| Bluegrass music is an offshoot of the country and | | | | down the scale alternately. Then experiment a |
| western musical genre. As with country music, | | | | little. Try playing the scale by skipping some notes |
| bluegrass has its foundation in the music of | | | | or playing the notes randomly. You need to |
| Ireland, Scotland and England. If bluegrass is | | | | become very familiar with the major scale |
| centered on one area of the USA, it is Appalachia. | | | | because bluegrass solos rely on major keys. To |
| The people are of Irish and Scottish descent and | | | | get further into bluegrass guitar scales, find |
| in their music instrumental virtuosity is not a poor | | | | examples of the major pentatonic and the major |
| relation of singing. In most forms of popular music | | | | diatonic scale. |
| the instruments back up the vocalist, but in | | | | Another basic scale that is important in bluegrass, |
| bluegrass the vocals and the instruments are all | | | | blues, country and rock music is the minor |
| just members of the team. In a bluegrass band | | | | pentatonic scale. It has five notes, should be |
| everybody is expected to take a solo just as | | | | learned in all positions on the guitar neck in all |
| they do in a jazz band. The instruments | | | | keys, and has been used for lead solos by every |
| associated with bluegrass music are acoustic | | | | guitar player known to man. It is also popularly |
| guitar, banjo, fiddle and bass. | | | | known as the blues scale. If you do not know |
| The main thing to remember if you want to learn | | | | much about modes, do an internet search to get |
| to play bluegrass scales is to learn some tunes. | | | | some idea of the difference between a scale and |
| That is what music is made of. The scales are | | | | a mode. If you have trouble understanding the |
| just the foundation of melodies and you need to | | | | theory, do not worry, just try playing. |
| be able to break out of the confinement of your | | | | The mixolydian mode is a good "scale" to practice |
| scale as soon as possible. The other thing learning | | | | on also: |
| tunes is good for is developing right hand speed. | | | | ----1-----3 |
| As you can tell from listening to bluegrass music, | | | | ------------- |
| speed flatpicking is essential. | | | | ------------- |
| If you are interested in learning bluegrass music | | | | ------------- |
| and you would like to start by learning scales, | | | | ------------- |
| start with the major scales in the open position. | | | | ----------- |
| Do not bother with going up the neck of the | | | | To get more in-depth knowledge of bluegrass |
| guitar yet because learning your scales in the | | | | guitar scales, some great bluegrass guitar players |
| open position is crucial for playing bluegrass solos. | | | | to listen to are Vassar Clements, Doc Watson, |
| Learn the scale in the key of G first, then C, D, F, | | | | Darol Anger, Clarence White, Norman Blake and |
| A and E. Learn the keys one at a time so that | | | | Sam Bush. |
| you are comfortable with one before you go | | | | Do you want to learn to play the guitar? Learn |
| onto the next key. As with all musical learning, the | | | | How To Play A Guitar For Free is my blog which |
| more work you put into it at the beginning, the | | | | helps people like you who wish to learn how to |
| greater the rewards and the quicker your | | | | play bass, acoustic or electric guitar. You will find |
| progress. | | | | guitar lessons, videos, articles and reviews to |
| When you sit down each day to practice your | | | | answer your questions, calm your fears and help |
| scales, spend five or ten minutes going up and | | | | you play the guitar. |