How to practice your scales and why - Positions

I get a lot of questions on practicing scales and technique building on jazz guitar. This lesson is a demonstration of my vision on how to approach scale practice to get the most benefit out of it from an improvisers or jazz guitarist point of view.

Most of the time when the topic of scale practice is discussed in books, videos or online the main focus is on speed and dexterity. In the end I don't find this a very useful goal for scale practice as I think that you will gain much more if you focus on flexibilty and knowing the scale in terms of notes, structures. The reason for this is that when you improvise and you have practiced scales in this way, you have a much larger vocabulary of building blocks to construct your lines with.

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Content:
0:00 Intro
1:48 Ex 1 - Straight up & down
4:50 Ex 2 - Diatonic 3rds
5:11 Ex 3 - Diatonic 3rds (descending)
5:22 Ex 4 - Diatonic 3rds (Mixed directions)
6:54 Ex 5 - Diatonic triads
7:26 Ex 6 - Diatonic triads (3 1 5 pattern)
7:40 Ex 7 - Diatonic triads (3 5 1 pattern)
9:48 Ex 8 - Diatonics 7th chords
10:10 Ex 9 - Diatonics 7th chords (1 5 3 7 pattern)

My name is Jens Larsen, Danish Jazz Guitarist, and Educator. The videos on this channel will help you explore and enjoy Jazz. Some of it is how to play jazz guitar, but other videos are more on Music Theory like Jazz Chords or advice on how to practice and learn Jazz, on guitar or any other instrument.

The videos are mostly jazz guitar lessons, but also music theory, analysis of songs and videos on jazz guitars.

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1:48 Ex 1 - Straight up & down
4:50 Ex 2 - Diatonic 3rds
5:11 Ex 3 - Diatonic 3rds (descending)
5:22 Ex 4 - Diatonic 3rds (Mixed directions)
6:54 Ex 5 - Diatonic triads
7:26 Ex 6 - Diatonic triads (3 1 5 pattern)
7:40 Ex 7 - Diatonic triads (3 5 1 pattern)
9:48 Ex 8 - Diatonics 7th chords
10:10 Ex 9 - Diatonics 7th chords (1 5 3 7 pattern)

[chrisrimolt]

Bravo, Jens! As a novice guitarist, but trained trumpeter, I so appreciate your commitment to the fundamentals of learning guitar as an instrument. So much of YouTube is filled with how to play a song or riff, without ever raising a players skill or technical capability, but your teaching helps us all become better musicians (as long as we commit to the practice...). Bravo, Jens, and thank you for the instruction.

[Pastfacemusic]

you, good sir, are a godsend for the beginner in jazz!

[TheReubstar]

This is *so, so* useful! Thanks so much!

[srmjr]

Great info as usual. Was blown away by George Benson recently, when I saw him say he's only really comfortable playing in TWO positions and everything in between is just to get him to the other position!

[ELuxElectricBikes]

Thanks Jens! You Rock! Even though you are a jazz guy! Appreciate you and your work helping others grow as musicians!

[abelton]

This lesson has got me going for 10s of hours and I'm still going. I was always stuck with running scales and arpeggios up and down

[RichardThornton_sasuser]

Great discussion, Jens. You do have a gift for teaching.

[nonamed_]

thanks god these lessons exist and are available for free... You made my life so much easier. I hope life rewards you for this great work you're doing, because we all know you deserve it.
Thank you so much.

[gero]

It relaxes me a lot to watch your videos. A few months ago I started to study jazz on guitar and I feel extremely overwhelmed by everything I know I have to study and I find it hard to clear the way when I sit down to practice, but this helps a lot. A hug from Argentina!

[adarshviswanathjois]

I like this lesson. I feel there is a much deeper message about cultivating a "mindfullness" while playing the guitar. When you say that you want to play at a tempo where you know what is going on and you can understand each note being played. Thanks for the marvelous content. I watch your videos regularly and it has definitely helped me on my journey and make me motivated to play.

[arielanguita]

You are THE MASTER!! From Neuquen Patagonia Argentina thank you friend

[Jason.Brayshaw]

I recently purchased a Jazzmaster guitar which I'm so enamored with . . . It's really inspired me to practice my scales over and over, at least an hour a day. The tricky part is linking them all up so that it all sounds seamless and fluid. Great video, Jens. They're always good.

[robertwolpa]

Excellent, straight forward, making sense of all things music and jazz. Thank you!

[marietrevino]

This has improved my soloing. Thanks so much! You are concise.

[chrisparkin]

You're a great teacher mate. (I say that as a teacher myself, though not a guitar teacher). I've seen a lot of your lessons on here now and they are all very clear, to the point and full of practical advice. Thanks for putting this out for us!

[salookie]

lots to think about when practicing you sir

[alibaba-wyiv]

This is the kind of lesson I need as an amateur, Thanks sir!

[Music]

Incredibly helpful lessons and style of teaching. Better than any teacher I have had yet. Can't thank you enough for the free lessons!

[magibatalla]

I've seen three of your vids in a row, they've covered my needs for what I'm working on this week. Thank you SO MUCH!