June 25, 2021 by Klaus Crow
Scales serve many purposes. They will help you understand music, how to solo, improvise, analyze chords, chord progressions, songs and many other applications that will benefit and expand your musical ability.
You need to learn and practice scales thoroughly and then use them as a tool to create music. The amount of scales out there can be overwhelming for a lot of beginner and intermediate guitar players. So do you need to learn all the scales from this top 10? No, you only need to learn the scale(s) relevant to your style of music.
A lot of musicians only use one or two scales throughout their entire musical career. Depending on your skill level and musical aspirations very few or many scales will get you where you want to be.
The questions that I get a lot is, “what scales do I need to learn first?”. This gave me the idea to create a top 10. Of course the list is arguable, incomplete and not all scales for particular types of music are included, but it gives you a good indication of the most commonly used scales for guitar. Let’s say we’re talking western music here. You got pop, rock, blues, country, metal, classical, jazz and other variations derived from these styles. Now we can take a closer look, narrow it down and see what scales are most common for each genre and which scales are used for some and most types of music.
For instance, if you only play pop, rock or country music, the first five scales (major, minor pentatonic, major pentatonic, blues and natural minor ) will suffice and can keep you busy and challenged for the rest of your life.
If you’re into blues and rock, start with the minor pentatonic and blues scale. The major pentatonic scale lends itself perfectly for country music and happy (major) mainstream rock and pop music. The major and minor scale are applicable to numerous types of music (mainstream, pop, classical, jazz, etc).
If you got these scales under your belt and you want to get more adventurous exploring Mixolydian and Dorian is a great next step. The harmonic minor scale will give you that gypsy, jazz, middle eastern kind of sound. Both harmonic minor and diminished scales are used in neoclassical rock but also in metal and jazz music. Another scale that is widely used in jazz is the melodic minor scale.
Now, let’s check out the top 10. (Click the green links for a lesson on the scale)
As you can see tablature is included.
One quick reminder:
– Practice the scales thoroughly.
– Practice scales relevant to your style of music.
– Practice the scales ascending and descending.
– Practice the scales using alternate picking.
– Practice the scales in different keys.
– Learn to use them as a tool to create music.
– Dare to explore.
Have fun!
1 – A Major scale Major scale lesson
2 – A Minor pentatonic scale Minor pentatonic lesson
3 – A Major pentatonic scale Major pentatonic lesson
4 – A Blues scale Blues scale lesson
5 – A Natural minor scale (Aeolian mode) Natural minor scale lesson
6 – A Dorian scale (mode) Dorian scale lesson
7 – A Mixolydian scale (mode) Mixolydian scale lesson
8 – A Harmonic minor scale Harmonic minor scale lesson
9 – A Melodic minor scale Melodic minor scale lesson
10 – A Diminished scale (whole-half) Diminished scale lesson
What is your favorite scale? Please share in the comments.
Are these scales moveable?
If we change the root note but keep the pattern the same, will that be correct?
Hi Jeff,
Yes all the scales are moveable. For example, if you move up the A major scale a half step (1 fret) you are playing A# major scale. Move up the scale another half step and you are playing B major scale and so on. The same applies to the other scales.
Best regards,
Klaus Crow
Good job, Klaus. A very good overview about different scales – and also moodes. Some students may it also find practicable to train different “Kirchentonarten” – I don´t know how it is called in English – by using your first example and go from the second tone to the ninth for dorian, from the third to the tenth for phrygian and so on. And to answere the question about my favourite scale to exam some new fields: in this case it´s number 9, melodic minor, but I do also like a lot the phrygian with a major third…
Like your site a lot, looking forward to interesting posts.
Best regards,
Joe
Good morning Klaus,
My question to you is, why are all these scales starting in the key of A? Secondly, I have a long ways to go when it comes to music theory (I’m a beginner) but I have a few good books on the subject that helps explain cords and other related matters. I don’t what to waist time on theory and want to concentrate more on the playing aspect of the type of music I’m in to, smooth jazz and blues. Where should I start as far as scales and cords are concerned?
Hi there, first time, long time. My question for you is.. is there a minor Dorian and Mixolydian or are the sharps and flats what defines the scale by name? Thanks, and love the blog brother.
Good list. For me, add Phyrgian for the fun of flamenco sound.
Jamie P, to answer your question:
Mixolydian and dorian are neither pure major or minor, they are what we call diatonic scales(Miles Davies loved them). To put it simple. With the key in C major (no #-s and b-s), scale C major will the be from 1st to 8th step in the key(straight major is also called ionic scale). If you however start on the second tone of C major and end on the ninth, you get a D dorian. 3rd to 10th is phrygian, 4th to 11th is lydian, 5th to 12th is mixolydian, 6th to 13th is straight minor (or eolian), and 7th to 14th is locrian scale. (9th to 15th, oh, we’re back at straight major again. If you study these cales you will recognize a pattern between the intervals of the tones that define what scale it is.
Summing up, we have 7 diatonic scales: major, dorian(ionic), phrygian, lydian, mixolydian, minor(eolic) and locrian. I hope this answer was helpful.