The learning curve duration for acquiring lead guitar scales may vary. Sometimes it is dictated by the level of difficulty of the scale to be learned or one’s dedication and enthusiasm in learning. Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do about the latter. The good news though, if you are really eager to know the art of scaling right away, there are ways to do so. Just some amounts of perseverance, patience and determination and voila, you are in “Scale-landia”.

Assuming that you have learned about the basic pentatonic scale already, though not necessarily have mastered it, we can immediately start with the fast-forward process. So brace yourself and get those fingers warmed-up.

  1. Get those fingers warmed-up
    You can do this without necessarily following the scalar pattern of the pentatonic scale. Finger exercise just requires you to practice the fingers follow-through and shifting from note to note. Notations are important. In standard notations, number 1(one) is designated to your pointing finger, 2 to your middle finger and so on, not inclusive of the thumb. For starters you can begin with 1-2-4, and 1-3-4 combinations, on a “finger-per-fret box” basis. Get them accurate and fast. You can also practice this drill on the proper scale.
  2. Master the Forms
    As you all well know that there are 5 forms of pentatonic scale on the fretboard to cover one octave, take time to fully plot them out on the board and master the transition from the first form to the following form. Once you get a hold to it, and having been familiarized with the finger and note placements, you’re almost good to go.
  3. Applying one form at a time.
    Although, granted that you have already mastered the full octave, it does not necessarily follow that you apply all of them immediately. Get a feel to the scale first, starting with the first form. By getting a feel, we mean blending the scale to a tune. Backing tracks can help you put into track. Try implementing and innovating licks with the form. Practice those, pull-offs, bends, slides to come up with piquant lick-blend-ons that you’ll find interestingly to good to hear with the track. When you’re done mastering the first form, try the second one or better yet integrate (but you may not if you don’t want to). Usually, getting a feel lasts for a week or so. By then you can apply simple scales to a tune already.
  4. Set deadlines
    Learning it fast means learning it fast. So set a timeline and a deadline for the learning. The pressure you apply to yourself may help you be motivated to earn things on the fast-lane.

Being a virtuoso is a different case. You are not expected to become really good after this time period of learning. What you can expect though is that you can apply simple scaling on songs by then. And this should be a step forward in truly becoming proficient with guitar scaling. Most importantly, one should not stop learning more.

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