How to Memorise Scales & Unlock the Fretboard

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

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[@jezjante]

This blows my mind. I actually gave up and started tuning in all 4ths just to make box positions easier. I'll try this method and see if I can finally "get it." Thanks man!

[@davidthortucker1928]

... I've been playing guitar for 13 years and never noticed the hack of those same three shapes repeating over and over again. My mind is blown

[@bornindissonance6312]

This is by far the best and most useful guitar lesson I've ever seen in my entire life. Thank you, Ben.

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

Awesome!!

[@chrisnorman1871]

Been playing 15 years but only recently started really learning instead of just playing. This seems like a good approach to mastering the fretboard that i'm looking forward to implementing into my practice.

[@j.shipton5733]

I realize that I'm incredibly late to the party but I have to thank you. This is brilliant and perfect for me at this moment.

[@AzSamad]

Beyond cool. I've use the 3 shapes mainly for technique development and for sequencing ideas but not as actual method to map the fingerboard visually and aurally - thanks for making this video Ben. Your stuff is constantly rocking at a high level. Gonna shed a bit right now before I go back to writing notes for a workshop I'm teaching this weekend....

[@chrispy.247]

This is an amazing new way to view it! Thank you! I wasn’t particularly enjoying the box shapes. Not yet…until this. I think this will help me apply it even better.

[@theericbeaty]

I love the advice in this video. Some of the best I've seen yet. Thanks for sharing.

[@joseq2651]

Love watching that Lee video, you rock Ben!

[@JDODify]

This is really helpful, mate. I know all my modes and modal scale shapes, I just hadn't bothered to think of it in this way before.

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

Great, hopefully it will work to make those modes more useful to you now!

[@JDODify]

Its not so much that, its more recognising patterns across the neck that I otherwise might might not have. I always thought of my 7 modal shapes linked together up and down the neck forming a huge diatonic scale and I'd navigate between my 7 shapes. Its a lot to visualise on the fly when improvising, this breaks it down into such small pieces, so you don't have to think as much.

[@chrisphalen5224]

I knew there was something missing from my guitar playing, I am just starting out, but the way you explain it and show it is terriffic. Thank You, and please bring more instructional video, they are helping and I am practicing them.

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

Thanks Chris, I'm glad that they're helping

[@Dang...]

Thanks for sharing this lesson. It's always cool to get a fresh perspective.

[@TravisBeckMusic]

Nice! Harmonic minor is my favorite!

[@tonalblasphemy6879]

Man, most good players don't show stuff like this. It's like a magician revealing their secrets. Bravo!

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

Thanks man - digging that username btw

[@joeabstractjoe]

Great lesson. Thanks brother! 🎶🎸👍🎶

[@nevious1982]

This is very good. Thanks Ben

[@artarturito7233]

Thank you for the great lesson

[@WyldestZakk1980]

I use the chord shapes as well. Minor, major, diminished etc.

[@naruto00nix]

this is amazing! instant sub :)

[@anthonyjohnson4734]

Just what I needed thanks bro

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

Glad to help Anthony

[@SuperSaifal]

The best lesson!!! 💜

[@MattSVK1]

Excellent lesson, thanks!

[@TheNirvan999]

I hope this helps me in learning scale I mostly use the box pattern ,Its very easy to forget the pattern . I will try this method .

[@danielkelemen9197]

Very useful this lesson! Thx Ben! ;)

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@hardrockjimi]

Ever have one of those a-ha moments? I just did! Thanks Ben. : )

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

Not as many as I'd like! :D

[@MikeStock88]

great lesson thanks

[@huaineimusic7557]

I like your lesson a lot.m practicing

[@Bigjoganc]

Could you make a song for technical exercises please? For practising everyday and playfull.

[@theguitargeezer878]

Been a subscriber for quite a while now Ben and totally missed this video somehow. Just recently in the last year picked up the guitar again in my older age and just knew songs and never bothered much with improvising or really knowing the notes on the neck. Didn't think I had to, just punch out tunes, boy was I mistaken. Going to now work on incorporating this into my guitar playing. Quick question Ben, is Phrygian and Dorian modes of the Major more used for rock and metal? Your an amazing instructor Ben, thank you all that you share with us.

[@Edu1969bs]

Very helpfull to me. Great job!!

[@TynoGH]

Wow awesome! Thanks so much Ben! 😀

[@AndrewLein]

this is very useful stuff, thanks

[@Gragi]

i watch your lessons and do you know which scales are using in Mercyful Fate and King Diamond especially Michael Denner and Andy LaRocque. i know a bit what shape it is in Denner scale

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

With MF it's mostly minor pentatonic, natural minor scale (Aeolian), maybe sometimes a bit of mixolydian and occasionally Phrygian Dominant or Harmonic Minor. With KD it's all that except mixolydian and way more Phrygian Dominant and Harmonic Minor because of Andy.

[@Gragi]

Ok thank you maybe you know too which scale is used by Gary Moore, my next big inspiration :)

[@DeathPenny]

Awsome man thank you!

[@zoltan567]

Very interesting take on learning a scale! I think there are visual type of people ( me not) for whom boxes work easily. I'struggled a lot with boxes, so I mastered the intervals instead, which I kind of ear training also. So merely playing a scale (from M2 m2 put together) is not difficult for me. The difficulty comes in when I have to change keys, Playing a whole piece with one key usually comes with compromises. That is why A pure A minor pentatonic doesn't sound too professional. In this case, I have to visualise at least the tonic, 3, 7th of the next scale. Maybe people who put that thousand hours into learning all kinds of boxes, so this changes a lot easier.

[@fastlaneprofits]

can you show some legato scales sequences like vinnie moore's playing

[@LegionInside]

lol! cool! i do that intuitive without even knowing the exact scale! thats an awesome tip! thanks ben! :)

[@HellionWildChild]

Awesome! Thank you very much, as always, for these videos! Very helpful \m/

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

You're welcome, glad to help!

[@arunharidas8317]

hello ben i hv a Q .how to memorize , transcribe solos of guitarists like dave murray ???

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

The good thing is that people have already done the hard part for you, you could probably find tab of most, if not all, Maiden songs out there. From there, it's just a case of learning it bit by bit!

[@lavbas2107]

like always benny, I'm just dropping by to say I love you

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

Always appreciated

[@dry509]

So each on each semitone you play a different magic shape? Not quite following the sequence of the shapes.

[@jrod8332]

Excellent

[@mohosapedapetalon]

This is really good stuff. I am diving into your content. I'm playing for almost 20 years and finally have come around to taking on theory. I am wondering how this changes with pentatonic minor, the stretches are much further. Is it the same idea? I am thinking of all the Metallica solos ect that I was always told was in a minor pentatonic. Apologies if this question seems redundant.

[@johnclarke7960]

legend, thank you

[@fridakronquist8962]

Confused, when you are cycling between strings, are you staying in the same scale, and if so, you just need to know the fretboard and the scale enough to put the right first note? Then you'd also need to know where the note is within the scale to get the right pattern right?

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

Yes, Frida. You have to decide that you're working on only one scale.. for example, the E minor scale. Then make sure you stick to finding only the notes from that scale on the string you're on... and the adjacent strings. Eventually you'll match the sound you're hearing with the shapes you're playing and it will become more automatic

[@TynoGH]

Can you do a video about how to harmonize lead guitar like the herman li part in "another 30 shredders"? I think it has some sort of connection with scales. would be awesome :) requests ftw!

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

One popular way of doing is harmonising in 3rds. Using the same scale and playing notes that are 3 intervals away in that scale. Eg, if harmonising in Em scale, one guitar would play E whilst the other did G. The G is a third above. If the first guitar moves to F# then the 2nd guitar moves to A. If the 1st plays G then the 2nd plays B. It doesn't matter if the note is a minor or major 3rd away, what matters is that is 3 notes away within that same scale.

[@TynoGH]

BenHigginsOfficial Thank you Ben! I'm really willing to up my guitar skills and you've been really helping me!

[@qphilo]

this is so helpful chrs

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

👍👍👍🍩🍩🍩

[@lou.104]

I wish i had so many frets like your guitar. Mine only has 21... strats...

[@martinopinto6323]

I wanna know how to learn the intro

[@newgamegamers]

Does Em and G chords share the same scale?

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

Yes they share the same notes.. the difference is they just start on different notes. The Em scale is the 'relative minor' scale of G.

[@newgamegamers]

So does that meam, if I play on a backing track which is on G, I can play E minor scale on it?

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

That's correct. The relative minor key to any major scale will be a minor third below. If the chord is A, then the F#m scale would work as its relative minor scale.

[@Eliasmdawwar1]

thanks !!!!!

[@jackj1111]

does it work on the bottom strings too !!

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

Yes you can apply it to all of the strings

[@jackj1111]

thank you for the great lessons Ben !!

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

You're welcome!

[@tajulafham94]

You always remind me of david beckham

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

Haha!

[@vladionescu8222]

Guitar model?

[@dragonheartdark9505]

hey whats the name of the intro song??

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

It's from a Jason Becker Style piece I did some years ago kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5zEgIeVaLxjoKc

[@dragonheartdark9505]

thank u so much...and your lessons are awesome...thank u again....👍👌

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

:)

[@nethbt]

The hardest part is memorizing the cross string 3 note per string patterns of the Major / Minor scale.

[@HerrisYutuiProduction]

Wow..looks away younger with that hair style..

[@NeilDjents]

I have perfect pitch so this is like a piece of cake for me. The only problem is that i cannot stretch my hand that long and i play 7 string 😂😂😂😂😂 But seriously, nice lesson. I could get so much help if i didnt have perfect pitch