It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 6:48 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Ways to Make Scale Practice More Fun?
Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 4:21 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 8:48 pm
Posts: 287
Location: Illinois
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


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 5:59 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:58 pm
Posts: 779
Location: Miami
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.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 5:07 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 3:06 pm
Posts: 3545
Location: Brooklyn N.Y
krad.get a bunch of backing tracks or record your own


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 7:10 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2007 8:08 pm
Posts: 2472
Location: Virginia
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...

_________________
RAMA LAMA FA FA FA


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 5:04 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:09 am
Posts: 453
I never practice scales. Can't help you.

I just concentrate on band practices and our songs.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 6:48 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 8:48 pm
Posts: 287
Location: Illinois
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.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 7:16 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:58 pm
Posts: 7714
Location: Planet Earth
Well I am not sure how old you are but for the older folks a little Sam Adams helps :wink:

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 8:34 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Sat Nov 22, 2008 12:09 pm
Posts: 259
Location: Wisconsin, USA
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.

_________________
2008 MIM Strat w 3-tone sunburst
2002 LP Special Ebony Faded
2008 G-Dec
'59 Reissue Bassman 4x10 combo
TS 808
DS 1
Gretsch 6120DS (on loan)


Last edited by EllenW on Tue May 19, 2009 9:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 8:51 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 1:53 pm
Posts: 1037
Location: Southeast Missouri.
I like to make up leads using scales. Usually pentatonic. Easy stuff too...just use the notes within the scale. :roll:


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 9:11 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:53 am
Posts: 560
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.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 1:34 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Tue May 12, 2009 12:07 am
Posts: 12
Location: New Zealand
Try making up your own, that way nobody can say your playing them wrong. :)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 8:11 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 8:48 pm
Posts: 287
Location: Illinois
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?


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: