Pentatonic Scales. Simple or Necessary

Is the Pentatonic a main stay of your soloing or do you simply use it
when you need something that is almost impossible to mis-note while soloing?
If you don't prefer a Pentatonic scale, which do you use? And in what situation. Do you use combinations of scales? Please tell.

I like to use the Pentatonic minor and blend in with the Natural minor.
I find the major scale a little boring unless I'm using it for chord progressions.
Diminished scales are cool sounding, but what use have they other than in
a jazz-like scenario. Feel free to elaborate on all of your findings.

I'm not a huge fan of pentatonic, ever since I started playing guitar all my friends have held the pentatonic in a high and might place, yes its good and def. necessary if some cases, but I don't use it as much as most people.

Diminished runs are my speciality, the whole step and harmonic minor scales are also pretty freakin cool get to pull off some amazing things on those scales

but i digress, I'm not a huge fan of theory, I'm self taught and I just never really liked learning theory, I'm a "play by feel" kind of guitarist, whatever flows or comes to my head I play, I don't rely on scales, which my friends tell me means I have the fretboard memorized like no tomorrow, I've also been told its a good talent to have where you can solo whenever without thinking about what scale.

And yes, I suppose then that I do switch scales and never stick w/ the same one in one solo (which might sound weird, but it actually works out)

Me likes dim chords a lot, I guess its like teh foods, like it or not.

Pentatonticalz, like, 5 notes in octave stuff is like the basic 2-finger thingies
which folks learn first I suppose.

Sure, I like 'em too, sometimes, but 5 notes outta 12 ain't enuff.
There's much more to it.

:D

Now shredshredshred...

Man I'm loving diminished runs, they're like the best for getting your sweep picking or economy picking up, hell, they'd probably get ur alternate picking up too!

Dim. runs (chords, scales, etc) and also Harmonic Minor scales are my freakin favs, or that I find myself using most, but like I said, I do whatever my fingers wnat me to do and just go w/ the flow

Have any of you studied intervals instead of just scale patterns.
While it is true scales are intervals broken up into their respected patterns.
Im looking for more of something like this: Lets say youve got a progression in the key of G. And your first note of whatever scale your going to use is G.
Now instead of thinking geee what steps can I take to proceed to this scale how about thinking how would a minor6 sound after this G?

The point Im trying to make is I think...and it is something Ive been working with is if you can get to the point where you can master intervals and their sounds in respect to the preceding note you could run up and down the fret board at will......of course always keeping in mind the key and/or key changes. And also you could always get the emotional sound...whether it be sad,,,dark,,,,happy...so on. Any input??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Afronaut

Me likes dim chords a lot, I guess its like teh foods, like it or not.

Pentatonticalz, like, 5 notes in octave stuff is like the basic 2-finger thingies
which folks learn first I suppose.

Sure, I like 'em too, sometimes, but 5 notes outta 12 ain't enuff.
There's much more to it.

:D

Now shredshredshred...

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Teh Dim chords are OK.. but teh Dumb chords are teh greatest IMO

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thewizeard

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Afronaut

Me likes dim chords a lot, I guess its like teh foods, like it or not.

Pentatonticalz, like, 5 notes in octave stuff is like the basic 2-finger thingies
which folks learn first I suppose.

Sure, I like 'em too, sometimes, but 5 notes outta 12 ain't enuff.
There's much more to it.

:D

Now shredshredshred...

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Teh Dim chords are OK.. but teh Dumb chords are teh greatest IMO

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Yes, quite often cool riffs comes up from dum chords.
Ergo Teh Zen:
Keep playing wrong.



btw, took a peek on SS.
nice room

laters

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Originally Posted by MaxOverlord

4......of course always keeping in mind the key and/or key changes. And also you could always get the emotional sound...whether it be sad,,,dark,,,,happy...so on. Any input??

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Well thats all in the dynamics man, regardless of what scale/mode/interval you're playing in, its completely dependent on what type of dynamics and note durations you use

The point I was trying to make is if you can simply master Intervals and their qualities in relation to the preceding note you wont have to worry about learning the 15 million scales there are.
As far as note holding I dont think that has anything to do with getting an emotional sound unless the chord behind it changes.
You could for example play a minor chord and then a major and that major chord...which a lot of times we associate with being "happy" will sound minor too. You could go as far as to say a chord/note is only happy/sad/dark etc. sounding depending on the note played before it. So in that respect learning intervals instead of worrying solely on scale patterns will better help you get the emotional tone(not guitar tone...tone as in note) you are looking for.
Sidenote...5 favorite guitar solos!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MaxOverlord

The point I was trying to make is if you can simply master Intervals and their qualities in relation to the preceding note you wont have to worry about learning the 15 million scales there are.
As far as note holding I dont think that has anything to do with getting an emotional sound unless the chord behind it changes.
You could for example play a minor chord and then a major and that major chord...which a lot of times we associate with being "happy" will sound minor too. You could go as far as to say a chord/note is only happy/sad/dark etc. sounding depending on the note played before it. So in that respect learning intervals instead of worrying solely on scale patterns will better help you get the emotional tone(not guitar tone...tone as in note) you are looking for.
Sidenote...5 favorite guitar solos!

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Gotcha, and yea you're right when it comes to that, I still have yet to learn/hang of intervals, should get around to doing that when I get back in mid july.

As for 5 fav solos?

5) Under the Influence - Rusty Cooley
4) Walk With Me in Hell - Mark Morton (Lamb of God --- easy as hell solo, but its very effective due to the dynamics used)
3) Ambivalent - Jeff Loomis (Nevermore)
2) Engines of Hate - Jeff Loomis (Nevermore) <--- legato god
1) Born - Jeff Loomis (Nevermore) <--- fucking guitar god this guy is

I f-ing hate guitarists who think like mathematicians, your job is too be a good rhythm guitarist FIRST, then harmony and melody; have played for years and I think a guitarist must be creative and simple, look at Jerry Cantrell, his stuff is very classic rock, but it's very rhythmic and creative as well...

Five Favorite Solos:

1. The Muffin Man (Frank Zappa... Undoubtedly one of Zappa's greatest solos, "Girl you thought man, but he was a muffin!!)
2. Rehab (Down... Pepper Keenan's shining moment / with a wah-wah... give me some medicine. Hell Yeah!)
3. Them Bones (AIC... first one; short, sweet and almost lyrical, the way solos should be!!!)
4. Big Eyed Beans from Venus (Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band--Zoot Horn Rollo's shining moment with a slide!!)
5. A Million Miles Away (Rory Gallagher; last solo towards the end of the last verse; maybe Rory's shining moment.)

-The GMan24

I would agree with your rhythm first. This thread was intended to get beyond that. If you have any input for us fuckers,please do.

P.S it's funny you put Zappa as your #1. Zappa was completely into the idea of theory in his songwriting....surely you knew that. If you've seen any video of him he always references theory when describing songs to his band-mates.

I don't really have any input for you, I don't mind theory, but for me: it's just I try to break all the rules. I mean I have studied book after book, and yeah, learning about great chops and the different modes. Although, I love Ted Greene's books, may he RIP.

But I am a lefty, and I don't think that way. When your a lefty, everything is right brained man, in a way it goes against everything! Your not thinking, "would a minor lick go here, or let me see if I can play a E major blues shuffle...."

Your like, lets put on some Albert King, Blues Power and BOOGIE!! Or, lets play some Pink Floyd and bend them strings a bit... tablature and looking at inked notes makes me constipated... thats all.