The Complete Scale & Arpeggio System

Skill Building Guitar Course from Lance Ruby

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When approaching lead guitar, soloing and melody creation, key components are necessary to have under your fingers. These include scales and arpeggios, as well as theoretical and practical knowledge of the fretboard. Lance Ruby takes these core concepts and techniques and transforms them into an easy to follow system to jump start your lead playing.

25 Lessons

Complete course with step-by-step lessons and practice examples.

Multi-Camera

Course filmed with 6 cameras for the perfect angles.

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Full Course Breakdown

Lance Ruby will discuss, demonstrate and coach you on the basic core tenants of lead playing. He'll impart knowledge on scale shapes, arpeggios shapes, modal theory and practical application of playing through changes.

Begin the Course
1

The Complete Scale & Arpeggio System Introduction

Lance Ruby will kick off this series by introducing and discussing his scale and arpeggio system. This series is designed to give you a familiarity with the fretboard from a scale and arpeggio standpoint so that you can begin the transformation of that knowledge in to playing lead guitar.

2:50 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

2

Box 1 and Box 2

Let's get started with the primary tools that you'll use for this course: Box #1 and Box #2. In this lesson, Lance will introduce you to his scale and arpeggio system.

31:45 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

3

The Rules of Combining

There are specific rules to the ways Box #1 and Box #2 can be combined. Here, Lance will cover the rules of the combinations going forward.

30:50 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

4

Getting it Under Our Fingers: Intervals

Intervals are just one of the ways to commit Lance's system to memory. In this lesson, Lance will discuss intervals as well as some useful tools for implementing his system into our improvisations.

32:02 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

5

Getting it Under our Fingers: Groupings

Another very useful method of memorizing and utilizing this system is via grouping. Next, Lance will discuss grouping and how to apply this technique to the box system.

32:53 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

View this Lesson
6

Practical Use for the Box Patterns

Let's shift our focus to improvisation. In this lesson, Lance will discuss the use of melody and phrasing in coordination with his system to improvise on the fly.

12:09 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

7

Introduction to Modes

Modes. We've all heard the word and cringed at the confusion that it entails. Here, Lance will discuss the history and origination of the modes while preparing us to tackle each mode individually.

9:58 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

8

The Dorian Mode

In this lesson, Lance will give us a full breakdown of the Dorian Mode and how to apply it to his box system.

42:33 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

9

The Phrygian Mode

Let's continue our deep dive into the modes with the Phrygian Mode.

27:16 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

10

The Lydian Mode

Now it's time to continue our modal journey with the Lydian Mode.

26:19 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

11

The Mixolydian Mode

Moving right along, now let's tackle the Mixolydian Mode.

26:25 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

12

The Aeolian Mode

Time to cover one of the most popular modes - Aeolian, which is also known as the Natural Minor or Minor Scale.

27:33 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

13

The Locrian Mode

Let's close out our section on modes with the ever-challenging Locrian Mode.

27:54 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

14

Connecting With One String

Finally, a system to unlock the fretboard! In this lesson, Lance will discuss combining his box system with single-string scales in order to unlock the full fretboard horizontally and vertically.

16:30 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

15

Major 3 Note Arpeggios

Let's shift gears to arpeggios. Here, Lance will discuss the difference between arpeggios and triads, as well as how to apply his box system to this incredibly useful improvisational tool.

21:56 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

16

Minor 3 Note Arpeggios

Now let's look at those three note major arpeggio shapes and make the minor.

20:07 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

17

Major 4 Note Arpeggios

Now, we're transitioning to four note arpeggio shapes. We'll start with major.

22:21 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

18

Minor 4 Note Arpeggios

Now that you have your major 4 note arpeggios under your fingers, it's time to make those minor.

19:14 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

19

Dominant 4 Note Arpeggios

Alright, it's now time to learn the Dominant 4 note arpeggios across the fretboard.

18:48 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

20

Playing the Changes - Blues

In this lesson, Lance discusses what it means to "play the changes" and gives you some ideas on how to start doing so.

19:24 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

21

Playing Through the Changes - Blues

Now that you have an idea about what playing the changes constitutes, lets start talking about how to play through those changes as they happen.

11:39 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

22

Playing the Changes 2-5-1

Just like we did with the Blues changes study, we'll now break down the changes for the classic 2-5-1 turnaround. You'll start by learning the changes, then in the next lesson you'll play through them.

12:52 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

23

Playing Through the Changes 2-5-1

Now that you've got a good idea about the changes occurring in the 2-5-1 turnaround, it's time to apply them musically and play through those changes.

14:10 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

24

Connecting Arpeggio Scales

At this point you should have a working knowledge of modal scales, arpeggio patterns and how changes are played. Now you'll take that knowledge and connect arpeggio scales across the fretboard.

20:23 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

25

Getting the Most Out of This System

To close out this lesson series, Lance discusses and demonstrates some of the key concepts and takeaways, as well as what you should continue to do to get the most from the system.

15:54 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

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Lance Ruby

126
  • Playing since 2000
  • 159 lessons at JamPlay
Begin Course
Guitarist and educator Lance Ruby recently opened his teaching studio in Fort Collins, Colorado after earning his Masters of Jazz Studies from the University of Northern Colorado studying with Steve Kovalcheck. A Utah native, Lance completed his Bachelor’s degree in Guitar Performance from Utah State University studying with Corey Christiansen.

Guitarist and educator Lance Ruby recently opened his teaching studio in Fort Collins, Colorado after earning his Masters of Jazz Studies from the University of Northern Colorado studying with Steve Kovalcheck. A Utah native, Lance completed his Bachelor’s degree in Guitar Performance from Utah State University studying with Corey Christiansen. While in Utah, Lance co-founded the soul/funk band Danger 5 and has continued in this project with lead singer Dani Armour. Since moving to Colorado, he joined the Fort Collins based blues fusion band, Musketeer Gripweed. He is a member of the New Orleans funk group Crescent City Connection. Lance has toured with the Randy Burghardt Band, along with Jackson Taylor and the Sinners.
Reviews & Feedback 94/100 with 130 ratings
silvamatCAM

Been looking for a course like this for a while! My fingers hurt but it feels great!

Hatis12

I liked the teacher, easy to understand.

MasterShredder12

from the lessons ive completed thet are easy to follow. Also like the ideas of having practice sessions

haliskig

Good to point out that one needs to know the notes.

goldtone11

Great topic and teacher. Lessons are easy to understand.

Docrx

If you execute the lesson you will learn a baseline that is solid. I have to force my self to stay focused to get through the sheet without noodling, however I keep coming back to this. I will master it, thanks

rdelgado5883

Lance is a very good teacher. congratulations.

Artmasterz

ll V l is what I am currently learning, this is just what I need. Looking forward to this journey.

sarahlallen22

perfect course for me - exactly what i was looking for!!

thufendick

Really good overview of modes

Brabander

This course shows how to use your fretboard and gives tools to really learn the arpeggio's.

tbryan1011

This guy is exceptional!!! Excellent information and teaching ability. Well explained and clear and concise!

Laknight

Well thought out, starts basic then goes into Jazz. Lots to digest here, well done!

Monoseptic

ya. this dude rocks. i tried the metal section and this dude is a much better instructor.