[Icecreamkid123]

Hey guys ive been playing electric and covering tons of dead songs without to much of a problem but I would like to learn the scales so I could improvise of a dead tune. What scale should i start with? And I would like to maybe lean towards more of Bobby's style. Help me out! Billbill I know you must have some anwsers man

[caspersvapors]

the major scale

[boxorain]

the major scale

[Billbbill]

Billbill I know you must have some anwsers man

My reply to your pm is no longer in my outbox so I'm guessin' you've seen it. Should give you a bit to chew on!

[strumminsix]

If you are leaning towards Bobby stuff be ready to learn:
- chord voicing
- inversions
- double stops
- complimentary chords
- chord variants like sus2, add 9, sus 4 dims, etc..

[Grateful.Ed]

Billbill I know you must have some anwsers man

My reply to your pm is no longer in my outbox so I'm guessin' you've seen it. Should give you a bit to chew on!

Sharing with all is most kind.

[Billbbill]

Billbill I know you must have some anwsers man

My reply to your pm is no longer in my outbox so I'm guessin' you've seen it. Should give you a bit to chew on!

Sharing with all is most kind.

You're absolutely right GE

Code: Select all

What's up Icecreamkid?
Love the Ice cream kid graphic btw - use it on my youtube page. Well yours is the question of questions - unfortunately I'm not too much of a Bob guy though improvisation is pretty much the same whether you're aiming for bob or jer or just about anyone for that matter.

I'm not the most technically proficient guy so I'd say searching out this board using the search function is a good idea - using keywords such as modes, scales, improvisation, theory, caged approach etc.

Getting your fingers and head wrapped around the major scale (Ionian - Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do) up and down the neck is the most important place to start - all the modes work off of the major scale. From there the Pentatonic Major and Minor (so called "no wrong note") scales should be learned - again up and down the neck. Learn to play chords up and down the neck as well.

Once your fingers are able to work these scales up and down the neck in the various positions you'll then be able to not think about it as much and you'll think more about adjusting scales, modes and keys within chord progressions to add color and emotion to your playing. To use a running analogy, it's not a sprint - it's a marathon!

As far as bob goes it's pretty much the same approach but through chords, though he riffs single note lines a decent amount along with chords and chord fragments. If you have a good ear check out some of the soundboards at the archive from '73 or so - some really clear bob from that era. As I said the Bob thing isn't really my thing but you can also play chords and chord fragments in the form of scales.

Hope this gets you started!

Bill

[dleonard]

I've always found the best way to retain stuff from guys I like is just to learn sections note for note - whether it's transcribing myself or from a good tab book.

[Icecreamkid123]

Thanks much guys

[High Peaks]

W-W-H-W-W-W-H
W-H-W-W-W-H-W
H-W-W-W-H-W-W
W-W-W-H-W-W-H
W-W-H-W-W-H-W
W-H-W-W-H-W-W
H-W-W-H-W-W-W

I always thought that intervals were the most important part of learning.

[krzykat]

W-W-H-W-W-W-H
W-H-W-W-W-H-W
H-W-W-W-H-W-W
W-W-W-H-W-W-H
W-W-H-W-W-H-W
W-H-W-W-H-W-W
H-W-W-H-W-W-W

I always thought that intervals were the most important part of learning.

which scales are you representing? I know the top one is the major scale, but what about the other ones?

[jahozer]

CAGED is something I fell upon late in my learning, but what a great way to play those Bobby inversions and to land your scales and modes around chords.
Take a chord and play it like your open shapes up and down the neck.
C shaped
A shaped
G Shaped
E shaped
D shaped

Do a search for CAGED system for guitar

A loop pedal or playing over some of the jam tracks or backing tracks on the internet is a great way to explore all of your scale improv options without pissing off your band.

Another thing to do is to loop a single chord and play all different scales against it to hear the sounds.
And last but not least, LISTEN. I am amazed at how little music some musicians listen to!

[Billbbill]

W-W-H-W-W-W-H
W-H-W-W-W-H-W
H-W-W-W-H-W-W
W-W-W-H-W-W-H
W-W-H-W-W-H-W
W-H-W-W-H-W-W
H-W-W-H-W-W-W

I always thought that intervals were the most important part of learning.

which scales are you representing? I know the top one is the major scale, but what about the other ones?

Ionian----------W-W-H-W-W-W-H
Dorian-------------W-H-W-W-W-H-W
Phrygian--------------H-W-W-W-H-W-W
Lydian--------------------W-W-W-H-W-W-H
Mixolydian------------------W-W-H-W-W-H-W
Aeolian--------------------------W-H-W-W-H-W-W
Locrian-----------------------------H-W-W-H-W-W-W

I believe they're more properly thought of as the modes of the major scale.

[tcsned]

great advice here - I would work on the Dorian and Mixolydian scales too - you'll get a lot of mileage out of those. A good exercise is to play chromatic scales - great for working coordination and alternate picking - don't go any faster than you can play each note cleanly.

E 5-6-7-8
A 4-5-6-7
D 3-4-5-6
G 2-3-4-5
B 2-3-4-5
E 1-2-3-4
then go up a fret and go backwards, when you get back, go up a fret and go back up. Repeat till you've made it all the way up the neck. Then do it with your eyes closed. Do this every day and playing the scales becomes a whole lot easier.