10 Useful Scales In The Key Of A

The scales I will be showing tou in this lesson will be very helpful if you use them right. I will show you 10 scales in the key of A that has helped me become a better player over time.

1. Starting off with a Blues scale in A.
Gives that bluesy feeling that every guitar player likes.

e------------------------
b------------------------
g------------------------
d-------------------5--7-
a----------5--6--7-------
e--5---8-----------------

2. Diminished 7ths in A
Adds a Virtuosic sound

e---------------------2--5--
b----------------1--4-------
g-------------2-------------
d-------1--4----------------
a-0--3----------------------
e---------------------------

3. Major Arpeggio scale in A
Gives Variety and breaks up straight like playing

e--------------------
b--------------------
g----------2---------
d-------2------------
a-0--4---------------
e--------------------

4. Harmonic minor scale in A
Gives a dark color to Improvistions

e--------------------------------------
b--------------------------------------
g-------------------------9-10-13-14---
d-------------6-7-9-10-12--------------
a-------5-7-8--------------------------
e-5-7-8--------------------------------

5. Melodic minor scale in A
Same as Harmonic minor gives a dark sound

e----------------------
b----------------------
g-------------1-2------
d-------0-2-4----------
a-0-2-3----------------
e----------------------

6. Major Pentonic scale in A

e----------------------
b----------------------
g----------------------
d-----------4-7--------
a------4-7-------------
e-5-7------------------

7. Minor Arpeggio scale in A

e------------------------
b------------------------
g----------2-------------
d-------2----------------
a-0--3-------------------
e------------------------

8. Dominant 7ths scale in A

e-----------------5------
b-------------5-8--------
g-----------6------------
d-------5-7--------------
a-----7------------------
e-5-9--------------------

9. Major scale in A

e---------------0----
b-----------2-4------
g-----1-2-4----------
d-2-4----------------
a--------------------
e--------------------

And last but not least

10. Whole tone scale in A

e------------1-3-5-------
b-------2-4--------------
g--2-4-------------------
d------------------------
a------------------------
e------------------------

I hope this helps you be able to change into the key of A many different ways than just the same old minor Pentonic scale :) Have fun.

Comments

[daniel.kPL]

I see a lack of explanation here.
Learning scales is more than remembering a shape.
You had a good idea, but it didn't clicked, I feel.

[krypticguitar87]

agreed.

also why are some of the scales only one octave but others in multiple octaves and why do they start on different variations of A? if your creating a lesson there should be uniformity, meaning that all the scales should start on the exact same root to show the differences, and you shouldchoose how many octaves you are going to run through.

one more question, why are you presenting arpeggios as scales? arpeggios are just each note of a chord played seperately....

[RandyRhodes7777]

krypticguitar87 wrote:

agreed.

also why are some of the scales only one octave but others in multiple octaves and why do they start on different variations of A? if your creating a lesson there should be uniformity, meaning that all the scales should start on the exact same root to show the differences, and you shouldchoose how many octaves you are going to run through.

one more question, why are you presenting arpeggios as scales? arpeggios are just each note of a chord played seperately....

Hey. The whole pint of this lesson was to break people from just using the A minor pentonic scale. Its all in the key of A just in different places. To keep like a new or freash idea. I presented arpeggios as scales because 1.arpeggios can be turned into some usefull scales and 2. A friend taught me it and it helps break up straight line playing. You can use them for some nice opening lick intros. Im new into making lessons and stuff. I like your feed back and I will try to Improve. Check out some of my colums

[daniel.kPL]

I think you need more theory knowledge to write lessons, but as I said before - I see some good ideas.

Before you post next lesson, compare the theory knowledge with some good music theory book, or ask more expierienced musician.

[krypticguitar87]

daniel.kPL wrote:

I think you need more theory knowledge to write lessons, but as I said before - I see some good ideas.

Before you post next lesson, compare the theory knowledge with some good music theory book, or ask more expierienced musician.

^This

your goal should not be to show different scales from different positions, it should be to show the difference between different scales.

you wouldn't use an arpeggio as your scale pretty much ever because if you were to use the A minor arppegio as a scale you can really only play an Aminor chord when playing diatonic chords, you would only be changing from Amin to either the first or second inversion of Amin. doesn't really work if you were to try to use it as a scale to base a new song off of.

I'm not trying to be a hard ass but I'd really enjoy seeing more good and effective lessons on UG. learn more theory so you can have a better working knowledge to write better lessons.

[rahulds242]

thanks for the scales ,,,,

[blondiechops]

i really enjoyed your lessons..keep posting!

[RandyRhodes7777]

Your welcome guys

[brambleclaw8]

I'm trying to teach myself scales and I found this helpful. I only knew the g major scale (name?) to start, so thank you!

[Mcreedo]

sounds like you're an amateur wanting credit for cut and pasting..... no fundamental understanding really.... no wonder music is rolling down the mountain of disappointment