The minor pentatonic scale is the first scale most guitarists learn and is commonly used in rock and popular guitar solos.
If you add one note to the minor pentatonic scale, you get the base for blues guitar soloing and a common scale also used in a lot of rock, jazz, and popular music.
The natural minor scale is also known as the Aeolian mode, and the chords formed from this guitar scale create many common rock and other popular guitar chord progressions.
The major scale is used to solo over major chord progressions and is the foundation for a lot of traditional and classical guitar music.
The Dorian mode is used to solo over minor chords in jazz and fusion-based guitar styles.
The Mixolydian mode is used to solo over dominant chords in jazz and fusion-based guitar styles.
A guitar scales chart can be useful because guitar scales and modes can be fingered in so many ways it will make your head explode! A single vertical position alone can garner myriad ways to play the same guitar scale. Throw in surrounding vertical areas, horizontal and diagonal approaches as well as unique fingering patterns and you’ll start to see how many possibilities exist.
To attempt to know all of the different guitar scales is beyond impossible. And, is it really necessary? Here’s the simple answer: Absolutely not. What you need to know is whatever system of fingerings will enable you to see the neck in its entirety. Here we are offering several guitar scales charts that cover the 13 most popular guitar scales you should know.
Seriously, there are a LOT of scale fingerings to choose from here, but notice we used the phrase “to choose from” as opposed to “to know” or “to learn”, or worse, “to memorize.” This collection of guitar scales charts is meant for you to peruse and choose from.
Find a system (or two) that feels good and works for YOU. Find one that makes the most sense when it comes to what you want to play both physically and stylistically. You may discover certain guitar scales work better for you within one approach as opposed to another for another scale. As you explore all the options you may even come up with a system all your own!
The following guitar courses are available at TrueFire and include video lessons on how to play guitar scales. Grab your guitar and dig in with these guitar scales lessons!