scale practice

muzixum · #1 12-15-2010, 03:03 PM

how should i practice my scales. i am learning off some major 7th, but their getting boring after some time. right now i' going up to the 9th and back down 2nd , up to 10th down 3rd etc. also using it to learn my fret board. Any suggestions. thanx

BigDaddyLoveHandles · #2 12-15-2010, 03:36 PM

With arpeggios, once you master the basics, you should put on a tune like All the Things You Are, and play arpeggios over the changes. I guess you can do the same with scales.

randalljazz · #3 12-15-2010, 04:34 PM

alternating 3rds are good:

1-3-2-4-3-5-4-6-5-7-6-1-7-2-1

descending:

1-6-7-5-6-4-5-3-4-2-3-1-2-7-1

also:

1-2-3, 2-3-4, 3-4-5 etc, and descend

1-2-3-4, 2-3-4-5, etc, and descend

by triads:

1-3-5, 2-4-6, 3-5-7, etc, and descend

VERY IMPORTANT--learn to do all patterns beginning at the top and descending first. more difficult than it should be until it becomes habit.

ALSO, improvise little melodies within the scale as well, in addition to running patterns. then do all these things over the chord progressions of tunes (start simple, like autumn leaves, so what, basic blues, etc).

ksjazzguitar · #4 12-15-2010, 07:49 PM

This is the advice I gave in an earlier thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksjazzguitar

I assuming you're tried sequences too? Playing through the scales with repeating patterns?

So the notes played for the "threes" below, in the C major scale would be: C D E, D E F, E F G, etc.

The most common are:

"threes" - 1 2 3, 2 3 4, 3 4 5, etc.
"fours" - 1 2 3 4, 2 3 4 5, 3 4 5 6, etc.
"thirds" - 1 3, 2 4, 3 5, etc.

But of course you can keep it going up to fives, sixes, sevens, eights and forths, fifths, sixths, sevenths, octaves.

Another nice thing to do is quasi-arps, like:

"quasi-triads" - 1 3 5, 2 4 6, 3 5 7, etc.
"quasi-7ths" - 1 3 5 7, 2 4 6 8, 3 5 7 8, etc.

Do them all up and down.

One last thing I like to do is take the "thirds" and "quasi-triads" and precede them with a chromatic approach from 1 fret below. Remember, it is a chromatic step below even when coming down the scale.

And lastly, mix up the rhythms. Start the sequence off the beat. Or do a 4 notes sequence as triplets, shifting the accent around. Do a 3 note sequence as 16th notes. Mix it up.

That should keep you busy for a few years.

Peace,
Kevin

The other thing I like to do is what I call "ladders." You start out in a key (say F) and play it up and down in the first position, then slide up to the next position without stopping. You keep repeating this up and down until you get to the top then turn around and work your way down. I do this every day for my major, harm minor and mel minor. It's a great way to make sure that you keep these scales and their modes under your fingers. Once you get good at it, it goes quickly. Do it off a different tonic every day, but always start in the lowest possible, position.

Peace,
Kevin

jokron · #5 12-16-2010, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

With arpeggios, once you master the basics, you should put on a tune like All the Things You Are, and play arpeggios over the changes. I guess you can do the same with scales.

Well, if you do so, you actually play modes instead of scales. What's the difference? Well, a major scale contains 7 notes that you use in the seven modes belonging to that scale. You get different tonal centers and different 3rds and 7th depending on what mode you play.

If you play modes as Big DaddyLovesHandels suggests, try to:

1. play the for dorian mode over dm, mixolydian over G7 and so on just to listen to the colour of the chord/mode and learn to recognize it
2. pay attention to the character tones (listen for them!) i e the root, the 3rd and the 7th
3. connect the arpeggios and modes when they change so you play them up and down the neck, one after another, first in quarter notes and then i eight notes, listen to what notes wants to be played, i e leading notes around 3rds and 7ths
4. use chromatic tones to travel between notes

Don't practice scales, you'll never play them irl...and if you have to, don't play mechanical, make musik out of them...vary the rythm, mix quarter notes, triols, eight notes...

Jokron

muzixum · #6 12-16-2010, 12:06 PM

great suggestions! Busy 4 some yrs

thnx! well i'll get right at it no time to waste.

fep · #7 12-16-2010, 07:49 PM

Like you I tire of practicing the same old thing.

So, I make up exercises to work on an area where I can improve... like becoming fluent with melodic minor in all minor chord positions (another one would be, becoming fluent with the altered scale over all dominant chord positions).

I wrote up an example of how I've been practicing melodic minor lately:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us