Hey,

So I am trying to bring my scale practice to anywhere between 15-30 minutes daily. The only problem is is that it is, in my opinion, the most boring thing ever.

Can anyone tell me ways of making something that I know is essential fun to do?

Thanks,

KRAD

Just look around for guys like Yngwie Mastrem or Paul Gilbert. They've been doing it for years and have tons of advice on how to do scales and practice. You can usually read their magazine articles.

Unfortunately I never follow their advice on technigue or scales because I don't really get it. Maybe I'm just old and set in my ways.

krad.get a bunch of backing tracks or record your own

If you think you're bored now, get a metronome and do the same thing...you'll still be bored, but you'll be bored in time...

Seriously though, as someone said, perhaps making a chord progression in different keys to practice scales is the way to go...but then again, practice can be boring, but it helps you when its game time...I mean just think of all the practice and training that pro athletes go through, I'm sure a lot of it is boring, but its necessary or else they would most likely not be able to perform at the level that they do, even with steroids, the muscles need to know how to move as strength and endurance are nothing with improper technique...

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I never practice scales. Can't help you.

I just concentrate on band practices and our songs.

Yeah, backing tracks can be very fun. The only issue is that I always end up improvising instead of really down to dirt practicing of the scales.. and as far as a metronome goes, I go crazy hearing that tick tick tick TOCK tick tick tick TOCK over and over.

I guess I'll just look around for more back tracks, then.

Well I am not sure how old you are but for the older folks a little Sam Adams helps

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I must be some kind of weirdo, I just started learning scales and love them so much that I'm forgetting how to do anything else.

I got a tip from a cousin of mine who's been a pro guitar player for years and years - he does an hour of scales, with a metronome, every morning first thing after he wakes up, and he said he finds it quite meditative, he ends up thinking about nothing and completely relaxed and it's a great way to start the day.

As much as I never thought I'd turn out to be a morning person, I've been doing the same thing for the past two weeks, setting the alarm for 5am (!) and playing pentatonic shapes for about a half hour, then working on whatever song I'm working on (Crazy On You just at the moment).

This is really working for me, but then I have a weird analytical mind fascinated by all the theory so it probably won't work for everyone else. Another tip I've heard is to play little patterns, like triplets or syncopated rhythm or etc., to make it more interesting.

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I like to make up leads using scales. Usually pentatonic. Easy stuff too...just use the notes within the scale.

Ok I'm a newbie so I guess I have a ways to go before I hit my saturation point. But I've added a metronome to my practice and find it really helps. I try and challenge myself. Play the progression 5 times correctly then increase the beat. That should hold me ... for now.

Try making up your own, that way nobody can say your playing them wrong.

Yeah, these are some pretty good ideas. I guess the best plan is to just bite the bullet for maybe 10 minutes a day, maybe more?