15 Scales Every Guitarist Should Know (In Order)

Here's my roadmap for scales!
Minor Pentatonic deep dive: • How to Play The Pentat...
Major Pentatonic deep dive: • The SECOND Most Import...
I'm working on more deep dives as we speak!
Follow me on Instagram: / kevinnickens
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Thanks for watching!

[@Hazybunk]

0:16 A huge respect for this guy not waiting us for 12 minutes to find out the answer

[@SurafelFantu-z5g]

this guy just keeps reading our minds

[@kevinnickens]

That’s what I do

[@AIshorts940]

And that what called super intelligence

[@robbaldwin2402]

My friend is "helping" me understand music theory, and he will go from 0 to 100 in two seconds when he "explains" how that chord I just played can be transformed by using the Autobot/Decepticon Modes with their various fourths, flat fifths and perfect tits. This video made a lot more sense than that.

[@quicksilver90-g8h]

Lmfao that does feel like it doesn't it

[@kevinnickens]

lol, hilarious comment. Glad this helped out!

[@TheMrInfantaria]

The scale with perfect tits is the hardest one to play

[@jpisdistraught]

best comment

[@lonorca4781]

Bro you killed me 😂😂

[@Craig52-zq1bt]

I am 73, been playing guitar for 61 years. Did a little scales, but just started playing to songs and learned a lot. I work all over the neck from nut to 22 fret. I guess Cream and Credence Clearwater Revival taught me a LOT. I can just jump in and play....

[@yume3166]

Dude, you should know that your KZbin content is some of the best stuff I've ever seen. Definitely in the guitar space, but also in general. You do a great job getting to the point and being honest, rather than making people wait until the end or promising a magical beginner to pro exercise. It's a real breath of fresh air on this site. Really glad I found this channel.

[@kevinnickens]

Thanks so much

[@JimmyHimself]

Can we get an ear learning video, please?? 🙏 🙏 I've been struggling a lot learning songs by ear, and you are the only teacher i understand

[@ariclippoldt7423]

Sight singing and reading are some of the hardest things to do in music. Do not feel bad lol. That's the sign of a true musician that should go to berklee to study music.

[@con3728]

Kevin is such a G. Started playing guitar 2 months ago and his vids really help me out

[@nikke000]

Kevin g?

[@amara-rm4wq]

0:55 Minor Pentatonic Scale 2:17 Major Pentatonic Scale 4:02 Major And Minor Scale 6:35 5-12 Scales

[@dakotagower86]

You have got to keep creating content. The guitar community needs you. This is the only thing that I feel will make it possible for me to come back, I have been so lost for so long!

[@levigregorytiama5448]

I’ve been playing drums for years and recently been diving into guitar and these videos have been a god send thank you kev!

[@kevinnickens]

Glad to hear it Leviathan! You had to switch to guitar bc my wife stole your drums lol

[@TheAlexsennin]

brother, all the other video out there take hours to explain basically nothing, all nonsense, you go directly to the point and teach us in a clear way! success my man, started playing 1mo ago and I want to go higher... thx for the videos

[@reactivelemur846]

Kevin, i've been subscribed to this channel for a while now. And i've gotta say, this is one on THE BEST channels i've ever seen. You give people lessons for free on youtube that otherwise would have been payed. I pay my guitar teacher and we usually just learn songs, a bit of theory and nothing more, but you, without even being payed, give the most informative lessons on youtube alongside a few other youtubers that have 10x your subscribers. Really, we love you, this channel deserves way more subscribers than it already has. (Sorry for any mispellings or grammar errors, i'm not a native speaker)

[@kevinnickens]

Thanks so much! I appreciate you guys for watching and leaving super kind comments like this one!

[@KaranSingh-js7cr]

One thing i have learnt from this video is as follows, I used to play the diatonic scale all over the fret board but never knew i was playing different modes, but now i know, thank you for helping me unlock something new

[@kevinnickens]

Glad you learned something!

[@ShackSllayer]

Picked up guitar a few months back started off learning easy songs and skipped some basics I should’ve gotten down first. This video was a major help😊

[@nafisulhaque5462]

As someone with ADHD, I always had a hard time with structured courses and stuff. So when I started learning guitar recently, I was having a hard time finding out how to learn it. Your videos are absolutely fantastic. They give me exactly what I need to learn and I can even try out advanced stuff whenever I get bored of the basics. Thank you for that man.

[@kevinnickens]

That’s great! Glad the video helped!

[@kionsland]

I recommend you watch Marin Music Center

[@mixerD1-]

Same here.👍🏼

[@cassiusdio6048]

ADHD 🤣🤣🤣

[@brandonjackson5865]

Guitar is my escape from ADHD the only time my mind is quiet is when I’m playing guitar and really into it. Also because of being ADHD I can sometimes hyper focus and learn more than I can remember in a session if I’m not careful but just getting the shapes and patterns under your fingers even if you can’t name them on the fly is good for dexterity and ear training, you eventually start to hear the difference moods, moods created by intervals used to make the scale. I’ve sat down and tried to learn say like the harmonic minor scale in every position but all I retained was a couple of the fingering patterns of a couple positions. I don’t understand how anyone can learn and retain everything and that’s what’s so special about the guitar, even the masters really haven’t mastered it they have mastered their playing style in a couple or three different genres, there’s a whole other universe they could still learn. The guitar will never be completely mastered by anyone. Look at all the kids on the internet that can play circles around some of the 80s guitar heroes, they can play all the stuff but they didn’t create it , all I’m saying is the average intermediate player is a whole lot better today than in the 90s at least from a technical standpoint. I like to think if I had all the resources new players today have I would be a lot better

[@alejandroscaffa92]

Commenting to say that I'm watching the whole video but I pressed like immediately at the 19 second mark. Subscribed before even finishing the video. Really refreshing, thank you!

[@hmingsangakhiangte3437]

Dude, you’re such a gem for a self-taught guitarist like me!

[@buildingheirlooms]

You’re a great teacher! Information in this video and previous have unlocked a lot of what searching and videos and teachers have not been able to make sense. Anyone who wants to learn guitar I’m going to send to this channel.

[@ryanmathisen9776]

This is the best video to take in this amount of information quickly. Thanks man I’ll be watching this daily

[@KelseySimmons-bu8su]

wow this guy really knows his stuff!! great teaching and great video buddy :)

[@WARZONEBOXINGCLUB]

Appreciate your breakdown of these scales and making it easy to learn. Thank you.

[@damienpenglin]

I was randomly looking for guitar scales and learning them, not knowing which was what. Thank you for this!

[@rancor4513]

this video helped clear alot of my confusions about the many different "positions" in scales. thanks!

[@PumpkinManPLayz_13]

I learn the major and minor pentatonic scale in around 10 minutes, thanks for the video.

[@edcrutchfield3447]

You made this simple 🎊 congratulations

[@brianbarker2190]

Why did it take me so long to find a video that breaks down the scales like this? Very helpful

[@SNCBB15]

This is exactly what i needed. I have been asking my father for years for a comprehensive list of scales i must learn and he could never give me a list because there are just so many. Sincerely thank you for this.

[@ranman58635]

Good stuff here! I'm 30 years in and just now getting to where you are pointing. Know the a minor pentatonic scale well. It's Def opened me up to playing with others with zero experience doing that.

[@jwm6314]

This is exactly what I needed right now in my learning curve. Thank you!

[@alexdionne2556]

This is just the video I needed to piece these together😂 Well explained my guy, love it!

[@Noah-lo9we]

Dude thank you so much for this. This is exactly what I needed when I needed it lmao much appreciated 🙏🏻

[@chefdave12118]

This video is so helpful to me. I can not thank you enough for this breakdown. I'm only 2 months in and have been doing the Am Pentatonix ONLY not really know why or what to do with it. Just saw a YT vid doing the Am Pentatonix and did it. I can not wait to watch this video after work and go over them all and add a bunch to my practice

[@tncfrench]

Thanks!

[@kevinnickens]

@@tncfrench no problem!

[@kingbalec2927]

First time learning more scales than the major scale and minor pentatonic. You explained it perfectly. Was able to put on a backing track to practice the scales on it and now just in 42 minutes i amable to use the scales :) thanks a lot man!!

[@shawnw401]

Thanks for this. I played drums for 40+ years, and know i am Learning to play the guitar is a so great thank you for your content. Shawn

[@raahamor2]

Thank you Thankyou so much i really needed this ❤

[@ariclippoldt7423]

I would say chromatic scale is def important to learn. I felt lost for years after studying music theory for about 3 yrs in high school, then I stumbled upon the chromatic scale. After, music and all the other scales seemed to open up and flow. Rhythm and syncopation was even easier to understand for me.

[@travisgotch161]

You had me as soon as I saw the Peter Frampton album cover

[@thesuperzfamilyvlog6607]

I learned a lot! I'm a violinist and this made a lot of sense to me. I really appreciate this as I start on my guitar journey. Thanks! Now to re-watch and take a bunch of notes!

[@carvelbell181]

excellent tutorial

[@edgelorddragneel1142]

you are doing the lord's work. You don't know how much it is helping me, a self taught guitarist. Please make some on picking styles

[@FuriousWeasel-09]

Incredibly helpful

[@pokemousse9990]

We want more deep dives please

[@kevinnickens]

More deep dives, coming in hot!

[@chayhutchinson334]

Exactly what I was looking for, great job!

[@gordoperochulo8526]

This video is a godsend thank you

[@CaptainBrash]

This is really cool, I've been spinning my wheels for a while and bored with just trying to learn songs. Answered a bunch of questions I had about the scales too even if a bunch of it went over my head. Probably a good excuse to get my Guitar Grimoire out xD

[@troy_243]

Great video!

[@jeffrobodeenyehcmon5925]

I really like this video because I can just practice all these scales from one video. Thank you.

[@babiikakes7922]

Started playing 2 years ago. This was extremely helpful. Thanks!

[@AbhishekKujur-u4z]

We gonna learn soon

[@gabrielputhenpurackal7296]

KEVIN : THE CONTENT IN THIS VIDEO IS NOT MEANT TO LEARN IN ONE SITTING meanwhile me who is about to finish learning all of this in one sitting

[@st3r23]

Thanks for going into detail

[@goliviraja2941]

You are excellent, and inspiring to learning Guitarists. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@Flannigan_loves_you]

Thank you!!

[@Ndlfk]

Thank you sooo much!!!! I struggled so much with that!!!!

[@firemonkey1015]

You should do a deep dive on modes next please! I’m confused why the root is always the starting note. Does it not follow pentatonic shapes? Do you always start a mode on the root?

[@fighter_pilot]

I appreciate what you do bro. Keep putting put content.

[@xxxf4d3edxxx46]

only 10k likes is criminal for how good this is

[@leognutzmann]

Really good content, keep up with the good work!

[@Messihaz]

Would love it if you showed us some popular "exotic/eastern/arabian" scales in the future

[@tyroneprivott9309]

Thanks a lot Bro. You help me out a lot. From Bro .Tyrone God Bless.

[@bigjimstream]

Liked and subscribed. Thanks for the content. I do recommend going forward to provide exactly what you promise in the title or more. I think there is so much value in your video that people won't mind but overall it's not a good tactic imo.

[@kicikocani1]

briliant straight to the point ❤🎉

[@Krlzr]

gods work 🙏thank you!

[@Bakerfamilyvideos]

Thx

[@kevinbuenoartbywave]

Thank you so much Kevin for your hard work; can you organize your playlist so that I can watch it in order I would love to replay many of your videos and binge in a certain chronology, thanks in advance.

[@tom28753]

Great lesson.

[@premadaya5122]

You are amazing, thank you

[@yaelnata]

thank you so much this helps a ton 🙏🙏🙏

[@sydneycamille1932]

Thanks guitar mom!

[@birinhos]

I know all off them but I do not consider myself advance player. Should include the blues.😅

[@StopPanakinAnakin]

I love you. Thank you. So very much. I will get such incredible use out of this information. Sub for sure.

[@lilbernard183]

This mf explains shit so clearly it blows my mind. GOAT

[@AkashMondal-lq3hh]

thank you sir ❤

[@RyanTaylorMedia]

A question for clarification, what's the point of the positions if all the scales are movable? Why is there are position 1-5? What benefit will that have later down the road?

[@JubaDeMetalAlumínio]

As a metal fan and player, I learned the harmonic minor (phrygian dominant as well) very early, at the point that, playing for 1 year, I made three songs not using any pentatonic, but diatonic and specially the harmonic minor. I don't remember when I trully understood its intervals, but the term tritone was already there by defaut as a Black Sabbath fan, whose first couple riffs were Black Sabbath, Iron Man and Paranoid. Nowadays, I stay away from pentatonic, 'cause I really dislike it, and still compose using diatonic modes and very sparsely hirajoshi (which is another pentatonic, but doesn't sound like a rock cliche), diminished and whole tone scale. The next step for me is understanding the chords used in each mode; I kinda now how to make chords, but naming them is another thing.

[@aeea3306]

Once you know how chords are formed these scales are pretty easy to understand

[@RamieElcydVenerable]

Guys.. what's the use of the notes on the fret board and how do I use scales? How do I memorize chords so I can play it directly without knowing it's a chord? I wanna be a professionalist... Pls help me😭🙏

[@user-dnf83n0s8sg9u]

Ever heard of the ichikosucho scale? It’s a Japanese one

[@ShalomManiriho]

Good day sir could you please show us all kind of minor in bar chords and how to hold it like can you pls upload with with different bar chords only pls

[@Cripsy85]

5:20 - true however i dont understand why pentatonics scales are generally taught to end at the second(major) or third (minor)

[@therockbox4979]

Thank you thank you thank you

[@LearnThaiRapidMethod]

Wonderful. Very useful. However, there’s no music - I can’t figure out what you’re playing without transcribing the notes you’re playing physically in the video in slow motion. Do you have any downloads?

[@aeongjin2028]

can you do a video about proper guitar techniques? 🙏🙏 because i need to cross my legs which places the guitar in a higher position to play some barre chords to create sound

[@matthewcross3338]

Can someone tell me how all the modes relate to the 5 caged scales? Which modes go to which caged scale?

[@smnh_]

Nice vid! But: Think next time you should mix the guitar little bit quiter, sometimes the volume in relation to your voice is a little bit pain.

[@Arsenije8]

9:40 exactly what fret is played locrian mode?

[@Edo708]

was just thinking if u had a video like this 😂

[@franksgreatdecline]

thank you guitar mom

[@OURSKIESTODAY]

New sub, thanks. ,🎸👍

[@dylanriner3823]

I think I have bad hands for this, can’t really spread my fingers properly

[@louiso1477]

my hand hurts

[@darifick9808]

so for the diatonic scales, could i play the dorian/phyrigian/etc. scales shape in the same exact position anywhere on the neck? like i wouldn’t have to change it in any way?

[@darifick9808]

because if i look up say the dorian scale, there’s 5 different ways on one chart to play the scale, so do i need to play those specific positions on those specific frets? or can i use this one shape from this video to play the dorian scale anywhere on the fretboard, and if so then what are the other positions for? sorry if this is confusing lol i’ve just been so confused for days straight trying to figure this out

[@schmidt1917]

Goat

[@p5ych1x86]

can somebody explain, why?

[@Smii7_MG]

Becuz why not 🤷

[@jacksklazy7672]

I’ve only been playing guitar for a year already know the harmonic minor… wtf I worked backwards 😭

[@dotner7976]

Ay it’s a bait click bait world out here we love you dw thank you for teaching me scales

[@cassiusdio6048]

I think your diagrams are upside down from how the guitar is in the video 😂

[@metal422life]

Technically the scales our written from the lowest string at the bottom because it's the "lowest" or if looking at from a buoyancy perspective It is the Thickest/ fattest/heaviest string so it would sink to the lowest area hints why it's at the bottom. And to see it from yet another perspective, the way that music is written on the staff using notation the lowest notes are at the bottom. The highest notes are at the top. yet another way to look at. It is from your perspective looking down at the fret board.

[@merrittmussorgsky2937]

What about diminished and wholetone scales and the modes of melodic minor and harmonic minor???? Smh also dominant pentatonic is extremely useful

[@vloggingismyhobby]

I memorized all the 1 to 5 position pentatonic scale. But my problem is how can I apply them to make a solo or adlib? That is my big problem I didn't know how to make a solo or adlib. In different kinds of songs and different kinds of Chords progression.🤔

[@moogan2561]

What helped me was just finding a backing track on KZbin, mostly southern rock or something because it's easier to play to. Just start out with 2 strings in a scale for example, I used the D and G string and just played around. It's weird and awkward at first but eventually you get an ear for the sound of the notes and what sounds good. Hope this helps

[@hugokappes4077]

take the first shape with the root note top and bottom, and stretch both ends to play across the fretboard diagonally, its the easiest fingering to track a run down and up, and you can hit every note in any order as you go,, a backing track, blues or rock on youtube should have a nice note map you can follow to work this out,,

[@nickreyes5231]

same problem to me

[@hugokappes4077]

@@nickreyes5231 my advice as above , john Mayer calls it the pentatonic equator, stay centered there until you can hear what you are doing against a backing track , you just have to experiment a lot to become good at improvisation,, when you are familiar with this placement put an artist on that you can follow to see where they land , this is just going to take time, the more time you invest the better,, there is no magic trick , improvising and playing lead is just finding inventive ways to use the notes of the scale, and a few other things ,

[@davidelias5581]

Also same for me lmk if you find an answer