With the intermediate status, one has learned some basic chords and strum patterns so those initial thrills are gone, and now the interest lies with further technical proficiency, melodic fluency, and improvisational skills. Scales are considered boring exercises, yet they are the very basis upon which any melody or harmony is built. On the contrary, it yields negligible results if one just goes through the scales mechanically. Scale practice must now become more targeted and engaging for intermediate players if they desire a real answer, a way to unlock the scales. If practicing on an electric axe or an acoustic instrument, an application of these exercises would greatly advance an applicant’s musical development, especially when supplemented further by some form of training, such as electric and acoustic guitar lessons Toronto.
Step one is to clarify the reasons for each scale. Don’t merely learn or memorize patterns; delve into theory. Understand the intervals that define a scale, such as major, minor (natural, harmonic, melodic), pentatonic, modes, and so forth. Knowing the characteristic sound of each scale and the different styles of music it’s used for adds value to your practice and gives room for practical application in your playing. For example, when you know that the Dorian mode has a minor feel with a raised sixth, you will start to apply it to your melodic ideas when improvising over a minor chord that has this extension.
Secondly, consider variation in how you physically practice! You may always play scales sunwise or anti-sunwise in just a single position, but now try to apply different patterns or directions. For example, play in thirds, fourths, or some other intervals; try two octaves ascending and one descending, or vice versa. This will also improve finger dexterity and coordination across the fretboard while conditioning your ears to recognize the scale in various melodic contexts. Be severe with metronome usage, increasing its tempo only after you’ve made several stops at each preset tempo to check precision; at all times, focus on keeping a steady rhythm and note length.
Linking scales to musicality. Scales should never be treated merely as technical exercises. Think melodically. Try improvising short phrases and melodies using notes of the scale against a backing track or a simple chord progression. This is to put the scales from rote memorization into practice. Try a few different kinds of articulation including legato, staccato, alternate picking, and sweep picking to build up your control and expression. Imagining that you are building a solo: how do you use the notes of this scale to come up with musically engaging lines?
Master positions across the fretboard. Although it is good to initially learn one or two positions for the scale, real fluidity comes when knowing how to play the same scale in multiple ways across the neck. This gives great freedom to interconnect different melodic ideas. Visualize the patterns and their relationship to one another. Work on smooth transitions between positions without losing focus on the flow or rhythm. Resources such as comprehensive fretboard diagrams, often provided in electric and acoustic guitar lessons Toronto, come in handy in this.
Do ear training. While working on a scale, try to make out intervals and the general sound quality of the scale. Sing the scale as you play it. This will improve the interrelation between your ear, your fingers, and your academic knowledge. Also, challenge yourself to hear a scale and to identify it by ear. This skill will be of utmost importance in improvisation and transcribing music.
First, concentrate on correctness. Everybody wants to be playing scales at warp speed, but accuracy outweighs speed. Start by going so slow a snail would catch up. Mind that the notes have to be crisp and in tune. Only increase the speed once you are comfortable playing them fast while maintaining your integrity. Not caring while playing fast would only reinforce bad habits and prevent real improvements in the long term.
Split complicated scales and modes. When dealing with harder scales such as the harmonic minor or the distinction between modes, begin with focusing on a smaller section or concentrate on those key intervals. Once you have obtained a firm grip on these, build on them until you are comfortably improvising with the whole scale.
Play chord progressions while applying scales. Knowing the relationship between scales and chords is essential for improvising and writing effective melodies. Try playing scales together with various chords in a progression and emphasize notes of the scale that imply tension and resolution. This will turn your examine-a-scale practice into a way to express music. Many electric guitar lessons and acoustic guitar lessons Toronto can’t emphasize enough the importance of linking scales to harmony.
Intermediate guitar players can use these tips to make a fun and very effective tool for musical development and grow tired of scale practice as a boring necessity. One has to remember the importance of being consistent and paying focused attention. Good luck in dedicating set blocks of time for scale practice with full intent, and soon, you’ll really hear the difference in your playing.
