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Is it absolutely necessary to know all scales in all positions (modes) on guitar?

I’ve been stuck at the same place for a while (probably because learning guitar has been an on again off again endeavor with me). I took a few lessons but that was back in high school. Now I’m by myself and am trying to learn and get faster, and learn how to solo. I can put chords together considering I’m more of a keyboard player than a guitar player, but not in the sence that a guitar player would put together chords. I have music theory experience. All I want to do is get faster and more accurate at what I play with pick.

Any idea?

Learning and “seeing” all of the scale positions should be kindof a final result. If you want to be more accurate and faster with the pick, it’s all about repetition. Then, to practice combining your developing raw technical ability with the fun part, (improvisation and soloing), make sure that whenever you are done practicing all of the miserably boring and annoying technical exercises, you end your practice session with a fun and less stressful jam by applying tidbits of what you’ve been previously learning into your own soloing.

First of all, always use a metronome for this stuff!
I use this quite often:

http://www.metronomeonline.com/

then to start off, do a couple of technical exercises like this one, ideally every day:

http://playguitarnow.blogspot.com/2006/09/alternate-picking.html

While you might no plan on religiously alternate picking all the time like a shredding metal guitarist, as neither do I, working on this exercise just about daily will reallly help fine tune and coordinate your picking hand muscles. You’ll definitely see improvement on your scales and soloing in a matter of weeks by doing this kinda stuff.

Then practice going up and down the scales starting on one easy position (probably the tonic). Make sure you become comfortable with one box before moving on to another. Mix it up and do different kinds of picking patterns when going up and down the scale position, such as alternate, hammerons/pulloffs, the classic “slur-two pick-two”, etc…

Once you’re bored to hell, either play one of your favorite songs and jam with it or find backing tracks/a jam machine and solo along with that. Apply only the position that you’ve been learning. Once you get comfortable with the box, every now and then try to find a note that’s still in the key but a little outside of the position. Then once you learn the next position , the two boxes will seamlessly link together in your mind and with your fingers whenever you play and see them.

Improvisation and soloing is really where everything happens. Your right brain puts all of your drudgerous work into a bigger, complete picture.

Here’s a really cool and realistic jam machine that i highly recommend:

http://www.worldguitar.com/jammachinec.html

And here’s a site that provides a lot of backing tracks:

http://www.guitarbackingtrack.com/

Hope this all helps. The more you stick to a daily routine like this, the better. keep rawkin!

GUITAR THEORY: Scale Degrees and Modes

Guitar Modes – The Modal Scales of Popular Music DVD by Guitar Theory Teacher Desi Serna $24.94 This video program is intended for intermediate to advanced level guitar players who have already learned how to play major scale patterns and chord progressions by numbers. You can sign up to view a free preview at the author’s website.Did you know that modes are used all the time and everything is actually in a mode? Would you like to learn how most styles of popular music stem from the seven ma…

The Guitar Grimoire: Scales & Modes $13.61 The wizard of the guitar reveals in person, all the mysteries of playing the instrument. This is your opportunity to see and hear Adam Kadmon lay the Guitar Grimoire books all out for you in ways that will amaze you. Let the power of the Grimoire infuse your playing so you can reach the pinnacle of your talent….

The Complete Book of Scales, Chords, Arpeggios and Cadences: Includes All the Major, Minor (Natural, Harmonic, Melodic) & Chromatic Scales – Plus Additional Instructions on Music Fundamentals $4.81 Scale, chord, arpeggio and cadence studies in all major and minor keys presented in a convenient two-page format. Includes an in-depth 12 page explanation that leads to complete understanding of the fundamentals of major and minor scales, chords, arpeggios and cadences plus a clear explanation of scale degrees and a two-page guide to fingering the scales and arpeggios. In addition, several “enrich…

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