Hey Friend,
Learning scales has a lot to do with learning to solo. - You're mastering patterns.
- You're training the ear to recognize note relationships.
- You're also memorizing the fingerboard.
These benefits can also help you immensely with your chord education.
Knowing where notes are on the neck also gives you access to a whole range of chord voicings that we aren't usually taught in traditional lessons. Most people who start lessons don't stay in them long enough to learn about anything past the first four frets of the guitar neck.
Let me ask you this - if you've ever taken guitar lessons, did your instructor talk about neck locations to play chords other than in the open or barre positions?
For example, the A major chord can be played with 121 different configurations within fourteen frets on the guitar neck. 121! And that's only the root inversion of A major (there are three types of inversions, which are just changes in the order the notes are played on the guitar).
There are six strings on a regular guitar. When it's tuned to standard tuning (E A D G B e), we have at least a two octave range - and in the case of some notes (like E), a three octave range or more.
That range of notes gives us countless ways to play each guitar chord.
We're usually given the basic open chord shape when we start playing - you know the ones, E, A, D, C and G. We're also given the minor versions for most of these chords.
I want you to look closely at each of these chord shapes. Do you agree that each of them are different? Each requires a unique configuration of your fingers.
Let's also establish another basic truth about each of these chords. They all have only three notes. Yes, one or more of those notes are repeated in the open chords, depending on where you start strumming, but it's still only three notes.
And this is how you can tie the idea of learning scales and note location on the neck to increasing your knowledge of guitar chords.
Finding the Root
Each chord has at least three notes, and regardless of the order those notes are played, it is still the chord. For example, if we play an A major chord in the open position, as long as we pluck or strum the three notes A (third string, second fret), C# (second string, second fret) and E (fourth string, second fret), we have played an A major chord.
Now lets consider the A major barre chord at the fifth position (sixth string, fifth fret). Our three A major notes are A (fourth string, seventh fret), C# (third string, sixth fret) and E (fifth string seventh fret).
Did you notice that the shapes of each A major chord are different, yet sound the same when played together? In the open position is the A shape, while in the fifth position it looks like an open E major chord shape.
Let's look at one more example of an A major chord played with a different shape in yet another location on the guitar neck.
This time the A note is on the second string at the tenth fret. E is on the ninth fret, third string and C# is on the ninth fret, first string. Notice what shape this version of A major is? That's right, an open D major chord shape.
Think about the implications these movable chord shapes can have on your playing and creativity. Pick any one of the three notes from a chord and as long as you know where it's located on a string, you can work out a chord shape to fit for the chord you want, even if the notes aren't on neighboring strings.
Are you starting to see how learning your scales can help you memorize the guitar fingerboard, and consequently help you find interesting chord positions?
Maybe, maybe not. Everyone comes to this site with different levels of experience. If it doesn't make complete sense yet, stick around. I tend to circle back and explain things in different ways. That's one of the reasons I find music theory so fascinating - there's always another angle to strike from when it comes to learning.
Take Some Action
Here's your action plan this week. As you practice scales, get into the habit of saying the note name aloud as you play it. Look at where the note is located on the neck. This will help you memorize the fingerboard.
The online lessons I've been talking about over at ArtistWorks have a ton of scale practice videos, with a lot of emphasis on pentatonic scales ('cause it's Rock, ya know, and we loves us some pentatonic scales!). Don't worry, Paul Gilbert looks at major scales as well, and all this will help you expand your ability, whether you're a shredder or a mellow Blues rocker. Take a look at Paul Gilbert's Rock Guitar School at ArtistWorks.
Peace~
Dave | 
