ceddy6
Verified buyer
05/17/26
Great lesson. Goes over each section in detail, easy to comprehend. Glad I bought it
Back to Basics: Scales
Master the Fretboard One Triad at a Time
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About this course
Scales form the backbone of everything we play on the guitar, from melodies and riffs to fills and improvisation. But for many players, scales feel abstract, difficult to retain, and challenging to apply. The key to mastering scales isn’t just memorizing shapes, it’s learning them in a way that sticks and actually shows up in your playing. That’s the goal of the Back to Basics series.
In Back to Basics: Scales, Ariel Posen guides you through a streamlined set of one-octave scale workouts that help you internalize major, minor, and pentatonic shapes. By focusing on the G position, you’ll build a system you can easily move to any key and apply anywhere on the fretboard.
You’ll play every workout along with Ariel over a drum groove, giving each exercise a natural, musical feel from the very first repetition. Once you’ve built confidence with the shapes and transitions, you’ll take them into melodic exploration and finish the course by jamming through progressions that connect everything you’ve practiced.
“Whether you’re just starting to get serious about your scales, or you’ve been playing for years and want to finally fill in the gaps, this course gives you the structure to make real progress and the confidence to actually use your scales the right way,” says Ariel.
You’ll explore:
So grab your guitar and let’s get back to the basics with Ariel Posen!
In Back to Basics: Scales, Ariel Posen guides you through a streamlined set of one-octave scale workouts that help you internalize major, minor, and pentatonic shapes. By focusing on the G position, you’ll build a system you can easily move to any key and apply anywhere on the fretboard.
You’ll play every workout along with Ariel over a drum groove, giving each exercise a natural, musical feel from the very first repetition. Once you’ve built confidence with the shapes and transitions, you’ll take them into melodic exploration and finish the course by jamming through progressions that connect everything you’ve practiced.
“Whether you’re just starting to get serious about your scales, or you’ve been playing for years and want to finally fill in the gaps, this course gives you the structure to make real progress and the confidence to actually use your scales the right way,” says Ariel.
You’ll explore:
- One-octave major scales from each string
- Major pentatonic patterns that unlock simple melodic phrasing
- One-octave minor scales across the neck
- Minor pentatonic shapes for expressive lines and improvisation
- “Boss” workouts to combine shapes, strengthen timing, and build fluency
- Melodic exploration sessions to translate scales into real music
- Jam-based practice to connect your scales with chord progressions
So grab your guitar and let’s get back to the basics with Ariel Posen!
What you'll learn
- Apply the same minor scale pattern from the E string to the A string
- Navigate through different string sets while maintaining melodic coherence
- Apply four scale systems melodically in musical contexts
- Connect scale knowledge to musical expression
- Understand how to transition from practicing scales to creating music
Release date: 12/04/2025 • 1h 37m runtime
Sample lessons
4th String: Minor Pentatonic Scale
Demo & Practice Session
3rd String: Minor Pentatonic Scale
Demo & Practice Session
"Boss" Workout: Minor Pentatonic Scale
Practice Session
What's included
38 lessons • 30 charts • 3 Jam Tracks
Back to Basics: Scale Workouts
Hey, I’m Ariel Posen. Scales are one of the most important tools in your playing, but let’s be honest—they’re often taught in a way that’s hard to remember and even harder to apply. Back to Basic Scales is a collection of short, focused workouts to help you learn the major, minor, and pentatonic scales one octave at a time, starting from every string on the neck.
Everything’s rooted in the G position, so once you have all your shapes down, you’ll be able to move them to any key and play ’em anywhere on the fretboard. You’ll play through every workout with me to a drum groove instead of a metronome. This is gonna make it feel more musical, and by the end of the course, we’ll put it all together in a jam that has some chord progressions in it.
Whether you’re just starting to get serious about your scales or you’ve been playing them for years and want to finally fill in those gaps, this course gives you the structure to make real progress and the confidence to actually play your scales the right way—anywhere on the neck. So grab your guitar and let’s get back to the basics with scales.
Everything’s rooted in the G position, so once you have all your shapes down, you’ll be able to move them to any key and play ’em anywhere on the fretboard. You’ll play through every workout with me to a drum groove instead of a metronome. This is gonna make it feel more musical, and by the end of the course, we’ll put it all together in a jam that has some chord progressions in it.
Whether you’re just starting to get serious about your scales or you’ve been playing them for years and want to finally fill in those gaps, this course gives you the structure to make real progress and the confidence to actually play your scales the right way—anywhere on the neck. So grab your guitar and let’s get back to the basics with scales.
Before We Begin, Let's Talk Scales
Welcome to the course! We’re diving into scales—the foundation of everything we play, from melodies and solos to chords and riffs. Together, we’ll explore how scales are built from intervals and learn to play them fluidly across every string, not just in one direction. We’ll focus on major, minor, and pentatonic scales in both G and G minor, using simple octave tricks and memorization tools to really understand how the fretboard connects. Along the way, we’ll expand our knowledge, reach, and ear by hearing how these patterns sound in different registers. By the end, we’ll be able to move confidently in any key, knowing that the relationships between notes stay the same wherever we go. We’ll start things off with a performance and then break it all down step by step.
SECTION 1: Major Scale Workouts
We’re starting with the G major scale—the foundation that so much music is built on. We’ll break down the simple pattern of whole and half steps that forms every major scale, and learn how to count and visualize the intervals right on the fretboard. Once we’ve got that pattern locked in, we’ll focus on one clear, consistent shape to really get it under our fingers before exploring other ways to play it. By the end, we’ll not only understand how the major scale works but also feel comfortable playing it smoothly and confidently across the neck. We’ll start things off with a performance and then break it all down step by step.
6th String: Major Scale
We’re starting with the G major scale—the foundation that so much music is built on. We’ll break down the simple pattern of whole and half steps that forms every major scale, and learn how to count and visualize the intervals right on the fretboard. Once we’ve got that pattern locked in, we’ll focus on one clear, consistent shape to really get it under our fingers before exploring other ways to play it. By the end, we’ll not only understand how the major scale works but also feel comfortable playing it smoothly and confidently across the neck. We’ll start things off with a performance and then break it all down step by step.
5th String: Major Scale
We’re starting with the G major scale—the foundation that so much music is built on. We’ll break down the simple pattern of whole and half steps that forms every major scale, and learn how to count and visualize the intervals right on the fretboard. Once we’ve got that pattern locked in, we’ll focus on one clear, consistent shape to really get it under our fingers before exploring other ways to play it. By the end, we’ll not only understand how the major scale works but also feel comfortable playing it smoothly and confidently across the neck. We’ll start things off with a performance and then break it all down step by step.
4th String: Major Scale
We’re starting with the G major scale—the foundation that so much music is built on. We’ll break down the simple pattern of whole and half steps that forms every major scale, and learn how to count and visualize the intervals right on the fretboard. Once we’ve got that pattern locked in, we’ll focus on one clear, consistent shape to really get it under our fingers before exploring other ways to play it. By the end, we’ll not only understand how the major scale works but also feel comfortable playing it smoothly and confidently across the neck. We’ll start things off with a performance and then break it all down step by step.
3rd String: Major Scale
We’re starting with the G major scale—the foundation that so much music is built on. We’ll break down the simple pattern of whole and half steps that forms every major scale, and learn how to count and visualize the intervals right on the fretboard. Once we’ve got that pattern locked in, we’ll focus on one clear, consistent shape to really get it under our fingers before exploring other ways to play it. By the end, we’ll not only understand how the major scale works but also feel comfortable playing it smoothly and confidently across the neck. We’ll start things off with a performance and then break it all down step by step.
+ 31 more lessons
Reviews
8 results
Sindibad
Verified buyer
03/24/26
Ariel Posen's Back to Basics: Scales
It's an important tool for staying engaged in musical practice without getting sidetracked.
sobscha
Verified buyer
03/11/26
Back to solid fundation
very great lesson Well structuree and very helpfull It opens the fretboard wide open
TwoThinders
Verified buyer
01/16/26
Back To Basics: Scales
The course was well thought through and I enjoyed learning the material. I look forward for more quality items from True Fire. Best wishes
keibun
01/13/26
baisic scale training explained
I have been seeking scale practice in a melodic way. Now I come to know how to practice it. It is not complicated, easy to apply. Last lesson is ideal closing of this lesson. I like this contents very much, thank you!
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