Don't you have to learn the scales when you first start to play the electric guitar?

Question

Don't you have to learn the scales when you first start to play the electric guitar?

Answer 1

You don't have to. Many people, myself included, learned some chords and songs first to build up their basic skills - keeping time, finger strength and so on - before moving on to scales. In my opinion, developing those basic skills first will make for a much easier time when moving on to scales and understanding how to use them.

But, honestly, the best way to learn is to tackle the things that interest you; there's no one right way to do it.