Violinists go through an extensive period of oractice. More so than todays guitar player and even since the dawn of tab.

Violinists HAVE to read music. Guitar players Do Not. Violinists MUST use their ear.

For guitarists, its an option.

Although the better you will be at writing music, we guitar players dont read or write like Violin players do.

An arpeggio for a violin player looks like sheet music, because it is.

An arpeggio for a guitar player on the other hand, has a ton of video and tab examples.

This is damaging in some ways to guitar players so lets focus and hone in on what some Violinists do for practice and you might see what I see.

A long time ago, in a music shop near me, I was working as a helper. I was completely miserable because the guy above me was miserable and sent a vicious vibe throughout the shop.

The shop owner is an incredible violinist and teacher but the guy who was supervising us was a real prick. He did have perfect pitch though, so I had respect for him. “What note was just played by that kid over there on the piano?” someone said. He replied…”G#!” The guy knew his stuff.

He also had classical music playing at all times. I love classical music so that made it a little easier. He was also a conductor and in retrospect I probably could’ve learned a lot more from him than I did but it is what it is.

Im convinced that I wasnt there for any of the tasks that I was put to do. I did, however, benefit from this shop immensely.

It was this book sitting underneath the main set of books tucked into a cubby hole that changed my perspective on practice.

My eye caught the bold, royal blue cover. I was always on the lookout for new books that could take my playing to the next level. This one changed everything for me.

These days I believe in 2 things.

Actual musical pieces aka songs and number 2, the book I am about to present to you.

Its a book on scales and its called “Scale System” by Carl Flesch. Scale Exercises in All Major and Minor Keys for Daily Study.

It was written for violinists.

This guy was convinced that daily study in a different key would benefit the violinist greatly.

So convinced, in fact that he wrote a book about it.

At first he wrote it in one key and told students to practice the other keys but they didn’t do it so he wrote every key out.

It took me a long while to read and get through one key. Honestly. There is no tablature. Its sheet music all the way through.

What I found though, was that my playing, creativity and confidence…skyrocketed.

It goes through all 24 keys and Inspired my first book “Chord Progression Mastery.”

I am forever grateful to this book for increasing my technical abilities, the sales of my book and the fun I have practicing these days.

I will say this.

Its TOUGH.

It can be overwhelming.

It will frustrate you.

That being said, if you can get past the pain, you will see a new you on the guitar.

You will be playing things in new ways. You will be playing things you’ve never played before and you will probably play better than you ever have before.

It not only includes scales, but a thorough run thru of an entire key in 3 different octaves!

Its not just scales either. Its scales like you probably havent played them before.

Some arpeggios are included. Diad scales, and sixth scales. 3 Octave chromatic scales etc..

Theres even a section on octave chords and chords in the key.

Finally there is a harmonics section.

Now Imagine the possibilities for the guitar, going through these exercises in straight guitar fashion!

You could reach a level of technical virtuosity you never thought you could reach.

Havent you played your scales mindlessly, time and again, only to feel like you are not progressing?

Well, that wont happen here!

2 things I want to say:

This is not for you if you want to learn the guitar casually and play some covers of your favorite bands, although it woukdnt hurt you to try at least some of these exercises for yourself.

Secondly, If your goal is not technical virtuosity or to create original music, then this will bore the hell out of you.

If you want technical vurtuosity, come along on this ride and see for yourself!

I’ve created my own version for guitar by adding modes, pent shapes, single string runs, diminshed scale runs, chords, sweeps and riffs to make it even more fun and challenging.

I do however stress that in order to get through an entire key, sticking to the fundamentals or a few of these things is best, because you WILL run out of time!

My Own Version

Ive since modified it to my liking with the fundamentals still in place.

Heres the breakdown:

Each day you study a key. In each key you will start off with a 1 sale octave pattern, several arpeggios with chord extensions, the diminished 7th arpeggio, a dominant arpeggio that leads into the fourth chord of that key, diads, runs through the chromatic scale and then finally move into the next octave. Until you run out of frets.

I added the following to this routine:

The modes – natural, harmonic and melodic for minor keys.

The Octatonic scale

The Wholetone scale

Sweep picking the entire key on several string pairs.

Single string work.

Bends, vibrato, pinch harmonics, prebends, releases etc..

Create a Melody

Create a riff

I highly suggest you record yourself practicing.

You can do it on your phone or on your desktop or your tablet or your laptop. I guarantee you that you’ll find ideas hear that you will love. You will also hear yourself playing and you will get an honest look at where you are with your technique.

Keep in mind that I live to compose original music. If you are not into doing this, or if you are not interested in mastering your instrument, then this may not be for you.

You will, however, increase your technical ability tenfold.

Imagine if you were taking guitar lessons from your teacher and he told you to do all of these exercises for the next 24 days.

Most of us wouldn’t be able to do this for different reasons. Most of us, on the other hand could benefit immensely from such rigid practice.

Either way, if its to be, its up to you.

You are RESPONSIBLE now for the rest of your guitar playing life for getting in a good regimen.

No one else is responsible or has to hold you accountable.

Its YOU that has to do it.

Options:

You could simply practice in one key a certain aspect of your playing for the next 24 days.

You can take what you like and throw out the rest.

You can do the whole entire thing and dedicate yourself to becoming the best guitar player you could ever become.

Those are your 3 options.

Commit.

Persevere.

Be ferocious and determined.

You’ll come out feeling like a King.

How to get started:

Start out with C then move to the relative minor and then up in 4ths to F and so on, moving up in fourths until you hit all keys.

Then start over.

You can do it whichever way you choose, just make sure you stick to it. I started off with F# Major and then on Day 2 I did Eb Minor – the Relative Minor. 22 days to go for me. So next for me is B Major and then G# minor and so on.

***Minor keys – Work all 3-4 forms of the scale. Natural, harmonic, melodic, Hungarian.***

Thats 21 modes. 28 if you know your Hungarian Minor modes.

If you do not know something, learn it.

You do not have to be an expert in all of these areas for you to go through with these 24 days of exercises.

The ultimate goal is for you to do this every day for the rest of your life whether it be for a few minutes or an hour or even longer if you’re a professional player.

Below is an example of the music containing exercises in one octave. An improvisation in the key of F# Major, Ebm and B Major are here as well.

Ive reduced CPM to 5 bucks. Get it today. Chord progressions in every key. Study with me and you’ll be able to play whatever you want in any key, anytime, any day, any mood or emotion you want to portray will be at your fingertips.

https://soundcloud.com/mike-socarras/b-lydian-f-major

https://soundcloud.com/mike-socarras/eb-minor

https://soundcloud.com/mike-socarras/b-major

Breakdown:

First octave to be performed then the 2nd and then the 3rd. Don’t do all 3 in one. Do all the exercises in the 1st octave and then go again in the 2nd and 3rd.

Scale

Arpeggios

Modes

Bends and Releases of Entire Scale

Arpeggio Scale

Octave Chords

Circle of 4ths Power Chords

Pinch harmonics

Melody

Riff

Composition or Improvisation (Optional but recommended)

Now go and kick some ass!