pablogazca
Verified buyer
01/06/25
Excellent lesson to practice scales and improve the precision, it is helpful.
Guitar Gym: Scales Workouts
Scales exercises to take your playing to the next level.
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About this course
In this edition of Guitar Gym, Chris Buono focuses on developing your scale playing and alternate picking with an emphasis on precision, timing, endurance and speed. Buono will guide you through 27 Workouts across 3 levels. Level 1 eases into full six-string range scale playing through a staple pentatonic scale fingering with Workouts ranging from 40 BPM to 100 BPM. In Level 2 you play through all five two-note-per-string pentatonic scales focusing on applied fingerings while the tempos increase to 50 BPM through 110 BPM. Level 3 opens up to full seven-note diatonic scales/modes that help bolster your horizontal and vertical scale visions at a tempo range of 60 BPM and 120 BPM.
Each Guitar Gym course focuses on a specific guitar technique by guiding the student through a deliberately prescribed series of optimized workouts, organized across a series of levels with increasing intensity. Buono demonstrates each of the workouts by explaining how the workout is engineered and then showing you how to play the workout correctly.
The workouts are ALL interactive video playalongs -- Buono performs each workout with you, for the correct amount of time, at all of the prescribed tempos. You will not be alone in the shed!
All of the workouts also include text guides, PDF charts, Guitar Pro files and all of the practice metronome tracks, at all of the prescribed tempos. Everything you need to develop monster chops by practicing correctly is included.
Practice does NOT make perfect -- "perfect" practice does. We've heard this time and again from our instructors and we get it; practice the wrong thing, or practice the wrong way, and you'll learn how to play it perfectly wrong. Makes "perfect" sense but what exactly do we practice, and how specifically do we practice it? TrueFire's resident Professor of the Deep, Chris Buono has invested the last couple of decades coming up with the answer.
Developing solid guitar techniques is particularly subject to the quality and intensity of your practice regimens -- you'll only get so far relying on repetition and frequency alone. Chris Buono's Guitar Gym workouts will take you the rest of the way with 12 collections of tried, tested and proven intensive workouts for Triad Arpeggios, Tapping, Hybrid Picking, Alternate Picking, Hammers & Pull-Offs, Power Chords, Scales, Speed Picking,Triads, Harmonic Minor Triad Chord Scales, Major Triad Chord Scales and Melodic Minor Triad Chord Scales
Guitar Gym -- your path to "perfect" chops!
Each Guitar Gym course focuses on a specific guitar technique by guiding the student through a deliberately prescribed series of optimized workouts, organized across a series of levels with increasing intensity. Buono demonstrates each of the workouts by explaining how the workout is engineered and then showing you how to play the workout correctly.
The workouts are ALL interactive video playalongs -- Buono performs each workout with you, for the correct amount of time, at all of the prescribed tempos. You will not be alone in the shed!
All of the workouts also include text guides, PDF charts, Guitar Pro files and all of the practice metronome tracks, at all of the prescribed tempos. Everything you need to develop monster chops by practicing correctly is included.
Practice does NOT make perfect -- "perfect" practice does. We've heard this time and again from our instructors and we get it; practice the wrong thing, or practice the wrong way, and you'll learn how to play it perfectly wrong. Makes "perfect" sense but what exactly do we practice, and how specifically do we practice it? TrueFire's resident Professor of the Deep, Chris Buono has invested the last couple of decades coming up with the answer.
Developing solid guitar techniques is particularly subject to the quality and intensity of your practice regimens -- you'll only get so far relying on repetition and frequency alone. Chris Buono's Guitar Gym workouts will take you the rest of the way with 12 collections of tried, tested and proven intensive workouts for Triad Arpeggios, Tapping, Hybrid Picking, Alternate Picking, Hammers & Pull-Offs, Power Chords, Scales, Speed Picking,Triads, Harmonic Minor Triad Chord Scales, Major Triad Chord Scales and Melodic Minor Triad Chord Scales
Guitar Gym -- your path to "perfect" chops!
What you'll learn
- Master pentatonic scale fingerings
- Learn modal scale systems
- Improve alternate picking technique
- Develop scale playing across neck
- Develop smooth scale navigation
Release date: 10/21/2012 • 2h 04m runtime
Sample lessons
Scales: Level 1
Workout #3: Overview
Scales: Level 1
Workout #3: 40 BPM
Scales: Level 2
Workout #1: Overview
Scales: Level 2
Workout #1: 80 BPM
What's included
42 lessons • 27 charts • 36 Jam Tracks
Guitar Gym: Scales
Chops: Our heroes have them and we all want them. In order to get them you gotta do what any other person training to better themselves in some way would do - get to the gym! Well, that's exactly what you’re going to do - welcome to the Guitar Gym series. No matter what level you're at or if you have various strong and weak points in your technique, Guitar Gym has you covered. Each course is comprised of a collection of leveled workouts waiting for you to dig into.
Here in Guitar Gym Scales those infamous three-note chord voicings that seem to pop up in just about every style of music. Split into three leveled sections Guitar Gym Scales throws you right into the fire with these close (or closed) voiced grips in their three configurations – root position, 1st inversion and 2nd inversion. Each level is split up into three workouts made up of 13 video segments starting with the overview where I'll give you a quick synopsis of what's in store. The following 12 videos are the three workouts further split up into three tempos - slow, medium, fast - that all have an accompanying introduction video where I explain the ins and outs on how to play the workout. Each workout is clearly laid out for you in Power Tab and will be readily available for you to download right from the TrueFire player. In the three actual workout videos I will play through the workout for the amount of time I prescribe in the overview and introduction videos so you always have me right there with you (in various views) as you sweat it all out here in Guitar Gym. At the heart of any drilling regimen including this one is precise timing. It not only keeps things orderly in all aspects of music, but it also serves as a guide and indicator as to how you're progressing. What's more, anyone who has been in the chops shed knows that one of the most important practices is to increase the tempo incrementally one-by-one. While the three parts of each workout will be presented in a slow-medium-fast fashion in regards to tempo, it's up to you to take the workout into your own shed and incrementally up the tempo while you practice, preparing you for the next tempo mark. Dig? Ready!? Let's do it to it!
Here in Guitar Gym Scales those infamous three-note chord voicings that seem to pop up in just about every style of music. Split into three leveled sections Guitar Gym Scales throws you right into the fire with these close (or closed) voiced grips in their three configurations – root position, 1st inversion and 2nd inversion. Each level is split up into three workouts made up of 13 video segments starting with the overview where I'll give you a quick synopsis of what's in store. The following 12 videos are the three workouts further split up into three tempos - slow, medium, fast - that all have an accompanying introduction video where I explain the ins and outs on how to play the workout. Each workout is clearly laid out for you in Power Tab and will be readily available for you to download right from the TrueFire player. In the three actual workout videos I will play through the workout for the amount of time I prescribe in the overview and introduction videos so you always have me right there with you (in various views) as you sweat it all out here in Guitar Gym. At the heart of any drilling regimen including this one is precise timing. It not only keeps things orderly in all aspects of music, but it also serves as a guide and indicator as to how you're progressing. What's more, anyone who has been in the chops shed knows that one of the most important practices is to increase the tempo incrementally one-by-one. While the three parts of each workout will be presented in a slow-medium-fast fashion in regards to tempo, it's up to you to take the workout into your own shed and incrementally up the tempo while you practice, preparing you for the next tempo mark. Dig? Ready!? Let's do it to it!
Working Out in the Gym
Developing great chops is not about just mindlessly drilling an exercise over and over. There has to be a method to the madness
First and foremost you need to create what I call in my Guitar Gym Sherpa classroom a Workout Schedule. My Workout Schedules carve out a set amount of time on set days of the week that slot out precisely what it your going to play. This helps big time and results are inspiring to say the least! And, this is not as much time as you might expect. If you're working on just one skill such as the one here in this course you need but 15-30 minutes a day depending on how many Workouts you want to drill down. That said, you could set it up so you do a morning and evening session. The key is focused, disciplined practice time with a metronome. Just stick to your "WS" and let your fingers do the rest!
Speaking of focus and discipline when starting to put together your own WS keep this mantra in mind: You absolutely must start out playing the Workouts slow and gradually climb up the tempo ladder to the top tempo tier. No if's, and's or lazy butts about it. Even if you think you can play the Workout at the medium tempo, trust me, knock it down to the lowest tier and build. You may be masking playing anomalies you don't even know are there by jumping into passages at a medium to high tempo. Slowing down what you're playing will reveal what you may need to work on. Do it!
Not only does starting out at the lowest tempo tier ensure you'll get the most out of your practice time, but it will also help to prevent any injuries. Notice I mentioned 15-30 minute Workout Schedules, spaced out if you want to do more, and not marathon sessions. Playing in reasonable blocks of time is much safer way to build your muscle memory as well as help you attain the ultimate skill in playing proficiently on the guitar: The art of relaxation. If you're relaxed and keeping your practice time calculated and spaced out, you'll be safe successful.
First and foremost you need to create what I call in my Guitar Gym Sherpa classroom a Workout Schedule. My Workout Schedules carve out a set amount of time on set days of the week that slot out precisely what it your going to play. This helps big time and results are inspiring to say the least! And, this is not as much time as you might expect. If you're working on just one skill such as the one here in this course you need but 15-30 minutes a day depending on how many Workouts you want to drill down. That said, you could set it up so you do a morning and evening session. The key is focused, disciplined practice time with a metronome. Just stick to your "WS" and let your fingers do the rest!
Speaking of focus and discipline when starting to put together your own WS keep this mantra in mind: You absolutely must start out playing the Workouts slow and gradually climb up the tempo ladder to the top tempo tier. No if's, and's or lazy butts about it. Even if you think you can play the Workout at the medium tempo, trust me, knock it down to the lowest tier and build. You may be masking playing anomalies you don't even know are there by jumping into passages at a medium to high tempo. Slowing down what you're playing will reveal what you may need to work on. Do it!
Not only does starting out at the lowest tempo tier ensure you'll get the most out of your practice time, but it will also help to prevent any injuries. Notice I mentioned 15-30 minute Workout Schedules, spaced out if you want to do more, and not marathon sessions. Playing in reasonable blocks of time is much safer way to build your muscle memory as well as help you attain the ultimate skill in playing proficiently on the guitar: The art of relaxation. If you're relaxed and keeping your practice time calculated and spaced out, you'll be safe successful.
Scales
Level 1 Scales Workouts will put the venerable minor pentatonic in the spotlight. With only two-notes-per-string and basically only two fingering variations, this is a great scale to start with. In regards to the former you can apply a consistent alternate picking pattern involving both outside and inside pivots.
The three Workouts will be stationed in the XII position playing the E minor pentatonic scale - get used to it as you'll play this one a lot in myriad styles and scenarios. The first two Workouts split the scale into three-string chunks with the first Workout starting on the top strings. By the time you get to the 3rd Workout you're ready to play the entire six-string range with both outside and inside pivots. Throughout the three Workouts, you'll hear me constantly remind you about keeping unwanted string noise in check.
The three Workouts will be stationed in the XII position playing the E minor pentatonic scale - get used to it as you'll play this one a lot in myriad styles and scenarios. The first two Workouts split the scale into three-string chunks with the first Workout starting on the top strings. By the time you get to the 3rd Workout you're ready to play the entire six-string range with both outside and inside pivots. Throughout the three Workouts, you'll hear me constantly remind you about keeping unwanted string noise in check.
Scales: Level 1
As stated in the Overview video, we're starting from the top half of the scale and only playing that half. The reasons for doing this are to gradually tackle the scale, which for many is your first foray into playing a scale (with alternate picking no less), to be able to start on a downstroke (which for many is most comfortable in these beginning stages) and to get you in the right head when you start to improvise your own licks and solos. In regards to the latter, many players first improvise from first impressions and, much more often than not, scales are always presented from the bottom and played in an ascending fashion. While that's all well and good the action for guitarists when soloing is mostly in the upper half on the unwound strings.
Scales: Level 1
As stated in the Overview video, we're starting from the top half of the scale and only playing that half. The reasons for doing this are to gradually tackle the scale, which for many is your first foray into playing a scale (with alternate picking no less), to be able to start on a downstroke (which for many is most comfortable in these beginning stages) and to get you in the right head when you start to improvise your own licks and solos. In regards to the latter, many players first improvise from first impressions and, much more often than not, scales are always presented from the bottom and played in an ascending fashion. While that's all well and good the action for guitarists when soloing is mostly in the upper half on the unwound strings.
Scales: Level 1
As stated in the Overview video, we're starting from the top half of the scale and only playing that half. The reasons for doing this are to gradually tackle the scale, which for many is your first foray into playing a scale (with alternate picking no less), to be able to start on a downstroke (which for many is most comfortable in these beginning stages) and to get you in the right head when you start to improvise your own licks and solos. In regards to the latter, many players first improvise from first impressions and, much more often than not, scales are always presented from the bottom and played in an ascending fashion. While that's all well and good the action for guitarists when soloing is mostly in the upper half on the unwound strings.
Scales: Level 1
As stated in the Overview video, we're starting from the top half of the scale and only playing that half. The reasons for doing this are to gradually tackle the scale, which for many is your first foray into playing a scale (with alternate picking no less), to be able to start on a downstroke (which for many is most comfortable in these beginning stages) and to get you in the right head when you start to improvise your own licks and solos. In regards to the latter, many players first improvise from first impressions and, much more often than not, scales are always presented from the bottom and played in an ascending fashion. While that's all well and good the action for guitarists when soloing is mostly in the upper half on the unwound strings.
+ 35 more lessons
Reviews
13 results
Adam M.
02/26/23
How about Walk Up and Walk Downs?
Great course. How about putting one together for Walk Ups and Walk Downs?
collingsmart
Verified buyer
08/28/22
This is the second lesson I have taken from Chris Buono and I find his teaching methods very good. He explains the particulars of the course then walks you thru each step building on the previous section.
JPNY2AZ00
Verified buyer
04/20/22
Chris has done it again!
Another great class by Chris Buono. Starts off slow and gradually the videos get increasingly challenging.
Osokin
Verified buyer
01/08/22
Make Your Scales Flow With Chris Buono!
This is one of a great series of 'Guitar Gym' courses by the insanely talented Chris Buono, and if you want to master pentatonic scales and modes of the major scale then this series of studies (which become progressively more difficult in terms of complexity and speed of execution) will enable you to do just that. Chris provides a very effective and fun way of developing technique, and the nature of the lessons means that it is really easy to measure progress. Great stuff!
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