Guitar Scale Magnets offers inventive way to learn scales
(Dave Molter | Posted 2010-01-22)
Any dedicated musician knows that an intimate knowledge of scales in all keys is essential for fluid, unconventional improvisation. And while the "blues" scale may be second nature to many guitarists, there's a lot more to be learned if you want to venture into other genres of music. Now help is literally at (left) hand.
Guitar Scale Magnets is a finger positioning tool for learning and playing scales that attaches to the top side of the guitar’s neck adjacent to the fretboard, where fret marking dots (if the guitar has them)are. In essence, it is a “cheat sheet” learning tool for the guitar that allows the player to quickly locate where musical scale shapes begin on the guitar’s fretboard. The strips are learning tools geared towards beginner and intermediate guitarists and are meant to be used as "training wheels" to assist players where scale shapes begin.
“My products are meant to be utilized alone or in conjunction with music theory and any educational tools available to stimulate the individual’s creativity that music offers,” says Guitar Scale Magnetscreator Jason Ellestad. “Speaking from my own personal experiences when starting to learn scales and scale shapes, I wished there was a quick way to 'just show me where to go' so I could understand where these scale shapes occur on the fretboard and learn at my own pace.
"I also remembered when I felt I had mastered the A minor pentatonic scale, there was a rhythm jam track that I wanted to play along to that suggested to play the D minor pentatonic scale. I was lost on where to play these scale shapes throughout the fretboard — I felt limited on where I could play and ultimately I found myself not straying too far away from the box shape #1 and its vicinity. This frustration led to the birth of Guitar Scale Magnets. My hope is for wanna-be guitarists to quickly progress to the jam phase. To capture the enthusiasm that is there when you begin to learn the guitar and allow the player to quickly progress, therefore, leading to less burnout or worse abandonment of their interest in the instrument all together when frustration arises.”
Ellestad adds that his invention isn't meant to replace traditional methods of learning scales, but he hopes that they may lay the foundation for further exploration of music theory.
Scale strips are set up for guitars that have a neck scale length of 25.5”. Current product line includes:
• Pentatonic Scale Strips
$19.99 plus S&H
• Major Scale Strips
$19.99 plus S&H
• Learn the Fretboard & Tab Strips
$9.99 plus S&H
• The “Ultimate” package of all the above
$39.99 plus S&H
For more information on products and prices visit the website at www.guitarscalemagnets.com
