learning scale patterns

[Polish Thunder]

Way back in the days before computers, YouTube, the Intenet, apps and such, we had things called paper and cardboard, and things to manipulate and mark them with, like pens, pencils, rulers, scissors, sellotape, etc. I used them to make this 'slide-rule' type of contraption that allowed me to move a vignette window over the pattern to display the various sections of the pattern and hhe name of the mode starting on the lowest note indicated. I came across it today whilst looking through some old stuff. I don't think I ever really used it for the intended purpose, but the process of designing and making it drove the idea home so far I never needed to.
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Back in the day of playing Blues Harmonica, I would sit down and transcribe a song by ear. First on records, then cassettes, then later CD's and MP3s. Since I was going note by note, bar by bar, listening over and over, then writing the tab down, by the time I was done with the song, I knew how to play it and then did not need the tabs I wrote out. I kept the tabs for future reference, but there is something to be said about writing it out to help you learn something.

 

[SteveCS]

Back in the day of playing Blues Harmonica, I would sit down and transcribe a song by ear. First on records, then cassettes, then later CD's and MP3s. Since I was going note by note, bar by bar, listening over and over, then writing the tab down, by the time I was done with the song, I knew how to play it and then did not need the tabs I wrote out. I kept the tabs for future reference, but there is something to be said about writing it out to help you learn something.

It's the most effective way I know...

 

[StatesideRambler]

My main point.

Your ”main point” is a half-quotation omitting the crux of his statement that by designing and making it he learned what he’d set out to learn:

I don't think I ever really used it for the intended purpose, but the process of designing and making it drove the idea home so far I never needed to.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

Your ”main point” is a half-quotation omitting the crux of his statement that by designing and making it he learned what he’d set out to learn:

Maybe, my learning scales started with singing those "patterns" and playing them on the piano.

 

[Luca Ragazzini]

Hi all. I've discovered just yesterday that MILLPAD concept and it blews my mind. I've tried to read all this thread and it seems that here i could find some help from you guys.

Now that i filled my theory gaps about modes, it comes the application problems.

The question is simple: how can i apply this to improvvisation?
With a given chord progression how can i apply this?

How this MILLPAD can enhance my improvvisation skills in order to give a different flavour from a standard pentatonic fills?

Thanks soo much

 

[mambo4]

The question is simple: how can i apply this to improvvisation?
With a given chord progression how can i apply this?

Sounds like you have the fingering down, now for the hard part.

Do you understand how to harmonize a scale, and functional ('roman numeral') harmony?
Modes are vastly less important than basic harmony and how scales relate to chords.
(the pdf linked in my signature has a good introduction)

You can google "Scale Syllabus" and get various charts of "what mode goes with what chord"
but that is not how experienced players approach modes

The real answer to applying modes is this:

1. memorize the sound of each mode
2. when you wish to hear that sound, use that mode

Your question also implies a common misunderstanding:
that improvising is just about knowing the right scale for the chords
and you can noodle in that scale without worrying about the harmony
there are certainly many cases where you can do this - pentatonics are great for it
but great improvisors use their musical vocabulary guided by the melody, chord tones, and ears.

 

[IamGroot]

Sound advice

Sounds like you have the fingering down, now for the hard part.

Do you understand how to harmonize a scale, and functional ('roman numeral') harmony?
Modes are vastly less important than basic harmony and how scales relate to chords.
(the pdf linked in my signature has a good introduction)

You can google "Scale Syllabus" and get various charts of "what mode goes with what chord"
but that is not how experienced players approach modes

The real answer to applying modes is this:

1. memorize the sound of each mode
2. when you wish to hear that sound, use that mode

Your question also implies a common misunderstanding:
that improvising is just about knowing the right scale for the chords
and you can noodle in that scale without worrying about the harmony
there are certainly many cases where you can do this - pentatonics are great for it
but great improvisors use their musical vocabulary guided by the melody, chord tones, and ears.