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To start learning scales, focus on the major scale and the minor pentatonic scale. The major scale is fundamental in music theory and serves as a basis for understanding other scales, while the minor pentatonic scale is widely used in various genres and is simpler to grasp since it consists of fewer notes 2. It's beneficial to learn these scales together, as the minor pentatonic can be derived from the major scale by removing certain notes 2. Additionally, practicing these scales in different positions on the fretboard will help you navigate and connect them more effectively 4.
Sources
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Article · r/guitarlessons
Playing guitar by ear can seem pretty daunting at first, but it really is just a matter of practice (instead of talent). I wrote this guide explaining how playing by ear works, as well as 5 exercises that will help. Happy to help anyone with questions!Teach how to develop playing by ear on guitar with explanations and five progressive exercises, demystifying talent myths and offering a step-by-step practice plan.
“You can learn scales in a way that supports this basic skill and makes it easier. When most people first learn a scale, they are memorising which frets to press. It’s about learning shapes. Some teachers will even say ‘you can play any of these notes and it will sound good!’. If you don’t go beyond …”
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Article · r/guitarlessons
Learn the major scale or minor pentatonic firstDebate learning major scale versus minor pentatonic first, outlining their relationships, movable shapes, and beginner practice advice.
“I rarely play major scale stuff. So this doesn't mean you need to master the major scale, just that you learn it first, even if it's brief. 3 vonov129 • 1y ago FIrst, learn about intervals so all the numbers in the dots make sense. Then go for either the major scale or the minor pentatonic, just bec…”
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Video · r/guitarlessons
The conventional wisdom is wrong: there really *are* shortcuts to learning guitar and becoming a good musicianPresent three practical 'shortcuts' for guitarists—micro-pattern scale mapping, smarter practice, and improvisation frameworks—to accelerate fretboard fluency and musicianship without endless scale memorization.
At 4:49“Every one of the scale patterns you saw on screen earlier is easy to build on the fly out of rectangles and stacks. And it’s not just connecting shapes—you’re seeing the intervals inside the scale. That gives you clues about which notes will sound good before you even play them. Instead of mindle…”
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Article · r/guitarlessons
A Better Way To Understand Pentatonic Scale PositionsDemonstrates a root-focused approach to learning the five pentatonic positions, improving fretboard navigation and chord-targeted soloing across progressions.
“If you are learning to play, learn some scales. Start with E minor pentatonic 1st position, play it to death and you'll recognise its pattern. Then move on to pentatonic position 2, these two connect. It's kinda like.. Imagine E minor is a colloseum. Each pillar is a note. Learn the first floor, pil…”
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Reddit thread · r/musictheory
Practicing scales by going through circle of 5thsExplores practicing scales through the circle of fifths across modes and asks for additional effective exercises and strategies for learning scales and intervals.
“Hello, I'm learning clarinet. The method I've chose to learn /practice scales is to pick a mode, I.e. Ionian, lydian dominant, mix b6 and going through all the keys in the circle of fifths. Sometimes I'll think in all sharps and sometimes all flats. Is this a good method. I practice them in interval…”
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Reddit thread · r/mandolin
Method to learn scales on mandolin?Asks for effective methods to practice major scales on mandolin, comparing octave-based routines with full first-position patterns and counter-clockwise circle-of-fifths sequencing.
“if you will dwell longer on your scale, maybe add exercises along the scale, add triad, sixth chord, fourth-sixth-chord, dominant seventh chord. and go around the circle of fifths, so that eventually you will have studied them all. However, this video had another approach. It recommended to play …”