BEST Practice Routine
- I like scales 100
- I hate scales 7
- Justin Bieber 11
How do you feel about scales? The very word SCALE strikes fear in many guitarists.
Why tho?
Maybe because scales have to do with the P WORD (practice)
Fingering the g string 69 minutes per day should be fun if you ask me. So how do you make practicing scales FUN?
By MAKING MUSIC. Repping a pattern to the metronome at 69 bpm isn't fun for most people.
🛑 SHRED'S PRACTICE ROUTINE: TAB BELOW
Here's the secret. Cue up an E pedal tone to set the mood.
E PEDAL TONE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYTh6w7K81A
Next, turn down the lights, grab some WAP juice and play the E Phrygian scale along to the pedal tone. Now you can hear the music! Scales are living, breathing musical building blocks, not patterns to shred at 666 bpm.
Keep the pedal tone going for each exercise in this routine. Next, Add harmonic context to the scale by playing the E Phrygian chords Em and F. This may start inspiring some song ideas. Very Spanish vibes.
The C WORD or COUNTERPOINT is next. What the f$ck is counterpoint and why does it matter? Counterpoint is how we move musical voices. Try playing the E Phrygian counterpoint exercise in the tab below. It's like a little song using the scale building blocks.
Finally, it's time to play a lick or riff. I chose a Phrygian sweep picking lick for this lesson. Using the primary chords Em and F.
This is a sacred and magical way to approach practice. Once you pass through the portal to planet practice, making music is our primary goal. This feeds your soul and keeps you hungry for more guitar gains in technique and music theory (full tab below)