This is Why You Suck at Guitar: Learning Scales SUCKS!

[@BenEller]

Thanks for watching This is Why You Suck at Guitar: Learning Scales SUCKS! Grab the charts to go along with it here, plus HUNDREDS of other bonus videos, posts, TABs, and more: www.patreon.com/posts/this-is-why-you-100315149?Link&

[@joemartinez6025]

HEY BIG BEN. GREAT VIDEO CAN I ASK WHERE YOU GOT YOUR HEAD STAND? THAT SOUNDS WEIRD BUT I DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO CALL IT HEAD FURNITURE HEAD HOLDER HEAD RACK FUCK I DONT KNOW LOVE YOUR VIDEOS MAN

[@gib59er56]

Ben, my friend, you are the most accurate ,funny and solid type dude in what you teach. Take it from a guy who began in 1979 due to EVH and Joe Walsh, my main hombre`s along with a few others like Gibbons, Di Martini, Dimebag, Page, of course and Frank Zappa, jivin with his cosmic debris! I still learn every day and a big reason is your content on your channel. Keep it up Uncle Ben, ya don`t want a Sears Poncho, you need a real poncho, I mean Mexican pancho , hmmmmmm, ahhhh just forget it!!

[@drnastybf79]

My stepmom gave me few words of wisdom and encouragement: "Stepson, only I suck in this house."

[@RustyWarrior]

now that's some wisdom!

[@ponzo1967]

"The missionary position of scale patterns." 😂

[@MehYam2112]

7:40 no exaggeration, this tip about 1-string scales had a bigger effect on my playing than any other single bit of advice. Why: 1) seeing the scale linearly gets all of the "guitar junk" out of the way - you see the scale for what it is, a set of intervals that define harmony. This keeps you in the zone more like a vocalist or keyboard player. Guitar string tuning turns the simplicity of a scale into a maze. 2) memorizing scale boxes wasn't necessary anymore. You just start on one string, and then try jumping to an adjacent string from any and every scale degree. You start to see the boxes and positions yourself on the fly when you always know what scale degree you're on, because you know what the next interval is. 3) it works really great with the pentatonic scale. I never rehearsed the 4 other pentatonic scale boxes much, now I just sort of know them. 4) no need to memorize modes or their scale boxes *at all*. They're just different starting points on what you've already been practicing. 5) it demystifies how chords and scales work together. Triads work linearly too (they're just 3-note scales), so building little chord fragments on the fly happens just like it does for scale boxes, because you always know what degree of the scale you're on. It also helps with chord extensions, 11ths, etc.

[@erichobbs4042]

Yes. This is exactly what worked for me. Learning the interval pattern and then just applying it to the fret board. After a while you just know where all the notes are and even if you are in an alternate tuning, you can just make it work.

[@IcanhearClemFandango]

Totally agree, and I'd add that if you learn scales and triads on piano/keyboard, that helps with understanding a ton, too.

[@julhelm1821]

It's also the case that, depending on the context, you do not necessarily need to be 'in scale' all the time, as long as you start and resolve in key.

[@micskra]

this comment helped explain something I noticed but couldn't really put into words, and now everything is suddenly making so much more sense. Man my guitar teachers fucking sucked, I wish I had learned this stuff when I first started instead of them just pulling up a guitar pro file and making me practice along with it. Learning songs is great, but it's pointless to spend an entire 30-60min lesson drilling the same few bars over and over again. Should just learn the correct fingering/picking patterns on parts you suck at, drill them for a minute or two to somewhat engrave it into your memory and then refine it on your own time at home

[@theandiller]

Ben deserves an Oscar for ALL THE wordings in this video. 😂😂😂 Dammit, he uploaded it over a week later!

[@Gothgalactica]

He smothered and covered us with all the clever hilarity 😂

[@alortmeier]

Holy crap!!! Commentary was freaking on FIRE!!! Best. Channel.EVER!!!!

[@ValSchnitzel]

JESUS CHRIST!!! THIS IS THE BEST CLASS ON SCALES I'VE EVER HAD!

[@stevecaststringtheory8691]

When you said “corrected” I thought, “did he just slip in a reference to the Shining?” Masterfully done - the reference, the jokes, and most of all the lesson

[@KevinNolin]

Shoutout to your pastor for impregnating all this knowledge into you. Very helpful video Uncle Ben!

[@haetfull]

I stumble upon your channel every few months and think "how do I keep forgetting about this guy." Your knowledge will hopefully go down in youtube history as one of the great YT guitar teaches. I hope your videos live on for generations because the knowledge and technique is so crucial, especially as modern metal progresses the way it is. Much love from a long time silent follower!

[@zugunruhebirdingtours329]

Whatever your pastor did to you, it wasn't your fault.

[@MikaTarkela]

Years ago when I started learning some scales I used the 1 string technique and learned E minor as my first scale, string by string. After learning all the notes on all the strings (in E minor) I divided them into boxes. Then I started looking at A minor / C major and I noticed the familiar patterns and I realized they have just shifted into a new position. I can still remember the excitement and the mad laughter when I realized I was onto something. It made everything so much easier! Thanks for sharing this Uncle Ben!

[@ShredwoodForest]

the pun per minute ratio is Airplane level. A++

[@nunolance23]

This was a step up in the humor part of the videos, stellar teaching as always hahaha

[@huffdm]

(1:41) excellent choice of axe Uncle Ben! Love the color too...❤

[@BenEller]

Thanks!

[@APK-pn4qh]

​@@BenEller I will be buying that exact guitar in a couple months. Is it as amazing as it looks and sounds?

[@BenEller]

@@APK-pn4qhYES! It quickly became one of my favorites. It’s a 10.

[@APK-pn4qh]

@@BenEller ooh I can't wait! 🤘😎🤘

[@TheMirrorify]

One of your best videos. Great info and very funny too. I absolutely concur about the single string scales. I instinctively learnt those first as it was way easier for me and I've never had too much trouble breaking out of boxes as a result.

[@KILLA-J]

The incredibly useful lesson was great but . . . when you top it off with humor, then it's better than great . . . thank you (I'm 65 and learning howta shred mang)

[@mikemorgan4774]

Me too, right! At 65 I'm just learning what I shoulda known back in 1966.

[@lhcsouth]

I see Pazuzu hiding out in the background. 🤘👿 Love the pixelated video game intro on the videos!

[@rianjohnsonsux4344]

I literally laugh out loud to the video…cause Ben is a MASTER who doesn’t take himself too seriously. Channel is bad ass 😎👍🏻

[@saltyphucker777]

Awesome as usual, Uncle Ben! My stepmom says hi.

[@andyracksthecams]

Great video made even better with mention of the almost forgotten Bubble Trousers and the almighty Alvin. Thank you. Some important messages and tips here and some answers to awkward questions too...

[@TheAlexCruz]

Duuuuuuude!! The snark jokes were off the charts for this one! 😆 Well done!...oh yeah, the video was helpful, too

[@CounterRhythms]

Endlessly entertaining and instructive. I feel more better now.

[@al6377]

Top notch humour and top notch lesson!!

[@EclipseAtDusk]

This is why I like Open C-esque tunings. Scales become less “a pattern to play on the neck” and more a proper roadmap because it’s Easier to learn

[@johnstillwell4353]

I forgot how much I enjoyed being told why I suck on guitar. Ben has a special quality that allows to say stuff like that. It would probably get me killed. Seriously though, Ben is the best teacher on the internet and helped me out of a deep hole and back to really enjoying playing. Thanks again Ben.

[@shadehunter]

Very useful information. You explained it way better than I ever could when I've tried. Also, heavy on the Uncle Ben jokes. Loved it. Lol

[@BenEller]

Excellent!

[@chrisstevens4680]

Woh….Ben…Ben……way too complex……….!! I use the major or minor pentatonics and just add two notes. Use your root note for the reference. Depending on which notes you add , you have the Ionian and all the other 5 modes that you need. ….much easier to visualise. The pentatonics are your visual references and for visualising chords. Use this for melodic soloing and learn 3 notes a string for your Satriani sequences and runs.🤘🤘

[@daveydumpling]

Nice shining reference

[@sorenahlback]

Only the intro is enough to press the LIKE button! Now let's do some scaling!

[@psneary88]

Love this channel! My guitar teacher loves this channel! #BenEller for prez! Make America shred again!

[@TheTeaDubz]

Yet another banger of a video, friend. You are an excellent teacher! I have spent time learning a lot of scale shapes and I know the shapes but as you've pointed out I have never been able to pull back the curtain and learn to have freedom across the whole neck. I can see how combining the vertical shape, three note per string shape, one string shape, and the little shape provides a clear roadmap to getting there. Your videos always make me feel excited to pick up the guitar and learn something new!

[@gloriahancock8358]

Very Rad!! Love that guitar and color too!!!

[@ianisaacs2340]

Thank you uncle Ben! I’m an intermediate bassist trying to get to the advanced stage. I want to lay down some Cliff Burton style bass.

[@jeremyquinlan7245]

Amazing Uncle Ben. You make my guitar playing mo better.

[@ghanssperling9890]

Awesome. Wish I'd seen this video before spending 2-3 years working it all out on my own. Nice to have all that work confirmed tho.

[@mikemorgan4774]

Thanks Ben, this is the absolute best video on the Phrygian scale ever created for guitar players. I absolutely heard and saw all the biblical references to Vai, Satch, and Edward. And accidental Holdsworth (LMAO) is where I live most of the time. I got it now!

[@polishamoou]

Such a great lesson! Thank you for sharing! Also these tones are amazing. Would love to learn more about the gear you’re using.

[@pinkyellowblue007]

I've never had a problem learning scales, it's the other stuff like really understanding theory, phrasing and being musical I suck at.

[@michaelduncan2995]

Thanks Ben, good video!

[@paulcollins8122]

Brilliant video, yes you're right I too always seem to start on the root note on the bottom e string...good advice

[@randykalish7558]

I visited Mel Bay in '91 at his store in Kirkwood, Missouri, where he tried out and liked a guitar I had built. And yes, I seem to recall that even he employed some scale forms in his recital 😃

[@jeffro.]

@randykalish7558: Are you sure you were talking to "The" Mel Bay, and not Junior, or some other random person working there? Cuz I'da thought ole Mel would be RIP in '91, lol. That guy's been around for a looooong time. I had his books when I was a kid, by the photos he was a grown-ass man. An' THAT was a loooong time ago! 🤪

[@randykalish7558]

"The" He showed me photos of himself with Johnny Smith aboard their boat, fishing on a high Colorado lake: their favorite thing to get away from it all, except they couldn't get away from the scales. Mel Bay: Feb.25, 1913 ~ May 14, 1997 🙏

[@theogdw1]

Some legit advice and a great lesson, questionable comparisons. Classic Uncle Ben

[@humphet]

Can't think of a better sales pitch. Thanks again Uncle Ben

[@jesselucero8503]

Fantastic explanation and demonstration. Thanks man!!

[@MickH60]

I worked all that out by myself years ago but with a slightly different approach. I used the pentatonic minor scale, then added the two notes to get the natural Minor scale, then moved one note from the natural minor to get Dorian mode , moved one note to get Phrygian and so on.... then I did the one string bit....cool video Ben...

[@juturna]

your lessons are the best sir, Thank You!

[@musicafteroldage]

Well, you Sir, were on a roll ! LOL (extremely useful information btw!) Thanks for sharing Sir!!

[@duwaynesteurer4287]

Damn Ben, slid the "your mom" joke in there in the first 90 seconds.

[@SJSharkByte]

Thanks Ben, this came at the right time. Just like me right before my parents get home from Costco.

[@donaldlaporte4227]

Absolutely gold right there folks!!!

[@CookbookAdventures]

I have to sub, this is too funny. You had me rollin in less than 3 mins with useful info. Plus that is a pretty nice gitfiddle you got there.

[@n00n3r]

The innuendos are slaying me!

[@rynoriffs1984]

Funny, informative and Useful information, Thanks my good friend Uncle Ben!

[@jackmckee8196]

The color of that Jackson guitar is my happy place.

[@andrewsmall4865]

Ben your metaphor game was on point for this one. 😂

[@steph4n]

thanks for your great videos and the eloquent stuff, my kind of humour 👍

[@edskiedski6256]

Great lesson, that one string scale pattern was game changer for me when I learned it years ago.

[@fortisch]

Bro. I literally figured this out on my own yesterday and now i see this. Damn^^

[@upstatenoizepollution62366]

Ying Yang Milkshake would be an AWESOME name for a band LMAO! I was drinking a soda during that section of your tutorial, and it went right up my nose when you said that! hahahahaha!

[@bobjones2041]

your first gig is opening for Pastor Frank

[@upstatenoizepollution62366]

@@bobjones2041 HAHAHAHA!!!

[@johnfeole1971]

Excellent overview!

[@allengarrow6295]

Very helpful! I’ve been doing the single string scales using a metronome and doing legato, helped tremendously!

[@afterstars]

I kind of hit a wall with my guitar playing years ago because I never fully decided to dive head first into learning this stuff. I’m going to really make a challenge for myself and check out your site and give it a go.

[@vethwynwetfeather]

UNC! Creepin up on 500k. Woot! 🤘

[@eddiejr540]

Uncle Ben (and his similes) is on fire 😎

[@PeterLucibelli]

Incredible knowledge and dude you are hysterical

[@Mojen_Marc_Music]

I just kept thinking you were about to bust out Sails of Charon 😁😁

[@Chris_Nouvelli]

O’ how ironic it is that the ‘Breakthrough Guitar’ bloke is the ad that appears before Uncle Ben comes to teach something of actual value. Thanks, Unc.

[@BenEller]

And for cheap as free, no less!

[@Chris_Nouvelli]

@@BenEller 100%. Although I am one of your ever-loyal Patrons so here’s a big bundle of literally some cash 💰 In all seriousness, this is a great lesson. Many thanks. Glad you’re loving the KM Schecter too. I’m a recent convert to Schecter with my Aaron Marshall and Nick Johnston Indonesian models. Incredible instruments.

[@BrandonEht]

That Jackson gets me bricked upppp ❤

[@chriss1492]

I always enjoy your wicked sense of humor but you are on a roll today!! 😂

[@jaymakesmusic6916]

I gotta get back to playing. Took some time off. After a burnout. And motorcycle crash which broke my left wrist. But I still can play.

[@Crovax]

for scales i just learnt the whole "12 frets" shape, using those "whole neck" graphs. noticed how all the modes are just the same shape but with the root on different places, so i learn where the root goes in the pattern depending on the mode. it's really liberating because you can improvise with the whole neck with your own patterns.

[@dorianfrank5024]

This is amazing! Thanks Mr.Uncle Ben Sir, I've been so stuck in box patterns of scales for a long time ,this lesson is totally going to assist me in navigating my way outta there😀👍

[@reverendg5937]

Love the fret board on that guitar!!!❤❤❤

[@dlmyrs]

Best scale lesson I’ve ever seen.

[@franksutopiahead940]

Thank you Uncle Ben... love you man! ✌️💜🙋🏻‍♂️

[@uradumby25]

Loving this video. Seems like a lot of instructionals wanna teach you "how to play your first song!" But I'd rather understand the theory and skill and practice those, so I could ideally play more songs sooner once those are mastered. Plus seems like practicing this kind of stuff will help improve my dexterity and ability to improvise!

[@tHiNk413]

I have no business with playing guitar, only listening, but you are so effin entertaining, this is a like and subscribe. Oh, I suck at playing Warhammer 40k. Doing it for 12 years now and can't, for the love of the False Emperor, build a competetive list. Not if my life depended on it!

[@donbourbon]

Sweet Jackson! Also, mom says "hi!" :)

[@jimforce2690]

This is one of my favorite videos that you have done. Gave me a new way to look at things that I already use. Also a master class in double entendre lol

[@blakeanderson7906]

Great lesson Ben! Rock on!

[@IcanhearClemFandango]

The one string combined with the regular box scales is exactly what I do when I practice scales. I'm still a beginner, but I've found a few familiar tunes in the blues scale pattern.

[@DrJamesAshfield]

Good video . Thanks for posting :) Gonna go try this out

[@bodhiboy4775]

Great advice! Thanks UB!

[@randykalish7558]

I had a Mel Bay book in the late '60s, but I never finished it, which I regret because if I had gotten through it I'm sure I'd've been ready for this lesson.

[@brendanshervington3560]

Thanks Uncle Ben!Whow!what a lesson, Something for everyone, and everyone gets a mention, Mel Bay, Tom quale, Allan Holdsworth!but pastor Frank sounds disturbing 🤔🤔

[@vomito72]

Great lesson and fun as usual ! thanks!

[@BenEller]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@chucksaeger7500]

You’re as entertaining as you are brilliant on guitar! I suck at speed although I have improved. Thanks for all your lessons!

[@billhicks9056]

Funny bugga! "Eddy Van Scalin'" 😂 And leave my mum out of this and I'll leave *this* out of your mum Cheers for the video!

[@horrorshowbass]

Key takeaway was play 6 string bass tuned E to C 😊

[@mukmuk775]

Ben’s got spring fever.

[@hikimad1523]

When I think of scales I think of reptilian scales. Man I suck!

[@GonnaGetYouBoi]

sounds like something a reptilian would say..

[@Fake_Jesus]

No you don't. Reptilians are cool as long as you don't attack them. Then it's your problem. 😂

[@BrianKeary]

😂

[@robertmeyer4318]

Uncle Ben is giving us the keys to the Lamborghini. Let's ride Shredmaestros....🤘

[@sole__doubt]

Thanks to you Uncle Ben I know most of this one but I still wound up learning something. \m/

[@jaredwilliams1031]

Knowing intervals helps, and it will help you in a bunch of other ways, too.

[@Gothgalactica]

Commenting again.. lol but dude, I love the way you teach. Im neurodivergent, which means some things I grasp incredibly fast, and some things make my brain feel like a computer shorting out.. The way you explain things and the angle you come from when giving us the information, perfectly scratches and lights up both sides of my brain, in the most satisfying way. Lol Not too much information all at once, no gratuitous showy solo’ing through your examples, great humor and excellent analogies given to grasp the concepts. Super stoked I found your channel. The alghy has been so kind to me lately. Thanks dude, appreciate all you teachers out there. You make the world a brighter place man, for sure. 🖤💫🤘🏽

[@travellinguitars]

Uncle Ben, funny as hell , as always! Damn you son of a your best friends mother! You gave the gift of bringing great useable information and make it in a great stand up comedian way to the listener. Always lightbulbs moments here. Thanks for the years of joy and making us less sucking every time!! You rock dude!

[@cliffdavis6122]

Scales not a problem. Major issue for.me is speed. Cannot get past a plateau/barrier. Simply cant break through it

[@ChainsawChristmas]

Get that metronome out every single time you practice scales. Slowly increase the speed while playing your scales on time. Obvious advice, but we're all guilty of playing without the metronome.

[@lou.yorke.x]

When I think of scales, I think of the scales of justice that put pastor Frank behind bars. #freepastorfrank

[@Robbie28]

Once again, younhave proven that YOU are the true Shredi Master.