| Bluegrass music is an offshoot of the country | | | | bluegrass guitar scales, find examples of the |
| and western musical genre. As with country | | | | major pentatonic and the major diatonic |
| music, bluegrass has its foundation in the | | | | scale. |
| music of Ireland, Scotland and England. If | | | | |
| bluegrass is centered on one area of the USA, | | | | Another basic scale that is important in |
| it is Appalachia. The people are of Irish and | | | | bluegrass, blues, country and rock music is |
| Scottish descent and in their music | | | | the minor pentatonic scale. It has five |
| instrumental virtuosity is not a poor | | | | notes, should be learned in all positions on |
| relation of singing. In most forms of popular | | | | the guitar neck in all keys, and has been |
| music the instruments back up the vocalist, | | | | used for lead solos by every guitar player |
| but in bluegrass the vocals and the | | | | known to man. It is also popularly known as |
| instruments are all just members of the team. | | | | the blues scale. If you do not know much |
| In a bluegrass band everybody is expected to | | | | about modes, do an internet search to get |
| take a solo just as they do in a jazz band. | | | | some idea of the difference between a scale |
| The instruments associated with bluegrass | | | | and a mode. If you have trouble understanding |
| music are acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle and | | | | the theory, do not worry, just try playing. |
| bass. | | | | |
| | | | The mixolydian mode is a good "scale" to |
| The main thing to remember if you want to | | | | practice on also: |
| learn to play bluegrass scales is to learn | | | | |
| some tunes. That is what music is made of. | | | | E------------------------------------------- |
| The scales are just the foundation of | | | | --------------------0-----1-----3 |
| melodies and you need to be able to break out | | | | |
| of the confinement of your scale as soon as | | | | B------------------------------------------- |
| possible. The other thing learning tunes is | | | | -----0-----1-----3--------------- |
| good for is developing right hand speed. As | | | | |
| you can tell from listening to bluegrass | | | | G----------------------------------------0-- |
| music, speed flatpicking is essential. | | | | -2------------------------------- |
| | | | |
| If you are interested in learning bluegrass | | | | D------------------------0-----2-----3------ |
| 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 | | | | A--------0-----2----3----------------------- |
| the neck of the guitar yet because learning | | | | --------------------------------- |
| your scales in the open position is crucial | | | | |
| for playing bluegrass solos. Learn the scale | | | | E--3---------------------------------------- |
| in the key of G first, then C, D, F, A and E. | | | | --------------------------------- |
| Learn the keys one at a time so that you are | | | | |
| comfortable with one before you go onto the | | | | To get more in-depth knowledge of bluegrass |
| next key. As with all musical learning, the | | | | guitar scales, some great bluegrass guitar |
| more work you put into it at the beginning, | | | | players to listen to are Vassar Clements, Doc |
| the greater the rewards and the quicker your | | | | Watson, Darol Anger, Clarence White, Norman |
| progress. | | | | Blake and Sam Bush. |
| | | | |
| When you sit down each day to practice your | | | | Do you want to learn to play the guitar? |
| scales, spend five or ten minutes going up | | | | Learn How To Play A Guitar For Free is my |
| and down the scale alternately. Then | | | | blog which helps people like you who wish to |
| experiment a little. Try playing the scale by | | | | learn how to play bass, acoustic or electric |
| skipping some notes or playing the notes | | | | guitar. You will find guitar lessons, videos, |
| randomly. You need to become very familiar | | | | articles and reviews to answer your |
| with the major scale because bluegrass solos | | | | questions, calm your fears and help you play |
| rely on major keys. To get further into | | | | the guitar. |