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

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This is why you suck at guitar 28: You suck at learning scales!
Scales? What are those, something a fish wears on its outsides??? Nah man, they're the basic building blocks of all music, and most players SUCK at learning them.... well, to be more accurate, the way we are taught to learn them sucks. Endless numbers of shapes the memorize, none of them telling us what's REALLY going on inside a scale... all that does is keep you tied to playing PATTERNS instead of MUSIC!
But if you take Uncle Ben Eller here's advice and approach every scale 4 different ways, you're gonna be free as a bird and covering that neck in sweet sweet music. Lets go!!!!
Using my Jackson USA Virtuoso into a Marshall 1987X Plexi, into the UA OX.
What do you want to see on the next TIWYSAG? Let me know in the comments!

[@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." 😂

[@theandiller]

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

[@alortmeier]

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

[@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.

[@jaredlackey9177]

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.

[@ValSchnitzel]

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

[@ShredwoodForest]

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

[@KevinNolin]

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

[@zugunruhebirdingtours329]

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

[@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!

[@DapperHesher]

When I get good by the year 2160, my fusion band is soooo going to be called Intentional Holdsworth.

[@Doomchild2XL]

Mine is forever gonna be called Unintentional Holdsworth. For accuracy.

[@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

[@blakeanderson7906]

Great lesson Ben! Rock on!

[@jesselucero8503]

Fantastic explanation and demonstration. Thanks man!!

[@Mojen_Marc_Music]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@michaelduncan2995]

Thanks Ben, good video!

[@donaldlaporte4227]

Absolutely gold right there folks!!!

[@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 😎👍🏻

[@johnfeole1971]

Excellent overview!

[@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😀👍

[@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!

[@nunolance23]

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

[@juturna]

your lessons are the best sir, Thank You!

[@vomito72]

Great lesson and fun as usual ! thanks!

[@BenEller]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gloriahancock8358]

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

[@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.

[@mhenkka]

Excellent Ben. Thank you!🎉

[@daveydumpling]

Nice shining reference

[@minisurfbanana]

Ouch...."tell her I said hi" 😂😂😂

[@patrickdallaire5972]

The chromatic scale is so underated.

[@PeterLucibelli]

Incredible knowledge and dude you are hysterical

[@saltyphucker777]

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

[@vethwynwetfeather]

UNC! Creepin up on 500k. Woot! 🤘

[@bodhiboy4775]

Great advice! Thanks UB!

[@lhcsouth]

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

[@reverendg5937]

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

[@DrJamesAshfield]

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

[@CounterRhythms]

Endlessly entertaining and instructive. I feel more better now.

[@franksutopiahead940]

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

[@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. 😂

[@user-jo4tq5tk3i]

😂

[@edskiedski6256]

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

[@allengarrow6295]

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

[@rynoriffs6505]

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

[@fortisch]

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

[@paulcollins8122]

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

[@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!

[@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...

[@jeremyquinlan7245]

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

[@al6377]

Top notch humour and top notch lesson!!

[@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

[@steph4n]

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

[@BrandonEht]

That Jackson gets me bricked upppp ❤

[@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.

[@TheAlexCruz]

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

[@humphet]

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

[@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

[@n00n3r]

The innuendos are slaying me!

[@dylangrey2003]

Dude have you ever considered doing stand up? Cuz u r HILARIOUS!!!!

[@ocpblo]

Great, thanks!

[@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.

[@nbdysfool3]

Awesome!

[@johnamcclintock1]

I come here for the Dad jokes and you never let me down Ben!

[@BonesJonesMusicMD]

So good. Wish I could those references 😂😂 love it! 🤟🤟🎸

[@andrewsmall4865]

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

[@chriss1492]

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

[@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!

[@dlmyrs]

Best scale lesson I’ve ever seen.

[@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!

[@theogdw1]

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

[@bladezstudio666]

Explained in a way even my crazy brain comprehends!

[@clemclemson9259]

Ben you are very funny and are awesome thank you. for all your hard work- I love the channel!

[@BenEller]

I appreciate that!

[@chucksaeger7500]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@psneary88]

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

[@hopingtocollidewith]

Gotta love Francis Bubblestrausers

[@mukmuk775]

Ben’s got spring fever.

[@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 🤔🤔

[@davidsk8rz]

A piece of gold to start the weekend, thanks uncle, what do you think is best learn the scales with intervals or with the half full system (if that's what it's called)?

[@donniellama4463]

Best lesson I have ever seen.

[@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.

[@The-Atomic-Woodsman]

Unk, love the in-u-endo’s 😅

[@sole__doubt]

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

[@drewh7437]

Haha .."tell her i said HI" LMAO😎🤘

[@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...

[@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 🙏

[@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.

[@crouchjump5787]

Never learn a scale without knowing all intervals

[@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.

[@Cbuzz1399]

Meow at 2:00

[@eddiejr540]

Uncle Ben (and his similes) is on fire 😎

[@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!

[@CyberDocUSA]

Scales and Mel Bay, Hal Leonard publications, and many others were the backbone of my learning. Those crusty, brittle yellow pages are missed. P.S. Mom says hello.

[@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!

[@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.