Scales Scales Scales (Part 1)
(09 Feb 04)
Adding another string
Let's start by adding another string. Say, you wanna play a c major scale on the b- and high e-string only, three notes per string, starting on C (1st fret, B-string). So you start on C, and play the next two notes on the B-string also (D and E, 3rd and 5th fret), then you skip to the e-string, play the next note of the scale (F), and play the next two notes (G and A) as well (3rd and 5th fret). Go back to the B-string, start on the next note (the first one you started on was C, so now it's D), and go on like that.
If you play through this a few times, I think you'll start to notice seeing some "patterns" in there... patterns that keep repeating. Let's check that out by moving along the cycle of fifths, which gets us to G major next.
So let's play the G major scale on those two strings next, again starting on C…
Do you see the re-occuring patterns? We start on the C, then we have two wholetone-steps next. Next, we're playing the F# (up another whole tone step) on the e-string, then we have a half tone step etc. So, this is the same "pattern" that occurred in the previous example once we reached the F on the B-string… F-G-A (2 WTS) on the B-string, then B-C-D (1 HTS, 1 WTS) on the e-string…
You should be able to play a run like that in each key, either by actually thinking about the notes, or by thinking in those patterns. Actually, the latter method might be a bit faster.
Exercise: Play this kinda sequence or run up and down the neck in at least three different keys
What's next?
How about NOT adding one string, but instead, skipping one?!?
Key of G Major, starting on G, utilizing the G and high e-String:
Note that you could also have played the E as the first note on the high E-string, instead of F# (2nd fret). I just liked it better that way. Try different combinations.
Also, I hope you have figured out that you're supposed to play along the whole neck. My examples stop after two measures, but that is just because the main purpose is to show you the pattern or general idea. It's up to you to move this along the whole neck.
Now, let's add the B-string again… so we're combining exercises 6 and 7…
Exercise: Do this exercise in at least 3 different keys
Now please remember that you're not supposed to go through this in one day. Or expect to be able to play all notes of any key all over the neck after doing these exercises for a few hours. It takes time to figure this out, memorize it etc.
So take your time, and let these scale-exercises be only one part of your daily practicing schedule.
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