Pentatonic scale practice, or practice exercises for blues?

[Jami]

Here's a follow-up question to the "Fix It" live today since Griff mentioned exercises:

I've been searching for a book that has written out blues practice exercises. I enjoy the BBG course a lot! But when it comes time to tackle a new song with new chords and a melody, my brain tires quickly from combining the newness. Sometimes I can only play the new song for 15 minutes before my brain turns off, but I still have energy to play simpler things, like chord progressions, scale progressions or pentatonic scale exercises - or however you'd reference that in guitar land.

I'm a flute player and have big books of scale progressions, arpeggio exercises, etc. I could reference. and I'm looking for a handful of exercises like that, especially with pentatonic scales because I'm finding the one scale I learned is popping up in the course! So it's helping me understand music theory, which is fun. But I haven't successfully found an applicable book or resource (just as a quick edit: my searching for these exercises was before signing up for BGU. Actually, since I couldn't find what I was looking for, it led me to BGU! Now that I'm here, I'm curious if there's a resource in the group. and I was excited to hear Griff mention something like this - okay, end of edit!)

Is there a resource like this in BGU?

 

[Paleo]

Pentatonic Scales & Technique Mastery?

 

[Jami]

I'll check it out - I was searching here in the forum and not in the courses as I found it overwhelming only because it's all new to me. I'll check out the PDF and see what exercises are listed.

 

[Elio]

Pentatonic Scales & Technique Mastery?

I was going to suggest the same thing. It's a great way to build technique, speed, and fretboard knowledge.

 

[Paleo]

You won’t find one stand alone course here that specifically is dedicated to exercises and “drills” for all of the concepts you’ve mentioned.

However, as an AAP member you have access to any course that does have explanations, examples and some exercises in each of those areas.

You’d just have to search them out or ask for guidance here on the forum.

There are perhaps hundreds, if not thousands, of exercise books like you’ve mentioned elsewhere.

I’m sure the members here could give you more than a few recommendations.

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Addendum: I haven’t watched last night’s session yet so maybe never mind?

 

[Paleo]

I’m finding the one scale I learned is popping up in the course!

That scale is going to keep popping up everywhere you go.

And for some may be the only one they ever need.

 

[Jami]

Thanks everyone - the PDF for Pentatonic mastery looks like a good fit. Will dive in today.

 

[MikeS]

Yep PSTM is probably a good one to work on. Since you are relatively new, it may frustrate you quickly. If that's the case, just go to the courses page and enter Scales in the search bar. Many courses talk about scales.

 

[Jami]

go to the courses page and enter Scales in the search bar. Many courses talk about scales.

Thank you for this note. There's a good chance I'll get overwhelmed with the pentatonic exercises. I think I'll pick one of each. Print them out, and noddle around with them for something else to do when the harder song is a bit too much.

The exercises might also give me an easy way to mess with my new to me looper pedal.

 

[MikeS]

Thank you for this note. There's a good chance I'll get overwhelmed with the pentatonic exercises. I think I'll pick one of each. Print them out, and noddle around with them for something else to do when the harder song is a bit too much.

The exercises might also give me an easy way to mess with my new to me looper pedal.

I honestly in the years since PSTM came out, I haven't gotten past the warm-ups.
Griff has said, several times, "just stop the warm up where it gets too frustrating and move on to the other lessons within the course", but I'm a slow listener/learner. and I seldom do what's best for me.
It's great for working on hammer-ons and pull offs too.

 

[Paleo]

As per the introduction, the objectives are technique, timing and seeing the shapes, not learning some warm-up exercises.

There will be no scale theory.

Griff doesn't discuss scale formula, scale degrees or even the names of the notes you're actually playing.

It's all about getting the patterns into you're brain and fingers and keeping in time.

And in the meantime training your ear.

This is one of my top 5 favorite courses.

It will pretty much force you to count.


You'll be playing Boxes from lowest note to highest and back.

For exercises in learning to play scales within the Boxes from a root note, I would suggest the introductory lessons in "Slow Blues Supplement".

 

[Paleo]

Please keep in mind that the warm-up’s are “generic” dexterity exercises to get your fingers limbered up.

You will encounter some of them in other of Griff’s courses/lessons/blog videos as well as instruction by other teachers.

They are not pentatonic scale exercises.

Use some you like or skip them altogether.

I can’t see letting them be a source of frustration or making them a course “stopper”.

They are in no way a prerequisite to the “main course”.

Jump ahead to the “Timing” section if you need to and then get on with “The 5 Box Patterns”.

 

[Jami]

I can’t see letting them be a source of frustration or making them a course “stopper”

Pretty much everything is new so when I'm learning it, there's typically a point of frustration! Looking for various sources of frustration to pull from for now lol.

 

[Griff]

With your more traditional background, the Pentatonic Scale & Technique Mastery is probably exactly what you're looking for. I, too, grew up on books of etudes and scale studies from classical guitar, so I understand that.

Many folks HATE doing that kind of thing, so I also have Blues Speed Building Blocks which is also speed and technique driven, but using "real world" examples. BSBB is all swing feel (triplet subdivisions of the beat) while Classic Rock Speed Builders are straight feel exercises.

PSTM is basically my own personal practice routine growing up, so we know it works

 

[Jami]

With your more traditional background, the Pentatonic Scale & Technique Mastery is probably exactly what you're looking for. I, too, grew up on books of etudes and scale studies from classical guitar, so I understand that.

Many folks HATE doing that kind of thing, so I also have Blues Speed Building Blocks which is also speed and technique driven, but using "real world" examples. BSBB is all swing feel (triplet subdivisions of the beat) while Classic Rock Speed Builders are straight feel exercises.

PSTM is basically my own personal practice routine growing up, so we know it works

I worked on PSTM today, and it is what I was looking for! I'll look at the other classes too. Drills to get my hands moving in simple patterns is helpful and less mentally taxing (but of course still challenging).

 

[Jami]

Thanks for recommending that class Paleo!

 

[Paleo]

I worked on PSTM today, and it is what I was looking for!

 

[Paleo]

Thanks for recommending that class Paleo!

The credit goes to the guy who wrote the course.

I’m just here to pay it forward.