268 - How to Jam Musically Using Just One Scale
In this episode, Paul Andrews digs deep into one of the most common questions beginner guitarists ask: “I know lots of scales, so why doesn’t my lead playing or improvisation sound musical?”
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by scales or are uncertain how to turn your knowledge into actual music, this episode is for you! Paul Andrews demonstrates how to sound more musical with only one scale and reveals why learning more scales isn’t the secret to great jamming.
Key Topics Covered
Jamming January & Practicethon
- Start your year strong with Beginner Guitar Academy’s January Practicethon! Practice daily, track your progress, and join a community aiming to improve together. There’s also a charitable side: help raise money for Jesse’s Fund, supporting children with complex needs through music.
Myth Busting: Paul Andrews addresses the myth that learning more scales alone will make you a better guitarist. Instead, it’s about how you use the scales you know.
The Power of Limitation
- Why sticking to just one scale (even a tiny section of it) can actually boost creativity, reduce overwhelm, and make your solos sound more intentional and musical.
The Four Must-Have Musical Elements for Great Jamming:
- Repetition: Create memorable hooks by repeating phrases.
- Space: Let the music breathe; don’t play constantly—leave room between notes.
- Rhythm: Change up the rhythmic feel of your phrases to add interest.
- Dynamics: Play with volume—soft, loud, or both—to add expression.
Hands-On Example:
- Paul Andrews gives a practical, step-by-step demonstration of how to jam with just three notes from the A minor pentatonic scale over a backing track—creating musical phrases using only repetition, space, rhythm, and dynamics. He encourages students to keep it simple, repeat phrases, and experiment before ever moving on to more notes or scale shapes.
Upcoming Events & Resources:
- There's a “First Steps Jam” happening live on Zoom for Beginner Guitar Academy members—perfect for those nervous to jam in public, as everyone will be muted!
- Backing tracks, scale diagrams, and a video of this episode are available on bgapodcast.com/268.
- Backing track used in the episode: https://youtu.be/bkMtp8vt6oE?si=n2G0fRXBNn5OCkJg
- A Minor Pentatonic Scale: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/n6drxfruuf2yg4n1qi11w/A-Minor-Pentatonic.pdf?rlkey=evq8t819h1m7ak22qtq3qcck0&e=1&dl=0
Action Steps
- Join the Practicethon: Sign up at bgapodcast.com/january to track your practice, get motivational emails, and be part of the challenge.
- Support Jesse’s Fund: Raise money with your own sponsorship page or donate directly at bgapodcast.com/charity.
- Practice Jamming: Use one part of a scale, focus on the four key elements, and try improvising over backing tracks for at least five minutes each session.
- Check Resources: For full lesson notes and backing tracks, visit bgapodcast.com/268.
Next Episode Preview
Next week, Paul Andrews will be discussing the different roles in a jam—how to know when to lead, support, or listen, even when practicing solo.
Remember:
You don’t need a ton of scales—just one used musically can take your lead playing to the next level. Practice, keep it simple, and have fun!
For show notes, resources, and bonus content, visit bgapodcast.com.
