• Do you feel overwhelmed by the amount scales there are to learn? 
• Do you struggle with using scales musically?
• Do you see scales as neck-board patterns not musical notes?
• Do you struggle with moving to different positions of the fret board?
• Do you struggle with applying scales to real-life playing situations?

Learning scales from a book on your own can be a real drag. Practicing them can be quit dreary and boring.  But today we are going to look at Guitar Scale Mastery by Craig Bassett.

Craig Bassett says “you can learn scales at such a deep level, that they’ll “become a part of you”, you’ll be able to use them without thought, that you’ll be able to improvise no matter where you are on the fret board, and that you’ll be much more confident as an improvising guitarist.” That’s a pretty hefty statement.

We had the opportunity to go through Guitar Scale Mastery and here is what we found.

Guitar Scale Mastery offers a blueprint for those wanting to learn how to play the guitar. There are some basic steps offered before you even get started. The first step that Craig Bassett says is the most important step before beginning is to set your goals. He instructs you to make a commitment to the website to learn. He also informs the student to think about any questions that he or she may have about scales and to think about what they actually want to do with the scales. Craig also mentions thinking about the scales that you most want to master. He recommends devoting at least thirty minutes with this first step.

Bassett also requests that you fill out a survey to see if online learning is right for you. He then requires the reader to read the lessons. The lessons consist of Understanding the Musical Alphabet, Understanding Sharps and Flats as well as lesson 1 and 2 of Understanding the Major Scale, then reading lessons 1,2 and 3 of Understanding Scale Degrees. Even if you understand the information already, he asks that everyone read the lessons.

The next set of instructions tells you to read the practice techniques that will help you absorb what you are learning from Guitar Scale Master. There are five references to read that cover the big picture technique, super slow practice technique, the chunking technique, five-minute practice technique and the visualization technique. The readings are simple to understand and absorb.

The next step that Bassett requires is that you learn the system. This step will teach you how to learn the scales the same way that the author did. In order for you to learn the scales, he has you practicing on one scale. Craig feels this is the best way to learn and master the scales. Guitar Scale Mastery takes skill. Without the proper techniques for learning, it is a hit and miss he feels.

He has made a downloadable checklist that will help the student absorb the system. Bassett feels that once someone masters the first scale, the rest will follow easily. The sixth step is effectively applying the system to the next scale. He feels you should master one scale at a time. Therefore, Craig recommends choosing another scale, any scale and applying the same techniques you used to learn the first scale to learn the second scale.

He does say that if you are unfamiliar with the C major scale, this should be your first step before moving on. More lessons will be added over time, but for right now the seven lessons that Craig Bassett have available can work for learning scales.

The lesson for Understanding the Musical Alphabet is rather easy to understand and absorb. He has very detailed pictures of the fret broad. This part of the lesson plan is detailed. It will contribute to learning the musical alphabet. It might take time, but this where your concentration is tested.

Guitar Scale Mastery includes Understanding Sharps and Flats. The diagram that Craig displays for learning this lesson are detailed with one diagram for flats and one for sharps. Both diagrams show the natural notes in comparison to the flats and sharps.

Lesson 1 of Understanding the Major Scale is the most important scale to learn. Without understanding this lesson, you will not move forward. Craig gives the formula for whole step and half step on the fret broad. The diagram is detailed with an observation chart that you need to understand. You will then download a worksheet to do. If you understand what you have learned, the worksheet will not be confusing at all. Lesson 2 examines more about the scales, but also gives you some examples of what different names are for different scales.

Understanding Scale Degrees is broken down into three lessons. Lesson 1 explains what scale degrees are and how you can easily understand them. Craig uses diagrams throughout this lesson as he explains the different degrees of scales. There is handout to test for what you have learned before moving onto lesson 2. Lesson 2 goes onto explain and refresh what you have learned so far. The diagrams and explanations do make learning the scale degrees easier.

In lesson 3, which is the final lesson, you will see diagrams and learn the benefits of understanding the scales. After these lessons, you should have a good understanding about scales and have them memorized without hesitation.

Craig Bassett has delivered a well-written tutorial for learning the scales for playing the guitar. Someone with knowledge about guitars or how to play them will learn everything there is to understanding the different scales.