Play More Fluently With Scale Sequences

• How to use Major Scale pattern 1 to play a “scale sequence” (a particular order of scale notes) so you can build more dexterity, increase your finger flexibility, and get your brain thinking differently about the “order” of notes you can play in your soloing and improvising.

(video)

Do This → Action Steps ↓

1. Watch the entire video to get an overview of how scale sequences work, and an understanding of the specific scale sequence you’ll be playing in this lesson.
2. Use Major Scale pattern 1 to practice playing the scale sequence SLOWLY in ascending order (starting with the lowest sounding note, and playing “up” (in pitch) toward the higher notes). When you reach the highest note in Major Scale pattern 1 do NOT reverse your direction and play in “descending order” (coming down in pitch). Instead, start over again at the LOWEST sounding note, and play in ascending order again. Do NOT move on to step 3 until you are comfortable with step 2. Your goal is to be able to play this scale sequence reasonably comfortably (and with a consistent rhythm) in ascending order. The pattern of notes you will be playing for this scale sequence goes like this: 1234, 2345, 3456, 4567… and so on until you run out of notes (at the “highest pitch” note in Major Scale pattern 1).
3. Repeat step 2, but practice playing the scale sequence in reverse order (as shown in the video) – starting with the “highest pitch” note in Major Scale pattern 1, and playing in “descending order” (coming down in pitch) until you reach the “lowest pitch” note in Major Scale Pattern 1. Remember to play SLOWLY AND WITH A CONSISTENT RHYTHM. Do NOT try to play fast – you will only be holding yourself back.
4. Your goal for this lesson is to be able to play the scale sequence shown in the video – slowly and with a consistent rhythm – both in “ascending order” (going up in pitch) until you reach the highest pitch note in Major Scale Pattern 1, and then in reverse, “descending order” (coming down in pitch) until you reach the lowest pitch note in Major Scale Pattern 1. When you are reasonably comfortable with this step (it doesn’t have to be perfect, just close enough – you can always come back later) then move on to the next lesson.