sandcrabb25

What's up guys. First time posting.
I've been playing guitar for about 2 years

I was wondering if it's really necessary to learn a bunch of scales like phyrigian, locrian... etc. When I can jam out with the major/minor pentatonic scales up and down the fret board. I like rock/punk/classic/hard rock.
Another question I have is what other scales could I really get use out of other than major/minor/pentatonic?
I also try to avoid just running up and down scales. I am trying to be as melodic as possible
I understand as I learn more I may want to learn more complex scales later in life but I'm looking for the must need to know stuff right now
I also havent gotten too much into seventh chords. Thoughts?

Andalus

Things needed to play rock n roll:

Guitar.
Amp.
3 Chords.
Attitude.

sandcrabb25

I agree!

Andalus

Good man. So stop worrying about what you need. The whole point is that you don't need music theory. Forget about all the scale bollocks, play what sounds good. That's all you need.

sandcrabb25

Definitely man. Thanks

6-String_Madman

This.

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Modes and scales are dumb and useless. Stop learning them. No, seriously.

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katalyzt13

If you want to play something and can't, then learn the related technique. If you have a melody in your head and can't play it, then learn the related scales.

Also, don't let yourself fall victim to G.A.S. - that is the biggest obstacle for me, personally.

cubbies4life

G.A.S. ??

chronowarp

You guys are all forgetting minor pentatonic.

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katalyzt13

Gear Acquisition Syndrome

Junior#1

First of all, phrygian and locrian and all the others are not scales, they are modes of the major scale. And no, you don't need to know them. All you need to know is how to play what you hear in your head.

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macashmack

Ketamine's for pussies. It's all about them bath salts now.

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Modes and scales are intelligent and useful. Start learning them. Seriously.

food1010

Your questions are contradictory. Your first question is asking if you don't need to learn scales and your second question is asking if you do need to learn scales.

My advice is to learn the major scale. And no you don't know it well enough right now. I mean really learn it. Learn how to harmonize it, alter it, transpose it, hear it (which involves singing, either solfege or neutral syllables), and really know how each note functions in any given context.

That's a hell of a lot to learn. I suggest you start going through the lessons on musictheory.net. You could possibly skip to intervals/chords, but I would recommend starting from the beginning.

Then again, you don't need to be an educated musician to play rock and roll. So if you're not interested in theory, just go hard and try your best to recreate the sounds you want to hear.

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AlanHB

If you want to learn scales learn:

- Minor pentaonic/blues scale
- Major pentaonic
- Minor scale
- Major scale

You learn them across the fretboard. You learn the notes on the fretboard and to recognise keys so you know/can hear when you use them in different songs.

At this point you learn how to use accidentals.

When you have a gasp on all of the above you can use and explain the use of every note in every song, and all the rest of the scales are simply silly names for what you already know.

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Ahteh

If you can write the music you want to write without knowing theory that's awesome. If not, it helps.

Six String Mike

Guitar.
Amp.
3 Chords.
Attitude.
.... and the pentatonic scale for leads!

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Scott Jones

Don't always assume that what you want to do with music today, is what you'll want to do with music in the years to come. If you blow off learning the language of music, just because you MAY be able to get by with that approach for one style, your whole path may shift and you'll not have the time to catch up.

If you want to be excellent at something, you should honor that and do whatever it takes.

If something is worth doing, then it is worth doing well.

I'd recommend learning everything you can about the language of music. That's NOT to suggest you need to have it all down BEFORE you start making music.

Sticking with one or two scales and 3 chords is like wanting to be an author, the next George R. R. Martin, and not wanting to go past learning anything other than your ABC's and sight words from elementary school.

Once you begin to truly understand the power of theory, you'll also realize that you're not always conscious of its use when creating music.

It's best to know as much as you can, to be prepared for every opportunity.

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