Scales on a 5 String

[Vomish]

Hi All

I have been favouring my 5 string and was wondering about scales. On my 4 string, I was taught to do scales 2 octaves using all 4 strings. Typically each of the low strings (E,A,D) would play 4 notes each and the last string (G) would play the final 3 notes. I like how the "4-notes-per-string" approach feels and forces you to use (and become familiar with) a large range of the neck.

This is easily carried over the 5 string but you always end up with an "extra" string. Adding that string into the fingering (2 octaves over all 5 strings) feels restricting as it only moves 6 frets. To expand this exercise the most obvious way (to me) was to play 3 octaves. I eventually found a comfortable fingering but I am curious how other 5 string players practice their scales. Do you do 2 or 3 octaves over all the strings? Where do you fret your notes?

I hope I'm not too confusing in my explanation!

Thanks,
Vomish

[ysand]

The good thing with a 5string is that you can practice all the modes and scales staring from Ionian (C), with 2 octaves per hand position.
I started on a 5 string and that helped me a lot.

[devilock76]

This may sound weird, but I use a 5 string typically to move my hand less. So when I practice my scales on it, I practice with that philosophy in mind.

Ken

[ba55i5t]

Originally Posted by ysand

The good thing with a 5string is that you can practice all the modes and scales staring from Ionian (C), with 2 octaves per hand position.
I started on a 5 string and that helped me a lot.

Good advice. I have a 6 string and when in standard 6 string tuning, I do 3 notes per string and finish at the 5th of the scale. If you have 5, I'd suggest doing 3 notes per string and ending at the 2nd octave.

IE

G---A--B-C
D---E-F--G
A---B-C--D
E--F--G--A
B--C--D--E

[thombo]

i've been using a 5 sting for about 10 years and have played with many, many different ways.
i think this is a good starting exercise to get use to the instrument"

play major scales is going through the cycle of 5ths
-play the following in 1/4 or 1/8 notes as one fluid scale using only fretted notes (no open strings)
***Start slow***
-starting with Gb major (your last scale will be Cb/C#), play the lowest root and ascend across the stings in the lowest possible position that you can-
Notes- Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb
Finger- 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4
-Now continue climbing the G string as high as you can go in that scale (this is based on the upright Simandl method) figure out fingering and shifts that work for you- try to be consistent though
-then decend the same way you went up (down the G, then across the strings)
-continue past the Gb on the E string, down to the open Cb, then back up to the Gb on the E
-next, move onto the Db major scale and do the same thing... then Ab... then Eb... etc.
-concentrate on on your fingerings, and try to stay in one position.
-on Db major, you will begin incorporating a to use a five fret stretch on the G string (Ab, Bb, C)
-On C major you will notice that your hand position moved up one fret... eventually, you will stay in this position.