The Pentatonic Scale - Five Notes To A Better Guitarist

As we have discussed in a previous post, learning scales is extremely important for anyone who wishes to play lead guitar. Of the many scales available to choose from, the major and minor pentatonic are among the most popular and most widely used scales.

The link provided below will take you to a great site for learning the pentatonic scale for guitar; as with the major scales, the pentatonic scales for guitar repeat the same pattern for both major and minor scales, they simply start on a different fret.

http://www.netplaces.com/guitar-scales/the-pentatonic-scales/the-major-pentatonic-scale-in-all-twelve-keys.htm

http://www.netplaces.com/guitar-scales/the-pentatonic-scales/the-minor-pentatonic-scale-in-all-twelve-keys.htm

They also start on a different fret to play the scale in different keys. In the C Minor pentatonic pictured, what I call the first position is actually shown on the 3^rd staff (note that the positions are numbered 1 – 5). The first position starts on the C note on the top string of the guitar (the root note for the C Scale).  I have found that this position also works extremely well for songs in the key of F; it can also be used for songs in the key of C by starting with the first position on the 3^rd fret instead of the 8^th. This gives the scale a slightly different tone, and works on major and minor key songs.

Unlike chord patterns, where all the indicated notes are played at once, scale patterns should be played one note at a time. In this diagram, the numbers inside the circle refer to the finger which should be used to play that particular note. 

Learn all 5 positions starting with the 1rst; the positions fit together like a jigsaw, so that the front of one position is the same as the back of the next. Once you learn all 5 positions, you will be able to play the pentatonic scale anywhere on the neck of the guitar. Keep in mind, all scales work this way, and the notes in the scale simply repeat throughout the different positions. The pentatonic scale has 5 notes, and the major and other scales have 8, except for some exotic scales that we will discuss in the future.

Once these positions are memorized, you will be able to play lead to nearly any song as long as you know the key that the song is in. For a song in the key of A, you would start the scale with the 1rst position in the fifth fret, or the 12^th. On the 5^th fret, the root note of A would be on the top string; on the 12^th fret the root note of A would be located on the second string of the guitar. All scales on the guitar work the same way, so you only have to learn a scale pattern one time; after you know the pattern, just move the starting position to a different fret to play in a different key.

To be a great player, or even a better one, learning scales is an essential step. Like always, though, practice is cumulative – don’t feel bad if you don’t practice ‘enough’. Practicing any is worthwhile, and it will sink in eventually. Keep playing, and start working on learning these scale patterns – they will make you a better player!

Gaston Music & Pawn carries new and used equipment, and is a music store Gastonia musicians have relied on for more than 25 years – come by and try out your next guitar at Gaston Music & Pawn!

Saving Money With Used Guitars - What to Look for to Get the Best From Your Music Store!
By Andrew Rumph

The old saying 'As broke as a musician' is certainly no surprise to the musicians out there - whether you are in it for fun, or are actually trying to make it big, or at least make it big enough so you don't have to have a regular job, playing music costs money, and it does not take long to realize that it can cost big money, even if you are just a singer.

But there are ways to save - this article will focus on guitars, but buying used gear is one of the easiest ways to get great equipment at a price that is much less than retail - often half of what retail was, or more.

You do have to be careful about buying used, though, so it helps to know what to look for, especially if you have not had a lot of experience buying guitars (other gear will be covered later). First you need to decide what type of guitar you want - do you mind a beat up looking guitar? (Some people even pay for new guitars to be 'stressed'). If you don't mind a few dings and scratches it will greatly expand the available pool, but there are plenty of guitars out there in pristine condition, such as this little Telecaster style guitar I found at a local store.

The first thing to look at on any used guitar is the neck - look at it straight on, and then look sideways at the neck to see how straight it is, and whether it has any humps or uneven spots. These are a sign to leave the guitar alone. If it arches one way or the other to severely, this can usually be fixed with little trouble. Many necks will have a slight arch in the direction of the strings - this is fine; it is called relief, and it usually allows for a lower action on the guitar.

Action is the next thing you want to check, and it also has to do with the neck, 'Action' refers to the amount of space between the frets and the strings. Fender calls for string heights of 3/64's to 5/64's (or 1.2 - 2 millimeters), with the lower figure being the treble strings. Some players like it slightly higher - whatever the action is, look closely at the side of the neck - the strings should be about the same height above the frets at the first fret and the 20th.

After you examine the neck, plug the guitar in - make sure the cable is seated tightly, and then play some lines while moving the volume and tone knobs to make sure they are in good shape, and are more or less silent when you turn them. The final step will be to use the pickup switch to test the different pickups in the guitar; each selection should have about the same volume, and once again should be over noisy when you are using them.

For an acoustic guitar, the concerns will be much the same - check the neck, plug the guitar in if it has electronics, and make sure you understand the warranty on the guitar if something does go wrong, or if what you think is a minor fix turns out to be a major headache.

There are many great places to buy used guitars, both from individuals, independent music stores, and flea markets, but one of the best places to find great deals is in pawnshops. Find out what is available in your area, and use these simple tips to help you buy a great guitar for a lot less money than new!

Andy Rumph, the author, works at Gaston Music & Pawn, one of the biggest Music Stores in Gastonia, NC and has been playing music and writing about it for more than 20 years!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Rumph
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Spring Time Is Here - Time For New Gear!

Springtime has come (even though it will be 21 degrees tonight), and the time to start thinking about yard gear and firearms is here! Gaston Music & Pawn has a great selection of yard gear, including a Troy Bilt Pony Lawn Tractor, several very nice rear tine tillers and  a large selection of long guns and pistols!

The mowers are going so fast, these are all sold, but we have the Troy Bilt and a lot of great pushmowers left!

Andy don't forget, we offer a wide array of musical instruments, including the incredible Morgan Monroe F style mandolin - get a closer look at it here! These instruments list at over $700.00, but we are pricing them very aggressively - call for prices on these great mandolins! For used guitars, PA gear and more, Gaston Music is here to help.

More specials, and tutorials will be posted soon - stay tuned, and have a great day from the folks at Gaston Music & Pawn!