Connect Patterns 1-4 With One String

• How to “sew” together major scale patterns 1, 2, 3, and 4 to create one movable “block” of all the right notes so you can solo, improvise, and jam across a wide range of the fretboard
• How to “slide” this connected “block” of scales up and down the neck so you can play in any key across a wide range of the fretboard

(video)

Do This → Action Steps ↓

1. Watch the video to discover how to connect major scale patterns 1, 2, 3 and 4 using the one string scale on the low G string (the fattest string) as your “guide” to tell you where each of the scale patterns “start”. You may want to watch this video a couple of times so that it “clicks” in your head what we’re doing BEFORE you pick up your mandolin and try to play anything.
2. Start on the 1st fret on the low G string (G#/Ab note), and play the first FOUR numbers of a one string scale along the G string. Count the numbers out loud as you play them. These numbers show you where each of the major scale patterns start. Pattern 1 starts on note 1 of the one string scale. Pattern 2 starts on note 2 of the one string scale. Pattern 3 starts on note 3 of the one string scale. Pattern 4 starts on note 4 of the one string scale.
3. Starting on the appropriate note for each pattern, start on note 1 and play pattern 1 “up and down”. Then, slide your FIRST FINGER up to note 2 (of the one string scale) and play pattern 2 “up and down”. Then slide your FIRST FINGER up to note 3 (of the one string scale) and play pattern 3 “up and down”. Then slide your FIRST FINGER up to note 4 (of the one string scale), and play pattern 4 “up and down”. Practice playing each of the patterns, one after the other, starting each pattern from the correct starting note until you feel reasonably comfortable playing all 4 patterns connected together according to the one string scale. It’s important to note that when you connect the major scale patterns by using the one string scale as a guide, all of the major scale patterns will be in the same key. This means all the notes in all the patterns will sound “good” together. That’s why we connect the major scale patterns together in this way.
4. Repeat steps 2-3, but for the keys of A major, B major, and C major. This means you will start your one string scale on each respective “keynote” (one at a time). For each keynote, you will first play the first four notes of the one string scale to see where to start each one of your scale patterns. Then, play each pattern, one at a time, starting on the correct note of the one string scale. When you can play all 4 patterns reasonably well for EACH of the keys listed in step 4 (more keys are recommended), move on to the next lesson.