Best Guitar Scale For Rock Music

The best guitar scale to learn if you are into Rock music is the Pentatonic scale. The Pentatonic scale is also used in many other types of popular music, like Blues for example.

The Pentatonic scale has 5 notes that create 5 patterns that connect across the entire fretboard. These 5 patterns get their names from the notes that are in the scale... Root, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th. Also, just by adding a few notes, you can create all of your other scales just by using this one pattern. You start off by using the Pentatonic to visualize your scales and then you add a note or two and you can play over top of any chords.

Here is the Pentatonic scale 6th shape that you will want to memorize first:

E|---|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|

B|---|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|

G|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

D|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

A|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

E|---|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|

Because this scale is so important to the guitar player, it is usually the first scale and pattern that everyone is taught.

There are also 4 other patterns that belong to the Pentatonic scale that are important for connecting the entire fretboard. Here are the others...

Root Shape:

E|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

B|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

G|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|---|

D|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|---|

A|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|---|

E|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

2nd Shape:

E|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

B|---|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|

G|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|---|

D|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

A|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

E|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

3rd Shape:

E|---|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|

B|---|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|

G|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

D|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

A|---|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|

E|---|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|

5th Shape:

E|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

B|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

G|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|---|

D|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|---|

A|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

E|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

When practicing the different Pentatonic shapes, or any other scales for that matter, make sure to use alternate picking and a metronome. You will want to get comfortable with alternate picking because once it becomes second nature to you, it will allow you to play faster while still sounding smooth and clear.

Using a metronome is something that you should always be using when you practice. Not only will you improve your timing but you will also learn your scales and songs faster if you practice by starting off at a slow speed.

Using a metronome can also help you sound better. Start off at a real slow bpm (beats per minute) and listen to each note you play very closely. Do you hear them ringing clear or do they sound muted. Identify which strings are being muted and adjust your fingers and then play that note again. Keep doing this until all strings are ringing clear. Once you can play all the notes clearly at that speed, then set your metronome at the next speed faster. Then go through the same steps as before until all the notes sound perfect.

Also, try at first to use one finger per fret but if you switch out of position occasionally, that's ok. Do whatever you feel most comfortable doing.

So give the Pentatonic guitar scale 6th shape a go first and memorize it. Don't forget to start off slow and gradually work your way up. Make sure all your notes ring out clear and then try playing it at the next bpm faster. Once you are satisfied with your speed, go on to the next shape and memorize that one. If you spend a little bit of your practice time each day practicing, you will be able to play all of these shapes anywhere on the neck of your guitar. And also once you have all of these shapes memorized, it will be much easier to tackle any other scales you want to learn. Rock and Roll!

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