If you want to be a great lead guitar player, it's imperative that you learn guitar scales. You might already know this, but many new guitar players think of scales as being the pentatonic and blues scales. Those pentatonic and blues scales are definitely important to rock guitar lead playing, but they're not the whole story. You should expand your guitar playing so that you are using scales that demand the use of your pinky and have more notes. This is not to just be technically impressive, it's because when you learn guitar scales beyond the blues you expand your aural palette. You have more colors to work with to create dazzling lead guitar playing.
When you begin to learn guitar scales, you should learn the various modes. Each key that you can play in actually has seven different major scale modes. Seven keys times seven modes equals 49 different guitar scales for you to play with! Guitar scale modes are created by differing where you begin and where you end playing the scale. This may sound simplistic, but this makes a significant difference to the sound and feel of the scale and therefore, your lead playing.
Ionian Mode. This is the "straight" mode or standard mode. When you first learn guitar scales, you will first learn the Ionian Mode (or the Aeolian Mode, but we'll talk about that later). The Ionian mode simply means beginning and ending the playing of the scale on the root tone, using the major scale. The formula is: Root Tone -T-T-ST-T-T-T-ST, where T means a full tone or 2 frets and ST means a semi tone or 1 fret. If you play a scale in C major, using the Ionian Mode, the first note you hit is C and the last note you hit is C.
Dorian Mode. This is widely used in rock music. Playing a guitar scale in Dorian means you start and end with the scale's second tone. So, to play the Dorian mode in C major, your first note and last note are both D.
Phrygian Mode. This is very popular for giving an "Egyptian" or Middle Eastern feel to a lead break. To play in Phrygian mode, you start and end on the scale's third tone. So to use C as our example key, the Phrygian mode starts and ends with an E note.
Lydian Mode. This is great for giving a "neo-Classical" or even Renaissance feel to a guitar solo (or if you're doing a jazzy solo it works wonders for that, too). To play a guitar scale in Lydian mode, you begin and end the lead break or solo on the scale's fourth tone. So, in C, you will begin and end a solo on the F note.
Mixolydian Mode. This is widely used for rock and jazz guitar solos and can be easily played over power chords. To play a guitar scale in Mixolydian, begin and end on the scale's fifth tone. So, in C, you'll begin and end your solo with a G note.
Aeolian Mode. This is the "natural minor scale" of the Ionian Mode. So playing a guitar solo in Aeolian Mode allows you to give a minor scale feel to your solo. To play a solo in Aeolian mode, you'll begin and end your solo on the A note.
Locrian Mode. This is a great mode to use to create a high level of tension in a solo, because it emphasizes the leading tone, the note that suggests the root note is coming. In C major, as an example, the Locrian solos will begin and end with the B note.
When you learn guitar scales, be sure to also learn the modes. Your possibilities become endless!
Nick Dillon is an experienced guitar player and enjoys exploring different sounds, genres and styles of music. His musical development and creativity relies much upon his persuit to learn guitar scales and master lead guitar playing techniques. For a limited time you can recieve a copy of Nick's latest E Book, which will allow you to play guitar solos on your own with minimal background theory.
