Digital Patterns??

[toneuc]

Hello All,

I've been working with my instructor on the classic "Autumn Leaves", and he mentioned something about digital patterns. The problem is, is that it must have blown over my head. Can someone please explain what Digital Patterns are, and what there purpose is.

Help!!!!! Thanks

[Ironderby]

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/shop_i...amo--large.jpg

urban camoflauge, at least thats what i think it is

[bassybill]

Is he using the term "digital" with reference to fingers?

[Russell L]

I haven't heard the term myself. I assumed it had something to do with showing you patterns on a computer screen.

(Autumn Leaves is one of my favorite tunes. When we call it up we usually say, "All Them Leaves" LOL).

[tekdiver500ft]

He's talking about using patterns to play songs/scales, rather than thinking about notes. This is a digital (finger) pattern. If you learn a pattern, it is quicker and easier to move it around on the fretboard than it is to try to learn what notes are what.

I'm not explaining it really well, but I hope it's understandable.

[MalcolmAmos]

Not sure if this is what he has in mind. Offered for what it is worth. See that diminished chord and your digital pattern will be:
R-b3-b5-b7

Major Scale Box. 

G|---2---|-------|---3---|---4---| 1st string
D|---6---|-------|---7---|---8---|
A|---3---|---4---|-------|---5---|
E|-------|---R---|-------|---2---|4th string

Basic Chords
Major Triad = R-3-5
Minor Triad = R-b3-5
Diminished Chord = R-b3-b5

7th Chords
Maj7 = R-3-5-7
Minor 7 = R-b3-5-b7
Dominant 7 = R-3-5-b7
½ diminished = R-b3-b5-b7
Full diminished = R-b3-b5-bb7

Scales
Major Scale = R-2-3-4-5-6-7
Major Pentatonic = R-2-3-5-6
Natural Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7
Minor Pentatonic = R-b3-4-5-b7
Blues = R-b3-4-b5-5-b7
Harmonic Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-b6-7
Melodic Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-6-7

Major modes
Ionian same as the Major Scale.
Lydian use the major scale and sharp the 4 - yes, it’s that simple.
Mixolydian use the major scale and flat the 7.

Minor Modes
Aeolian same as the Natural Minor scale.
Dorian use the Natural Minor scale and sharp the b6 back to a natural 6.
Phrygian use the Natural Minor scale and flat the 2.
Locrian use the Natural Minor scale and flat the 2 and the 5.

Generic Notes.
The root, five and eight are generic and fit most any chord. Remember the diminished has a flatted 5.
The 3 is generic to all major chords. See a major chord R-3-5-8 is a generic bass line that will work.
The b3 is generic to all minor chords. See a minor chord R-b3-5-8 is a generic bass line that will work.
The 7 is generic to all maj7 chords. R-3-5-7.
The b7 is generic to all dominant seventh and minor seventh chords. R-3-5-b7 or R-b3-5-b7.
The 6 is neutral and adds color, help yourself to 6’s. I like R-3-5-6 for major chords. Has a great sound.
The 2 and 4 make good passing notes. Don’t linger on them or stop on them, keep them passing.
In making your bass line help yourself to those notes, just use them correctly.
Remember roots, fives, eights and the correct 3 will play a lot of bass.

[tekdiver500ft]

Thanks, Malcolm. That's exactly what I was talking about.

[Intenzity]

Hmm, you should ask him what he means because there is another common use of the term "digital patterns" that comes from using the same notes over each chord as it goes by in a song.

So its NOT fingering positions, it is patterns of notes, and the fingering could be anything.

Yes, we play a VERY pattern-y instrument, but that is just coincidence, the digital patterns when talked about in regards to players like Coltrane are different.

It means you play the same group of notes relative to each chord of the song.

The classic example is that when Coltrane played "Giant Steps" he play the root, the second, the third and the fifth of each chord as it went by.

So if you had a progression like:

A min7 : E min7 : D min7 : G7 : C major

and you wanted to play a pattern on the minor chords that was the Root, the third, the fourth and the fifth you would play those same notes for each chord as it went by:


A min 7: A C D G (R, 3, 4, 5 of A)
E min 7: E G A B ( R, 3, 4, 5 of E)
D min 7: D F G A etc etc

So on our instrument, yes, it also happens to be a finger pattern that stays the same, but for other instruments like piano, trumpet, and saxophone it is not necessarily the same fingering or pattern every time. Because our instrument is a grid, it just happens to always be the same.

There is a LOT of material about this concept on the internet, and there are entire series of books about it this exact idea by guys like Jerry Bergonzi, Gary Campbell, Joe Doria, Raymond Richer, David Baker....lots and lots of guys have written extensively about this subject.

Check out these links also:

1. http://www.adamrobertsmusic.com/2011...y-giant-steps/
   
2. Dialogue | John Coltrane Example 4 has a different pattern Root, b3, 3,5.
   

And, oh yea -

Basso Ridiculoso: Bergonzi

Those all involve some kind of formula/digital pattern kind of playing techniques.