What is the best way to practise scales?Learn one scale deeply, always with a metronome, and always in context. Routine that works arjunmenon, our Practice Sensei, dedicates 30-60 minutes per session to one unfamiliar scale: learn the formula, start with a 3-notes-per-string pattern, then play it in as many different ways as possible so your ear absorbs the tonality 1. He uses a timer and metronome for everything, with realistic goals set before each session — 50 minutes of his two hours goes to scales, chords and the ear training around them 1. Keira-WitherKay, our Session Ace, takes the opposite route: no rigid modules, just lots of playing hours — there's no one-size-fits-all, so pick what keeps you consistent 1. Make it musical, not just patterns Warren, our Theory Whisperer, stresses that running patterns alone won't help much — play the scale over a chord or progression to really hear it (A minor over an Am vamp is the classic start) 5. Start with minor pentatonic position 1, then learn all five positions plus links between them for fretboard freedom 5. evolucian, our Master of Modes, says know your key first and use your ears to pick the scale — don't switch scales over every chord before your ears are ready 4. Keep it simple at first Major pentatonic, minor pentatonic and the blues scale cover most lead work — five positions each, not the whole fretboard by note-name 4. If you know a scale's fingerings across the neck, you already know the modes' fingerings — you just need to understand when to use them 3. For a full scale-practice routine template, see Arjun's post in the practice-regime thread 1. From these forum threadsDescribe your practising regime? (2011): Arjun's timed two-hour routine with scale work broken down minute by minuteHow many Scales do YOU know? (2011): Warren on why scale patterns already contain the modesPentatonic scales (2012): evolucian on picking the right pentatonic by ear, chord by chordHow does one play the Minor Pentatonic Scale? (2011): Warren's beginner walkthrough of minor pentatonic positions with a fingering chart
