Q&A for How to Learn Guitar Scales

Scales will help you improve your musicality, but it takes time. With scales, you have to work with them over time to get any results. I think people expect a scale to make music for them, but that's not the way it works. However, if you practice every day, you'll gradually notice that your ability to be melodic has improved.

Just practice. There are many tutorials online and in books on building your hands and fingers. As for scales, the notes contained therein are the building blocks for any style of playing or melody.

Well, normally speaking, yes, a C major scale would have to start on C. Each scale has 7 modes, though, which tell you on what note they start. So, for example, E in the Frygic mode would be the scale of C, but starting on E.

That's a scale made of full extents from a major scale. For example, a pentatonic major scale made in C major would be: c, d, e, g, a.

Listen to the type of music you are going to play. Studying things such as the syncopation and feel of the music helps tremendously. Once you have your scales down, begin to learn different modes and the effects they have on the feeling of the peace. Then it's all down to plenty of practice!