learning the most from each scale shape?

[scott(ish)]

Would it be a good idea to learn everything you can from each scale shape?

Like learn all the arpeggios Cmaj,Dmin,Emin,Fmaj,Gmaj,Amin,Bdiminished
From the one scale shape,and learn all the chords you can from whatever scale shape you choose.And then move on to the next scale shape and do the same.

Would doing that be a good idea or would i be wasting my time?

Is it true that you can learn all the chords you can get in the Cmaj scale from just one Cmaj scale shape, i'm guessing some of the chords would end up being in weird inversions like for a Maj6 chord the 6th being in the bass which probably wouldnt sound very good.

So can anyone help me with this?
Thanks

[newamerikangosp]

If you speaking diatonically (meaning only the notes from the scale for the "spelling" of the chord) then you would simply find patterns

Take the E aeolian (natural minor) for example

The notes

E F# G A B C D E
1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 8(root)

now with that we have these chords
name: root-3-5
E min: E(+b3)G(+3)B
F#dim:F#(+b3)A(+b3)C
Gmaj: G(+3)B(+b3)D
Amin: A(+b3)C(+3)E
Bmin: B(+b3)D(+3)F#
Cmaj: C(+3)E(+b3)G
Dmaj: D(+3)F#(+b3)B

(3=maj third, b3=min third)

These chord "spellings" are all just three notes (triodes) which are the building blocks for most chords.

[oRg]

I think it would be a good idea. You'll familiarize yourself with the scale/modes/chords/etc etc. If your learning something then its not a waste. I've seen too many guitarists play/show the major/minor chord progression and when I ask why its like that, they shrug at me...lol. I think eventually though you'll being to see patterns in the scales and the chords/arpeggios/modes associated with them. Things will become alot easier to understand. I also think looking at the scales in standard notation will also prove beneficial. I never use to think so until I took my first music theory class.

[widdly widdly]

I think it's going to help a lot. It's a great way of learning to play all over the fretboard.

From each of the seven major scale shapes you should be able to learn to play...

- Each of the modes.
- all the diatonic arpeggios
- all the diatonic chords

When you have all seven scale shapes down, theoretically you should be able to play any chord, arpeggio or diatonic mode in any position. The other part of the puzzle is knowing the notes on you fretboard well enough to be able to pick out the right shapes.

A good exercise is to take a fairly complicated diatonic chord progression and restirct yourself to one scale shape and position to play the progression. Then move it another position.

[Shredmaniac]

If you want to broaden that concept even more, the Mick Goodrick approach to position playing is quite good too. In his "Advancing guitarist" book he suggests to master each position by playing the 12 major / harmonic / melodic minor shapes, two whole-tone scales, three diminished scales, 12 maj7 / 7 / min7 / min7b5 / minMaj7 / diminished arpeggios, basically anything you can think of.

Although this requires a lifetime's worth of practicing, I find it to be an excellent exercise, as it requires you to think of notes instead of shapes. Of course you're not supposed to play all that list at first, but just playing your diatonic major triads and four notes arpeggios in the open position -for instance- in a random major key will have you sollicitating your brain a lot more than just learning shapes. This way you can approach improvisation the way keyboard and sax players do.

I still find shapes very useful though, just thought I'd mention that aspect of position-playing =)

[forgottenking2]

In a nut shell: Learn to play those 12 major, harmonic and melodic minor in one position. Use the circle of 5ths. You could apply this to improvising by using some kind of cyclic progression it doesn't have to be Giant Steps (OMG!) or some other jazz tune. It doesn't even have to be a ii-V-I sequence. I think Joe Satriani came up with a simple song using only i-VI (in minor) that serves this purpose. I am still working at it (some modes/scale shapes of the harmonic and melodic minor don't come to mind as quick as they should) and I would say it's definitely worth it.

-Jorge