scales

Latest about scales

Left-Cory Wong performs at The O2 Institute Birmingham on October 12, 2023 in Birmingham, England; Right-Guitarist Joe Satriani performs on the Palomino Stage during day 3 of the Stagecoach Music Festival on April 27, 2025 in Indio, California
Joe Satriani responds to Cory Wong's controversial statement about what it takes to be an advanced guitarist

By Janelle Borg Published

Wong recently stirred the pot by saying that guitarists should only call themselves “advanced” if they know every note on the fretboard

3 Comments
Guitarists
Rebecca Lovell from Larkin Poe performs on the Heineken stage during day 2 of NOS Alive Festival 2024 on July 12, 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal
Larkin Poe's Rebecca Lovell explains her “hunt and peck” approach to guitar solos – and how scales can make all the difference

By Janelle Borg Published

The blues-rocker reveals her soloing goals – and they could help you hone your own leads

Guitarists
A black-and-white image of Paul McCartney and John Lennon in striped suits, sharing the mic at Olympia Stadium, 1966.
It worked for the Beatles on Yesterday – add intrigue to your songs and solos with the melodic minor scale

By Simon Barnard Published

Get to grips with this invaluable and interesting addition to the songwriter's vocabulary used by Paul McCartney and jazzers alike

Lessons
Concert Of Carlos Santana In Bercy, Paris in Paris, France on May 29, 2000.
Loved by Yngwie, Santana and Slash, the harmonic minor scale is an essential part of every guitar player's vocabulary

By Simon Barnard Published

Whether you're checking into the Hotel California or sheltering from the cold November Rain, the harmonic minor scale is right there with you. This lesson demystifies it with examples you can use now

Techniques
Marty Friedman
6 scales from around the world that every guitar player should know – and how to use them

By Jamie Humphries Published

Tired of the same old blues scales and pentatonics? Try these on for size…

Techniques
The Cult's Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy
5 ways to use Mixolydian scale – the Goldilocks mode loved by the Cult, AC/DC and Eric Johnson

By Jenna Scaramanga Published

Everything from feelgood rock to funk gets better with Mixolydian, a mode used to great effect by everyone from Guns N' Roses to Kool and the Gang

Lessons
Musician playing acoustic guitar on dark background
How should you learn guitar scales – and why should you bother?

By Justin Sandercoe Published

Some people argue it really doesn't matter if you can't tell a pentatonic from a gin and tonic. Justin Sandercoe, one of the world's most successful guitar teachers, weighs in...

Lessons
Guitar Playing
10 scales from around the world that will broaden your playing horizons

By John Wheatcroft Published

Expand your harmonic and melodic potential with scales from across the globe, and learn how to integrate them in your playing

Lessons
Zakk Wylde
10 ways to level up your pentatonic playing

By Total Guitar editors Published

Major and minor pentatonic scale ideas in the style of Zakk Wylde, Tom Morello, Kirk Hammett and more

Lessons
null
Give your solos an unexpected twist by using math to craft musical phrases

By Dweezil Zappa Published

Utilizing number sequences to approach songwriting will yield unusual results, as Dweezil Zappa explains...

Lessons
1 2 Archives