Scales

Latest about Scales

John McLaughlin, Marty Friedman, Yngwie Malmsteen and Al Di Meola
John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Marty Friedman and Yngwie Malmsteen Didn't Rely Exclusively on Western Scales - so Why Should You?

By Guitar Player Staff Published

Add intriguing twists to your playing with the tonal flavors of the Far East, Middle East, Africa and beyond

Lessons
guitarist playing chord
Expand Your Melodic Vocabulary and Attain Superior Fretboard Awareness With 'Parallel Pentatonic Modal Vision'

By Chris Buono Published

Learn PPMV – an insightful mapping of the pentatonic scale’s multifaceted natural order

Lessons
L-R: Chet Atkins, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen
Master the Mixolydian Mode Like Chet Atkins, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen and Many More

By Tom Kolb Published

Harness this powerful and versatile mode with 20 riffs inspired by famous guitarists

Lessons
Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani's Top Ten Tips for Guitarists

By Joe Bosso Published

These simple pointers can seriously improve your practice, playing and performance

Lessons
Blues guitarist Walter Trout
Need to Add Some Spice to Your Melodies and Solos? This Lesson on Chromaticism Will Give You Food for Thought

By Scott Mercer Published

Learn how to use non-diatonic “outside” notes for tastier licks in jazz and other styles.

Lessons
Learning
Want to Branch Out with Some Jazz Fusion? Learn Oz Noy’s Harmonically Inventive “She’s Not There” Solo

By Mike Swickis Published

Retrace the jazz fusion master’s instrumental version of the Zombies’ 1964 classic here.

Lessons
Guitar prison
Break Out of Your Box with the CAGED System

By Tom Kolb Published

An introduction to the highly useful workings of this mysterious fretboard mapping theory.

Lessons
Human brain waves
Prepare to Have Your Learning Reality Altered With This Enigmatic Scale

By Chris Buono Published

A fresh approach for mastering the altered scale, the elusive 7th mode of melodic minor.

Lessons
Jimi Hendrix smiling
If You Think the Vast Majority of Rock Riffs Are In Minor Keys Then Think Again!

By Tom Kolb Published

This lesson on how to craft cool riffs in the style of legendary players using the Ionian and Lydian modes will have you covered.

Lessons
B.B. King performing at the Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island on 6 July, 1969
Blues Turnarounds (Part 1)

By Phil Capone last updated

How to play soulful, harmonically effective melodies over the last four bars of a blues progression in the styles of the genre’s greatest players.

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