I find most scales pretty boring. I'm looking for a variation on a scale that allows you to get to know the neck of the guitar, without the predictability of a scale. A long solo run up (and down) the neck would work.

Love celtic.

Any ideas welcome.

Stuart

Stuart,

What I've found enjoyable and educational is to learn the first postion scale, then find a connector note up the neck. Don't learn this from tab, but instead figure it out on your own. Once you understand how the scale is constructed, you can start from the root anywhere on the fretboard and find a couple of these connected scales.

This also has helped me BEGIN to develop some comfort with playing up the neck.

Hope this helps.

--David

Thanks David,

I'm certain that most of the stuff I've tried only sounds medeocre because I don't play it that well. You know what it's like when an advanced player, plays the same thing and it sounds wonderful. My guitar teacher gave me a scale (perhaps celtic edge) and I will try it or find another scale and work it up the neck.


By the way, when members list their guitars at the bottom of their posts, is this an auto thing, and where to you put this information in your profile. I thought it was in the signiture area, but that didn't work. Let me know if you have a quick answer.

thanks,

Stuart

Stuart,

It's in the signature section. Not sure why it didn't work for you,. Give it another shot.

Are you enjoying your D1A?

Let me know how that scale works out for you.

--David

Thanks emandnatesdad,

It's a OOOC-3. I can't begin to describe how much I'm enjoying it. My fingers hurt from playing today. I only wish the learning process were a bit faster. It takes so long to learn a song. working on 3, two more in the burner. I now do have some great songs though. And that's good knews. Because my first kazillion hours searching the net was not very fruitful. I'm not the type to play old beatles tunes. It takes too long to learn a song. I'm after interesting instramental songs and celtic songs.

Thanks for asking. I'm trying to develop my own 'thing' up the neck, but it's not coming yet.

Stuart

Try learning only one scale up the neck. If you read music, the Segovia scale folio has relatively simple scales which cover the fingerboard. It should be widely available. Try practicing a major scale on only one string--sometimes that helps to open things up. Look at the Guitar Grimoire. It's a fantastically thorough scale book which uses no notes or tab, just fretboard diagrams. Scales can be boring, it's true, but they are tough to avoid completely. Five or ten intense, focused minutes on one small thing can make a big difference, so if you get bored, approach scales in small doses, but be thorough. Also, make sure to play scales like they're music, not gymnastics. If you really can't stand scales at all, try learning melodies on just one string. I often go up and down the neck on one string, using the adjacent strings for the odd note, but mainly focusing on the one central string. That helps. I realize that most of this doesn't actually answer the question you posed--sorry.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dmargo1045,

Thanks Dmargo,

I've been writing some riffs to work the neck and I quite like them. Very creative stuff. Not really scales but it does work the neck. I'll take your advice to heart.

thanks again,

Stuart

There's a Russ Barenburg "Exploring the Fingerboard" that I found the most practical thing I've found to learn patterns (which is all scales are, and, after that, all that melodies are, or can be. Piece of scales. Once you learn where you are, it's almost fun to get lost in them middle of a solo so you can think your way back. You're never more than a semi-tone (half-step) away, and that doesn't count bending notes, which can cover a multitude of sins. Being a pro doesn't mean not making mistakes; it means knowing how to cover 'em, or, better yet, turn them into a new melodic idea. What a great instrument!

Thanks Sonoman,

I'll look it up and give it a go.

I'm now developing my own viriations which are a whole lot of fun, but I think I'd learn from others too. Especially if you can hear how others play it (cd).

Appreciate the thoughts,

Stuart

Playing the melody on one string is an idea I got from reading Guitar Player columns written by session great Tommy Tedesco. He used this technique on ballads to give his lines a legato feel. It works! Dan

Yes, I play around up and down allot on the neck and try to work on melodies.

I also investigated that recommendation by Sonoman and I've ordered it. Couldn't resist. 6 CD's. I listened to the sample lesson. I think it will be very good, though he's a flat picker and I work with fingers. But for neck work, I think I'll take the lessons and adapt based on my playing style.

Sounds like a ton of fun.

Stuart