The Ultimate Guitar Scales Library

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the A Minor Pentatonic, the C Major Pentatonic and the A Blues Scale in 5 different fingerboard positions (Boxes).

Description:

These are the three most commonly used, but at the same time easy to remember and play, scales. They are one of the favourite choices among the musicians, including rock, blues, jazz and metal guitarists. 

Please notice that at the A Blues demonstration, I use the fingerings on the video fingerboard diagram (1=index, 2= middle, 3= ring and 4=pinkie finger) and not the intervals as opposed to the downloadable fingerboard diagram document.

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 b3 4 5 b7 8 - Minor Pentatonic Scale

1 2 3 5 6 8 - Major Pentatonic Scale

1 b3 4 b5 5 b7 8 - Blues Scale.

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the C Major Scale in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The C Major Scale is also called Ionian Mode. It's probably the most important scale along with pentatonic scales and the Natural Minor scale that we are going to cover later. From this scale are derived the rest of the modes that we are also going to cover in this Section. The Dorian, the Phrygian, the Lydian, the Mixolydian, the Natural Minor or Aeolian and the Locrian.

Please notice that I include a slightly different version of that scale's boxes as a downloadable document. As I mentioned earlier, the nature of the guitar allows us to play the same notes with various fingerings and positions. The more we know, the better.

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the D Dorian Mode in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Dorian Mode is the second mode of the major scale. It is commonly used in all styles, including rock, jazz and blues and it is on one the favourite scales among the musicians due to the bright minor sound. The major 6th interval makes it the first choice over a m7 chord. 

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the D Dorian Mode in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Phrygian Mode is the third mode of the major scale. It is commonly used in Spanish like songs and metal music. The minor 2nd interval makes it sound exotic and mysterious.

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the F Lydian Mode  in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Lydian Mode is the fourth mode of the major scale. It is the brightest mode among the major modes and due to the augmented 4th interval, it is the first choice over a maj7 chord. 

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the G Mixolydian Mode in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Mixolydian Mode is the fifth mode of the major scale. It sounds a little bit darker than the Ionian mode due to the minor 7th interval and it is used over dominant 7th chords. If Blues is your style, you are going to love it!

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the A Natural Minor Scale (Aeolian Mode) in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Natural Minor Scale it is also called Aeolian Mode and it is the sixth mode of the major scale. Personally is my favourite scale due to the sad, melancholic sound. Use it over m7 or madd9 chords! The composition "Echoing Chemical Reactions" that you listen to the introductory video of this course is based on this scale.

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the B Locrian Mode in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Locrian Mode is the 7th mode of the major scale. It has the darker sound among the modes of the major scale, due to the diminished 5th interval. It has an unresolved sound causing big challenges to composers and it is quite rare to find a composition based on this mode. Actually, I don't have any in my mind, except of "Shifting Sand (DeadEnd)" from our first album Pattern Partner [LP]. 

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the A Harmonic Minor Scale in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Harmonic Minor Scale is the scale from which 6 more modes are derived. The Locrian natural 6, the Ionian #5, the Dorian #4, the Mixolydian b9 b13 (Phrygian Dominant), the Lydian #2 and the Altered bb7. All these modes has a minor 3rd interval between two neighbour tones. This adds a very Eastern and exotic sound to all of these modes. You can find Harmonic Minor applied to many styles, including classical and neoclassical metal.

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the B Locrian Natural 6 Mode in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Locrian Natural 6th Mode is the second mode of the Harmonic Minor scale. Pay attention to the harmonisation table I've placed in the video and try to compose a backing track to improvise over or a new composition using these chords!

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 b2 b3 4 b5 6 b7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the C Ionian #5 Mode in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Ionian #5 Mode is the third mode of the Harmonic Minor scale. It sounds like major but quite more exotic! Try it over a E/C chord.

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 2 3 4 #5 6 7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the D Dorian #4 Mode in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Dorian #4 Mode is the 4th mode of the Harmonic Minor scale. It is due to many eastern styles of music has a bright and at the same time exotic sound. I have used this scale to compose one of my first and favourite compositions "Fragments of Time" that it is included to our first album Pattern Partner [LP].

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 2 b3 #4 5 6 b7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the E Mixolydian b9 b13 Mode in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Mixolydian b9 b13 or Phrygian Dominant Mode is the fifth mode of the Harmonic Minor scale. It is one of my favourites over dom7b9 chords. You can find it applied to many styles of music, including jazz, metal and flamenco. 

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 b2 3 4 5 b6 b7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the F Lydian #2 Mode in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Lydian #2 Mode is the sixth mode of the Harmonic Minor scale. It has a very surprising sound due to the augmented 2nd and 4th intervals. Try it over a maj7 chord!

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 #2 3 #4 5 6 7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the G# Altered bb7 Mode in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Altered bb7 Mode is the seventh mode of the Harmonic Minor scale. It has a very mysterious sound due to all these diminished intervals and the double flat 7th between the last two notes.

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 b2 b3 b4 b5 b6 bb7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the A Melodic Minor Scale in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Melodic Minor Scale also referred as jazz minor, is the parent scale of 6 new modes. The Dorian b2, the Lydian #5, the Lydian b7, the Mixolydian b6, the Aeolian b5 and the Altered or Superlocrian mode. Jazz guitarists love it and if you are into jazz or any of the jazz sub genres, you are going to love it too. Notice that the only interval that distinguishes it from the parallel major scale is the minor 3rd interval. 

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the B Dorian b2 Mode in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Dorian b2 Mode, also called Phrygian Natural 6, is the second mode of the melodic minor scale. It has a dark but at the same time bright sound due to the minor 2nd and major 6th interval accordingly. Pay attention to the harmonisation table and take the challenge to compose a contemporary jazz tune!

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 b2 b3 4 5 6 b7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the C Lydian #5 Mode in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Lydian #5 or Lydian Augmented Mode is the third mode of the melodic minor scale. It has a bright and an altered sound at the same time due to the augmented 4th and 5th intervals. Try it over a E/C chord!

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 2 3 #4 #5 6 7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the D Lydian b7 Mode in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Lydian b7 Mode is the fourth mode of the melodic minor scales. It is one of the jazz guitarists favourites and it is the first choice over dominant 7th chords with #11 or dominant chords that function as tritone substitution of the main dominant 7th chord of a cadence.

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 2 3 #4 5 6 b7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the E Mixolydian b6 Mode in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Mixolydian b6 (or b13) or Lydian Dominant Mode is the fifth mode of the melodic minor scale. Try it over a dominant 7th with b13 chord!

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 2 3 4 5 b6 b7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the F Aeolian b5 Mode to 5 Boxes in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Aeolian b5 or Locrian #2 Mode is the sixth mode of the melodic minor scale. It has a sad, dark sound. Try it over a m7b5 chord!

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1 2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7 8

What you will learn: 

Completing this video lesson you will be able to play the G# Altered Mode in 5 different fingerboard Boxes.

Description:

The Altered or Superlocrian Mode is the 7fth mode of the melodic minor scale. It has the darkest sound of all the previous modes and it is the first choice over any altered dominant 7th chord, such as dom7#5#9, dom7b5b9 etc.

Basic Theory:

Interval Spelling: 1  b9  #9  3  #11/b5  #5/b13  b7  8