Does everyone erm ....know their scales?

[gub]

I must admit I am really slack at them, even after playing for years, in several bands!
I have made the decision to get on top of it this year though , practice, practice, practice!

[JapanAxe]

Yes but that doesn't mean I [i]play[/i] scales when I'm gigging - they just help you know where to find the notes that you can hear in your head.

[BassBus]

Even Jeff Berlin doesn't recommend learning things you will never need.

[xgsjx]

I've got analogue and digital ones. You really need them when you're making cakes.

[icastle]

A lot of them, yes.

All of them, no.

I'd guess that I'm like most people, I learn the ones I need and add to them if I have to.

[RhysP]

I've been playing for 35+ years & I still haven't got a clue about scales.

[Hobbayne]

Major, minor, pentatonic and blues scales is all I know. It got me through 30 years of playing. I cant be doing with them mixolydianphrygian malarkys!

Edited April 3, 2014 by Hobbayne

[Skol303]

In a word: no!

Well... I'm discovering that I know some scales because they sound right, but not because I know they are scales.

I get the basic major/minor but not much beyond that. Although I do understand their usefulness and have set myself the goal of learning more.

[bobbass4k]

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1396563145' post='2415262']
In a word: no!

Well... I'm discovering that I know some scales because they sound right, but not because I know they are scales.

I get the basic major/minor but not much beyond that. Although I do understand their usefulness and have set myself the goal of learning more.
[/quote]

That's what happened to me. A couple of years ago I finally decided to sit down and actually learn scales and theory properly. It turns out I'd already figured most of it out just based on what sounded good.

[thisnameistaken]

I certainly don't know them all. I started practising scales regularly when I started learning the double bass (so I suppose I went 15+ years without practising them at all) but to be honest I get more familiar with them while I'm playing with other people. Especially with crap guitarists - I recommend everybody join a band with a crap guitarist so you'll be forced to make the entertaining stuff happen. Necessity is the mother of invention and all that.

[wateroftyne]

Errr.. I know the happy scale and the sad scale. Does that count?

[Prosebass]

We have some in the bathroom, they scare me...

[Annoying Twit]

After reading this thread I went off and learned the Byzantine scale (one of the scales that is referred to as the 'arabic' scale).

[seashell]

I do, because I am a girly swot.

[Cat Burrito]

I think it took me a couple of years but it really is worth knowing at least the happy one & the sad one as WoT put it. I spent most of my 30s playing catch up because my teens & 20s were spent posing

[skankdelvar]

I'm physically repulsive so I learnt the Enigmatic scale so I could pull chicks.

Save your money; it doesn't work.

[Dad3353]

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1396570432' post='2415331']
I'm physically repulsive so I learnt the Enigmatic scale so I could pull chicks.

Save your money; it doesn't work.
[/quote]

Are you certain of that..? (... [i]taps side of nose enigmatically[/i]...).

[gary mac]

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1396570432' post='2415331']
I'm physically repulsive so I learnt the Enigmatic scale so I could pull chicks.

Save your money; it doesn't work.
[/quote]

I suspect the problem might be, referring to the fairer sex as chicks. It's just not very groovy Skank

[gub]

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one, don't feel quite as bad now lol!

[CamdenRob]

I'd love to be one of those players that just instinctively plays the right notes without knowing anything about the underlying theory, just jamming along to stuff and naturally playing nice flowing basslines in the correct key...

Unfortunatly i am just not that naturally talented... Knowing my scales, modes, diatonic theory etc. has given a non natural like me the chance to write interesting basslines and hold my own with some great musicians over the years. Theory has given me the chance to play and compose material I would never have just been able to invent out of nothing. It's also given me the confidence at a jam that I can get up and play any style, even if I've never heard it... tell me the key sig and I'm off.

Scales work for me

Edited April 4, 2014 by CamdenRob

[Thunderbird]

I know a few I learnt them without realising I was learning them I just kind of picked them up if that makes any kind of sense lol but I really don't know many to be honest I am crap enough on a bass without struggling to learn any thing else lol

[achknalligewelt]

I admire scales-y people. I go by ear, and so although I reckon I hit it right about 95% of the time, I admit, sometimes I lack that [i]perfect[/i] note that those with better theory can manage.

[Bassman Steve]

I do know them although I've completely forgotten whether it's the melodic or harmonic minor which is different coming down as it is on the way up! My grade 6 theory was 44 years ago though!!!

[Coilte]

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1396599967' post='2415459']
I'd love to be one of those players that just instinctively plays the right notes without knowing anything about the underlying theory, just jamming along to stuff and naturally playing nice flowing basslines in the correct key...

Unfortunatly i am just not that naturally talented... Knowing my scales, modes, diatonic theory etc. has given a non natural like me the chance to write interesting basslines and hold my own with some great musicians over the years. Theory has given me the chance to play and compose material I would never have just been able to invent out of nothing. It's also given me the confidence at a jam that I can get up and play any style, even if I've never heard it... tell me the key sig and I'm off.

Scales work for me
[/quote]


Good post !



What exactly do people mean when they say they [i]know[/i] their scales ? For most, it means being able to play from root to root all over the neck at a million MPH. While this is not a bad thing it is not the full story.

Really knowing scales means being aware of how chord tones are made from them and why some chords are minor, some major, and some diminished. It also involves knowing how to harmonise the scale.


NOW !.....how many people know their scales ?

Edited April 4, 2014 by Coilte

[Coilte]

[quote name='achknalligewelt' timestamp='1396600591' post='2415475']
I admire scales-y people. I go by ear, and so although I reckon I hit it right about 95% of the time, I admit, sometimes I lack that [i]perfect[/i] note that those with better theory can manage.
[/quote]


Playing by ear is a great asset to have. However IMO, without some basic theory, it is similar to being able to speak the English language, but not able to read a book or magazine.

Edited April 4, 2014 by Coilte