Learn harmonic minor scale, Yngwie Malmsteen advises guitarists

Posted by Martyn Hopkins

Guitarists keen to progress as a musician may want to follow the advice of Yngwie Malmsteen and familiarise themselves with the harmonic minor scale.

Speaking to Music Radar, the Swedish artist notes that by doing so guitarists will be able to get new sounds out of their instrument and broaden their range.

Answering reader Robmk21's question on what guitar scales have influenced his style, Malmsteen claims that the melodic minor scale and the Phrygian mode have proved to be of assistance.

"There's simply more interesting choices of notes that will be available to you," he states, adding that those who opt for "kind of a straight blues pentatonic scale" are limiting their musical range.

Speaking to the publication last month, Linkin Park's Brad Delson revealed how spending hours practicing guitar every day had stood him in good stead for life as a professional musician, claiming that his instrument "has a familiarity on stage" where he does not have to concentrate too hard on what he is doing and instead just enjoy the performance.

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