• The fundamental building block to mastering guitar skills is learning guitar scales. Guitar scales are important tools used by musicians to develop a good ear, increase speed and understand chords. Guitar scales can also be used to add mood, feeling and depth to any style of playing. The major, minor and pentatonic scales can help any guitar player develop a better understanding of the instrument and increase playing skills.
  
  

Major Scales

• The major scale has seven notes and is also called the Ionian mode. The major scale is the first of the diatonic scales and is based on scale degrees that are determined by half (going up or down one fret) and whole (going up or down two frets) steps. Major scales can require some position shifts, but the root note determines what the scale is called. It is known as the mother of all music scales and adds a happy and positive sound when played on the guitar.
  
  

Minor Scales

• Like the major scale, the minor scale also has seven notes. It is known as the "natural" scale and starts on E minor, which is G major's relative key, making the notes the same in both scales. The minor scale is also the second most basic scale of the guitar scales and the same as the Aeolian mode, in modal terms. This scale is similar to the major scale, but it has a sadder tone. The basic pattern for the minor scale starts on a different note from the major scale. Most rock band music is played on the minor scale in E minor, because of its dark, sad sound.
  
  

Pentatonic Scales

• The pentatonic scales are the most commonly used scales in guitar music. Compared with the major and minor scales, the pentatonic scales have only five positions. The pentatonic scales can be played in pentatonic major or pentatonic minor. The major pentatonic scale consists of the first, second, third, fifth and sixth notes of the major scale. The minor pentatonic scale consists of the same notes as the major scale, but the first note of the minor scale is three semitones lower than the first note of the major scale. The F# (sharp) in minor pentatonic is the same note as A in major pentatonic. The major pentatonic scales are most often used by lead guitarist in country, rock and metal music. However, minor pentatonic scales project a good sound over certain chord progressions. The pentatonic scale was used by famous guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, for its rock sound and is also used by B.B. King, for its bluesy quality of sound.