What is the importance of practicing scales?

Question

I spent many hours practicing scales yet I failed to find the usage of it.
What is the purpose of learning scales?
How do you apply those learning into music?
Is it important to practice it?
How long do you practice it?
How do you practice it?

Answer 1

Purpose:

Learning you keys and the notes within that key. Improving the skill of your left hand (or right) They are your foundation for soloing. They give you your peramaters for each key in which you want to solo. The major scale is the mother of all scales as they all are made from it. C Pentatonic will be made from the c major scale, A Blues will be made of the A major scale, etc. And they help in song writing/playing since chord progressions are correlated with scales.

How to apply them:

Get a tape or CD with someone just strumming chords. The more you like the sound the better. You can also buy one or make one yourself. You'll have to know the chords being strummed. Make sure you know your scale like the back of your hand. For each chord play the corresponding scale of your choice. Pentatonic is easy to star with. You also practice modes (diatonic scales, 7 notes). Examples: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian etc. For these, look at the third scale degree. If it's flatted, then the mode works over a minor chord. if it's natural (not flat or sharp) it works over a major chord. When applying the scale to music you don't have to play all the notes, start anywhere you want, play high or low depending on what feel you're looking for. Practice bends, hammer-ons, Pull-off, slides, trills, ghost bends, rakes etc. Use them in any comination you want. Then you can learn to move up or down to your nex key in a progression. Learn how to move from one scale to another This is where knowing the different scale positions of your scale on the fretboard is important. You can also play along with your favorite CDs. (if you find out the chord progression) As you get better you be able to jump higher or lower on the strings or fretboard. Try playing the entire scales over a chord progresson to get an idea of the sound of it in a musical context.

Is it important to practice it?

The importance of practice depends on you goal. What do you want to be able to do? If you want to write your own songs they'll be a big help. Do you want to play lead? You don't have to practice scales, but they will allow you to do more.

How Long:

You decide the practice time. I would say quality is better than quantity. It's better to practice the right way (learning practical things that improve your skills) for 20 minutes than the wrong way (not learning/sharpening practical skills) for an hour.

How to practice it:

Practice slowly with a metronone and after a while increase the speed. Keep gradually increasing the speed until you satsified you reach your desired speed. You can learn to whatever degree you want that enables you to play how you want. Having a routine is good. Start with warming up with a scale or scales to losen you fingers. Practice your chord fretting/chages then scales and lead techniques. This is just an example. Practice playing songs from tab. Also, Try this site http://www.guitaralliance.com/.

Answer 2

It is SO important that I don´t have words to explain.
Practising scales helps you to get a better joint.
If you play string instrument, it´s also helps with the intonation and change of positions.
Try to put some rhythm. I do like this:
I I , I I I I, IIIIII get it? 2, 4, 6 notes for each hit

set the metronomo at 60
and try all the possibilities: 2,4,6 / 2,6,4 / 4,6,2 / 4,2,6 ....
later: 1,3,8 and all combinations
and more difficult: 3,4,5...

You can also improve you technique practising the staccato, the legatto... with your scales.

good luck and have fun!

Answer 3

Learning scales developes your ear.

Having a trained ear will allow you to tune subconscienciously.

Yes.

Until you stop playing music.

Repetition.

Answer 4

I only use scales for finger strength and dexterity.I suppose there useful in composing and articulation.

Answer 5

its the foundation for creating/improvising/reading music