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What I try to embody in this course are simplicity and results. The easiest way to learn anything is to keep it as simple as possible, while getting results.
Don't worry if you don't understand some of the terms and phrases in this lesson, it is designed for someone with a little knowledge. The actual PLAY GUITAR BY EAR course will start you from day one, assuming you have no knowledge. Although even a beginner should have no problem learning this scale, getting a leg up on the course while the book comes.
The best way to play lead guitar, is to learn scales. Knowing a few different scales, and where to play them on the neck of the guitar, gives you the ammunition you need to play dynamite leads, in any key. The scale in this free lesson is a Pentatonic Major. It's a popular scale that's used in all types of music. It's easy to remember, easy to learn, and very effective.
After becoming familiar with this scale, the book PLAY GUITAR BY EAR will teach you how to play it up and down the neck of the guitar, in any key. Full use of the neck will be yours.
Practice playing the notes from number 1 to number 12, then from number 12 to number 1. Get familiar with them. Play them slower. Play them faster. Play them striking each note once, in a downward stroke. Play them by striking each note twice, in a mandolin fashion - one stroke down, one stroke up; in rapid succession; downup - in one move. The more you practice, the better you will be!
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The beauty of this scale is it's simplicity. The HORIZONTAL lines represent the frets of the guitar. The VERTICAL lines represent the strings on the guitar. The strings go from the heaviest wound string on the left, to the thinnest string on the right. |  |
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A D G B E |
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| The circles with the numbers in them represent the notes and the order in which they should be played. In this scale, the notes on the 2nd and 3rd frets should be held with your 1st (index) finger. The notes on the 5th fret should be held with your 3rd (ring) finger. If it's too far, use your baby finger. |
| FIRST SCALE |
| SAME SCALE MANDOLIN STYLE |
| MANDOLIN STYLE FASTER |
This scale is known in the book as the number one scale. With this scale and the number four scale (which has more punch, but is even easier to play), you can play lead to almost anything, all the while developing a good foundation for the more difficult scales.
For a practical application using this scale, try accompanying someone else playing guitar. Make sure both guitars are tuned the same. This scale, played with the number 1 note on the 3rd fret (the number 1 note being played on the heaviest wound string), will be in the key of G. If you have an electric, or cut-away guitar, and you play this scale with the number 1 note on the 15th fret, you will also be in the key of G. Practice playing while moving from one position (3), to the other (15). This scale is actually a C-major but the beauty of it is, it can be used in the key of G - (G-C-D) or in the Key of C (C-F-G). A song being played in the key of G means the first chord played in the song is the G chord. Play along while practicing your picking exercise.
This scale is known in the book PLAY GUITAR BY EAR as the number one scale. With this scale and the and the number four scale, which is more aggressive (more punch), but even easier to play. You can play lead to almost anything, while developing a good foundation for the harder scales