Metronome

Learn How To Play Guitar Software

This is one of my favourite guitar related software programs I have on my computer that I use regularly.

Metronome

Using a metronome is one of the best ways to practice scales. Regular scale practice with the metronome will improve your scale knowledge, speed, timing, improvisation skills, finger strength, and dexterity. Start off at a slow speed and gradually increase the speed as you improve.
The free one I use is quite a few years old but more than adequate. The speed can be adjusted from 40 BPM to 208 BPM and the beats can be multiplied by one, two, or four.

Download it here:

etMetro

Here's one simple exercise using the G Minor Pentatonic scale. Start off with the metronome set to 60 BPM to start off. Using quarter notes, this is one note a second. Play this repeatedly until you are comfortable with it and then increase the speed of the metronome. At 120 BPM, you're playing two notes a second. At 180 BPM, three notes a second. And 240 BPM, four notes a second.

 

G Minor Pentatonic Scale

This next exercise uses the A Minor Pentatonic scale. With eighth notes, it will be twice as fast as the previous exercise and you will be playing two notes a second at 60 BPM. Do the same as before, practice it over and over until you can do it without making any mistakes and increase the speed of the metronome.

A Minor Pentatonic Scale

We're now using sixteenth notes and the C Minor Pentatonic scale. This is again twice as fast as the previous example. You're playing four notes each beat or sixteen notes each bar. At 60 BPM, you're playing four notes a second and might be too fast for you to play comfortably. If this is the case, slow down the metronome and start off at a speed you can manage.

C Minor Pentatonic Scale

 This final example uses the B Minor Pentatonic scale and triplets, or three notes a beat.

B Minor Pentatonic Scale

The tab diagrams are screenshots from Power Tab Editor and can be downloaded from Power Tab Editor Website.