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Playing scales in 3rds

drewphishesp

drewphishesp

Feb 14, 2017
3,831
2,997
#1
someone I follow suggested playing scales in 3rds to make them more musical and I really think it does. I am having trouble playing them descending tho, or maybe I am just confused?

so as an example c major I am playing

  • C-E, D-F, E-G, F-A, G-B, A-C, B-D.

So to play it descending do I just reverse it?

d-B c-a b-g a-f g-e f-d e-c

?

But those arent thirds or they are thirds just ivnerted?> I guess maybe I am over thinking it
 
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#4
Say WHA?????? Lemme go try that. But right away without a bass in hand I my mind is quickly transposing that exercise into "PATTERN" thinking. (Play the scale note - find the closest 3rd (in the pattern world) that'll get me aligned to play the next scale note). If I think about it by using "NOTE NAMES" my head pops for some reason. If I think by "INTERVALS", I can envision it in my mind quickly, buts its slow to put that to a fretboard (for me). If I think in patterns, I find it pretty easy..... I probably should be able to do it all ways though, right?!
 
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#6
I used to run this kind of exercise adding the modes by keeping the intervals, 3rds, the same but starting and ending on the 2nd note (D), then the 3rd (E), and so on.

My practice was generally two octaves and I would go not only go across the fretboard but up as well running the exercise on two and three strings.

Triads are good too, 1-3-5, 2-4-6, etc. All good, helps the technique and the ear
 
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#9
It's always harder going down without screwing it up than going up. Simplest way to think of this is you are playing the first two notes starting at the root of the scale with an interval of a third and then moving the starting note up one in the scale, but maintaining the interval. You can also do this exercise with 5ths (more challenging) and with 6ths (even more challenging). Nobody does 7ths, it's just too far.

You will hear the 3rds calls "broken thirds" and used often in music, especially walking jazz lines. You will hear broken 5ths in musical progressions and songs you may recognize. Broken 6ths sound awesome, especially when played in the natural minor scale.

I don't really think of these as "ladders." Ladders tend to be more geometric and not necessarily following a scale. But hey, whatever you want to call it, play it, it's cool. And It will really improve your finger skills and coordination.
 
#10
drewphishesp said:
someone I follow suggested playing scales in 3rds to make them more musical and I really think it does. I am having trouble playing them descending tho, or maybe I am just confused?

so as an example c major I am playing

  • C-E, D-F, E-G, F-A, G-B, A-C, B-D.

So to play it descending do I just reverse it?

d-B c-a b-g a-f g-e f-d e-c

?

But those arent thirds or they are thirds just ivnerted?> I guess maybe I am over thinking it
Click to expand...
Think in terms if how many semitones up or down. 4 for a major 3rd interval whether played ascending or descending. 3 semitones for a minor 3rd played ascending or decending. B ascending to D = 3 semtiones. D descending to B = 3 semitones. If on the other hand you went B descending to D that is 9 semitones = Major 6th interval. And that’s where it can get confusing. But its always the number of semitones that defines the interval regardless of ascent or descent
 
#11
Back when I was seriously practicing mandolin, I found some study sheets online with patterns for running through scales in 3rds and 4ths. I really enjoyed those exercises and have since adapted them to my practice routines for classical guitar and bass guitar. I enjoy playing scales anyways, so it never really feels like a chore, but mixing it up with different intervals adds to the fun. I agree it can make the scales you’re used to hearing sound a bit more musical.
 
#14
The way I usually do it is on the way up at the end I go from B-G-C, and hold the C for 2x length, then back down, and at the end coming down I go from D-B-C-E-C or D-B-C-E-G-high C-G-E-C (end with a triad played up then down).

You can try this with other intervals and with a metronome for both ear training and time training, and if you’re more used to fingers vs a pick, or vice versa, you can also try the reverse and get some solid new technique training in also.
 
#16
Zooberwerx said:
One of the first exercises I learned: 3rds in major & minor, ascending and descending which is like reciting the alphabet backwards.

Riis
Click to expand...
Good analogy. And we all managed to learn the alphabet forwards with practice -- and, perhaps ironically, with the help of a melody.

The one difference is that there aren't multiple fingerings patterns for the alphabet.
 
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#19
not to be dork but if you locate maj 2 scale you get you flat 5 and maj 7 on the 3 and 6, the major steps 4 5 flat 7 root in that scale are your target 3 and 6, relative minor

in other words the 2 the 3 and the 6 are whole steps, the same intervals in any scale, you can solo of any of those points, or whatever walk the scale on the down beat, up or down all over the neck it's same thing. ( major 6 scale right above the maj 2 is important, if you look at it it makes sense.)

I learned lead guitar after I had been playing bass for years and i had to rethink some things
 
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