, which intervals are commonly used, and what songs make good examples of using intervals such as thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths and sevenths. This music theory instruction is based on the book Fretboard Theory Chapter 9 Intervals by Desi Serna.

Musical Steps
You can express the distance between notes in terms of frets, steps, or intervals. Frets is an acceptable term to use when dealing with other guitarists. Steps is a general music theory term used and understood by all musicians. But thinking of the distance between notes as intervals is the most concise and universal way. This allows you to think of the distance as an independent unit of measure rather than a series of frets or steps.

Major Scale Interval Theory
The major scale is used to measure the distance between notes. For example, the distance between the first and second notes of the major scale is two frets, one whole-step or a “second” interval. The distance between the first and third notes of the major scale is four frets, two whole-steps or a “third” interval. There are seven notes in the major scale and thus seven intervals. An eighth term, octave, refers to a higher or lower occurrence of the same note.

Playing in Thirds
Guitar players map out interval shapes on the fretboard, then use these note combinations to play musical parts. For example, you can try playing entirely through a major scale pattern and adding a third interval to each note. In other words, play through the major scale two notes at a time with the second note always a third a head. In order to do this correctly you need to ONLY use notes from the major scale you're playing in. As a result, some third intervlas are major while others are minor. Playing in this manner is one way to harmonize the major scale (and is similar to how guitar players learn chord progressions and playing by numbers)

The famous guitar intro to "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison is a great song example of playing a major scale melody harmonized in thirds. “Walk on the Wild Side” by Lou Reed is a song that uses this same technique on the bass guitar. Many other famous songs have prominent guitar intros, riffs or solos that use third intervals.

Third Interval Songs
“Brown Eyed Girl” Van Morrison
“Blackbird” The Beatles
“Two Step” Dave Matthews Band
“Tripping Billies” Dave Matthews Band
“Lover Lay Down” Dave Matthews Band
“Grey Street” Dave Matthews Band
“Rhiannon” Fleetwood Mac
“La Bamba” Los Lobos
“Peace Train” Cat Stevens
“Wanted Dead or Alive” Bon Jovi
“Heaven” Los Lonely Boys
“Patience” Guns and Roses
“Your Body is a Wonderland” John Mayer
“Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?” Bryan Adams
“Scar Tissue” Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Walk on the Wild Side” Lou Reed

Power Chord Fifth Intervals
Playing in fifths is another way to harmonize the major scale using intervals. Fifth intervals are simply power chords. Full chords consist of a root, third and fifth interval, so power chords are theoretically not chords in the music world. They're intervals. In fact, they are the most common type of interval played on the guitar. Any time you use power chords you're playing "in fifths." The guitar riff in "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath is just one example of many that use power chords, or fifth intervals (songs can begin at any major scale degree or mode). Fifth intervals can also be inverted by putting the root above the fifth. This is heard in the intro to "Smoke On the Water" by Deep Purple. (Some players mistake these shapes for fourths.)

Fourth, Sixth, Seventh and Octave Intervals
Other intervals can be worked out on the guitar also. Just play through a major scale two notes at a time with the second note a certain distance ahead. Be sure to only use notes found in the scale you're using. Once you get interval shapes mapped out on the fretboard, try moving them into different octaves and positions on the guitar neck or transposing them to new keys.

Intervals and Guitar Music Theory
Understanding how intervals are played and used in popular songs is critical to developing a solid knowledge of music theory. The harmony that intervals create are not just used in guitar riffs and solos but parts played on other instruments as well including voices. Singing in harmony is no different than playing in thirds or fifths, etc. In fact, many singers will work out a vocal harmony part on an instrument first in order to teach themselves how to sing the intervals correctly. Smart players use guitar theory and intervals to help them in all aspects of their musicianship.

Play Until Yer Fingers Bleed!
Mr. Desi Serna (Google Me!)
http://www.Guitar-Music-Theory.com
Pentatonic/CAGED/Progressions/Modes

"Black Magic Woman" Santana Chord Progression, Pentatonic & Major Scale

Learn guitar theory on the fretboard with this free lesson. Covers topics including chords, chord progressions, combining D minor pentatonic and D minor scale (F major scale), and Aeolian mode. Performed by guitar teacher Desi Serna.

Play along with a "Black Magic Woman" by Santana rhythm jam track. It is recommended to open this file in a new window. Santana Guitar Play Along Jam Track

For more information about learning guitar theory visit: http://Guitar-Music-Theory.com

Guitar Music Theory Lesson "No Woman No Cry" Bob Marley Pentatonic & Major Scale

Learn guitar theory on the fretboard with this free lesson. Covers topics including chords, chord progressions, C major pentatonic and C major scales. Featured is a solo instumental version of Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry" performed by guitar teacher Desi Serna.

Play along with the rhythm track at the link below. It is recommended to open this file in a new window. Bob Marley Guitar Play Along Jam Track

For more information about learning guitar theory visit: http://Guitar-Music-Theory.com

How to Learn Guitar Major Scale Patterns

Guitarists of all levels play melodies, riffs, lead guitar solos and bass lines using major scales. The notes of the major scale cover the whole fretboard. To learn this scale template, players break it up into smaller pieces. In this article I'm going to explain to you how this process works and address common issues concerning patterns, fingerings, picking and transposing. With this information you'll understand the process that eventually leads to you successfully using and applying major scales, and developing a strong knowledge of guitar theory.

Major Scale Patterns
When learning the major scale, players break up the notes into positions or patterns. Usually this is done with five pieces but there are other ways to do it. It really doesn't matter how you break up the whole major scale template as long as you can put the pieces together and complete the whole guitar fretboard. Also, different major scale patterns are not different scales. They're the same notes in different positions.

To see the major scale patterns illustrated on a neck diagram just go to Google.com and search "major scale patterns." Several web sites will come up that post versions of the patterns for free. Or, see my book Fretboard Theory Chapter 5: The Major Scale.

Memorize Scale Patterns
As you learn major scale patterns be sure to focus on only one at a time. Visualize the pattern on the fret board and play up and down it until you have it completely memorized and your fingers know where to go without thinking. You don't need to start or end on the root, but rather touch on every possible note available in the position you're covering.

Major Scale Fingering
There are no correct or perfect ways to finger major scale patterns, but there are some bad habits to avoid. Don't do something silly like play through a whole pattern with only one or two fingers. This will make you look and sound like a hack. God gave you several fingers for a reason. Use them! Try to get three or four fingers involved. You should be able to cover a position by keeping your hand still and then reaching with your fingers. It's good to settle on something and then be consistent as you practice, but you'll no doubt use other fingerings when you start actually playing music especially when techniques such as slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs and bends are involved.

Alternate Picking
While you're at it, alternate your pick. You'll spend a lot of time rehearsing major scale patterns. Don't reinforce a negative habit by plunking through everything with downstrokes. Kill two birds with one stone by developing alternate picking technique while you learn scale patterns. Choke up on the pick, keep your hand planted on the guitar and alternate continuously without skipping or repeating any strokes. Be sure to rest your hand just above the string you're picking. As you move across the strings, your hand should slide over and rest upon the strings you're not playing to keep them quiet.

Reference Chord
Every time you learn something new on the fret board you should try to peg it to something familiar. This is the key to developing a good working knowledge of music theory especially when applying guitar theory to the fret board. You can apply this pegging idea by associating major scale patterns to reference chords. For example, pattern one (as it's usually taught) can be played right around an "E form" barre chord. Pattern two fits together with a "D form" barre chord. Pattern three with a "C form" and so on. If you know how to navigate the fretboard with chords, and you associate them to major scale patterns, then you'll be able to instantly jump into the major scale in any position. To learn more about chord forms look up the "CAGED Template Chord System."

Connecting Major Scale Patterns
After you complete a pattern, move to the next position and repeat the whole learning process with the new pattern. After you memorize a new position go back and review the others before it. Continue with this process until you've covered the whole fretboard. Then, practice connecting the patterns in both directions across the neck. In other words, connect pattern one to pattern two, two to three, three to four, four to five, then reverse yourself by connecting pattern five back into pattern four, four into three, three into two, and two into one. You may have room to move backward from the pattern one you started at. Try it.

As you move from one pattern to the next, notice how a portion of each is reused in the new position. Visualizing how these pieces connect is the key to navigating the fretboard, understanding how music elements are combined, and developing a knowledge of guitar music theory.

Transposing Major Scales
Once you've completed the whole major scale template in one key you can transpose by simply shifting it to a new starting position. Don't let the fret numbers throw you off. Instead, focus on the shape of the pattern and the feel of the fingering. Connect all the patterns in this new key until you run out of fretboard or can't play any higher. Don't forget to cover the area before pattern one begins. Complete this process through all twelve keys. When you're done, you'll surely have the patterns down pat!

More to Come
Look out for future guitar lessons where I'll explain great ways to practice and helpful ways to begin applying the major scale to music and songs. You'll need this information in order to complete the major scale learning process, and moreover to develop a good knowledge of guitar theory.

Guitar Major Scale Podcast
Listen to free audio lessons on major scales and guitar theory at the links below.

Guitar Major Scale Podcast at iTunes
Guitar Major Scale Podcast at TalkShoe.com

Play Until Yer Fingers Bleed!
Mr. Desi Serna (Google me!)
http://www.Guitar-Music-Theory.com
Scales, Chords, Progressions, and More