Play Scale Circles with Patterns 1 & 2

This entry is part 12 of 24 in the series The Fundamental Mandolin Framework

How To Play Scale Circles with Major Scale Patterns 1 and 2

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Learn how to connect Major Scale Patterns 1 and 2. See how this helps you hit the right notes. Widen your fretboard range in any key.
Combine patterns 1 and 2 to show how they connect, and slide them to any key on the fretboard with ease.

(video)

Do This → Action Steps ↓

Watch the video to learn how to “connect” Major Scale Patterns 1 and 2 together. Hint: Pattern 2 starts on the SECOND NOTE of Pattern 1.
Move these connected patterns (1 and 2) to at least three different keys before you proceed. Pick a keynote. Start pattern 1 on that keynote. Play pattern 1 upward in pitch. Then play pattern 1 downward in pitch. Then slide your FIRST FINGER up two frets (on the low G string – the “fat string”) and play Pattern 2 all the way up and back down. Find another “keynote” and repeat this process for at least TWO more keys.
RE-WATCH the video section about how to play “scale circles”. Start with Pattern 1 and play the scale circle in the “clockwise” direction first: Start with Pattern 1, play “up” Pattern 1 (ascending), then, at the “highest” note in Pattern 1, slide your pinky “up” to the highest note in Pattern 2, then proceed to play Pattern 2 in reverse, from the highest note to the lowest note (descending order). Finally, when your FIRST FINGER reaches the “starting note” of Pattern 2, slide your first finger DOWN in pitch (away from your body) two frets, and re-start Pattern 1. Continue playing this scale circle in the “clockwise” direction until you are reasonably comfortable.
Repeat step 3 but play the scale circle in the “counterclockwise” direction. Starting with Pattern 2, play “up” pattern 2 (to the highest pitch), then slide your pinky DOWN the fretboard (away from your body) two frets and proceed to play Pattern 1 in reverse (descending in pitch). When you reach the lowest pitch in Pattern 1, slide your FIRST FINGER back to the starting fret of Pattern 2. Continue playing this scale circle until you’re reasonably comfortable. Then move on to the next lesson.