Your Favorite Scale?

[Pings Bass]

I definitely like a lot of the minor scales and variations, but I find myself drawn to chromaticism, both in melodies and in harmonic movement. Also, being a monk fan, a well-placed whole tone scale run never fails to delight me. I'm also a fan of the diminished scale (alternating half and whole tone steps, aka octatonic scale), and, as you might guess from this expressed affinity for symmetry, I'm favor tritone substitutions. Slonimsky's Thesaurus of Melodic Scales and Patterns was kind of my bible when I was writing more and trying to be a bebop alto saxophonist; it pretty much sums up modern/symmetrical melodic movement from every possible angle.

 

[Killing Floor]

I like the Richter Scale.

 

[Tom Kinter]

I definitely like a lot of the minor scales and variations, but I find myself drawn to chromaticism, both in melodies and in harmonic movement. Also, being a monk fan, a well-placed whole tone scale run never fails to delight me. I'm also a fan of the diminished scale (alternating half and whole tone steps, aka octatonic scale), and, as you might guess from this expressed affinity for symmetry, I'm favor tritone substitutions. Slonimsky's Thesaurus of Melodic Scales and Patterns was kind of my bible when I was writing more and trying to be a bebop alto saxophonist; it pretty much sums up modern/symmetrical melodic movement from every possible angle.

I like those multi-octave scales Mr. Mingus used to make up ('jump monk' e.g.) that required 3 instruments to span them. Pythagoras woulda dug that!

 

[drumvsbass]

Phrygian Dominant.
The 5th mode of Harmonic Minor.
Metal.

 

[Alexis Duntov]

Whole tone, example on intro very slick

Never noticed that before but it's such a signature part of the song. I alternate practicing whole tone scales and diminished arpeggios every day on upright. Favorite scale is probably harmonic minor. I have a couple of harmonic minor etudes from a piano pedagogue named Hanon that I like to do on any instrument.

 

[vvvmmm]

The ones that fall from my eyes.*


*likely my first Bible quote, ever.

 

[Space Pickle]

the avoid tone scale

 

[DigitalMan]

Mixolydian E (aka A major) for the Battlestar Galactica theme.

Really works well for jazz improv too.

(not really at all actually)

 

[Garret Wheeler]

I realize you have to play the notes that fits the music you happen to play, but what is the scale that you enjoy the sound and mood/character of the most and loves to noodle, jam in, and eventual to use when composing music, the most?

Mine absolutely has to be the Dorian Scale, love that somewhat folkish/medieval character of it that also can get quite jazzy, depending on how you chose to combine it's notes, to me there is something very warm and organic to it, an almost ancestral familiarity (I guess sort of solemn in a very down to earth and grounded way), that makes me feel good, although it is also lends it self to more melancholy moods.

Another top favorite of mine is the Double Harmonic Scale, also called the Byzantine Scale, which is pretty close to the Phrygian Major Scale, also called the Flaminco Scale or the Spanish Scale, but has an even stronger oriental character, which to me gives it sort of a mystical and slightly psychedelic vibe, beside obviously leading the thought onto Indian, but especially Middle Eastern, music.

Harmonic minor is a lot of fun. Recently my fingers have been gravitating to Lydian and Mixolydian any time I pick up an instrument. To me Lydian sounds like the future and Mixolydian sounds like funk lol.

 

[1bassplayinfool]

Never noticed that before but it's such a signature part of the song. I alternate practicing whole tone scales and diminished arpeggios every day on upright. Favorite scale is probably harmonic minor. I have a couple of harmonic minor etudes from a piano pedagogue named Hanon that I like to do on any instrument.

Yup, just enough to make say whats up with that?

 

[Vinny_G]

I like the Richter Scale.

Me too
What's your favorite scale?

 

[Scott Lynch]

I find the Mohs scale pretty handy for rock.

 

[tpaul]

Those ones they used to have that gave your weight and fortune for a quarter.

 

[Salicete]

Had to be done; I know it; you know it.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

Mixolydian is usually what I end up noodling in, or Dorian. They’re the natural major and minor’s cooler siblings.

 

[BD Jones]

The Pentecostal scale

 

[singlemalt]

I’ve got an analogue bass scale from the fishing section of Walmart, but I felt like it was time to go digital.

 

[Davbassdude]

I'm not proud of it (okay, maybe just a little), but on bass and guitar, I am a sucker for the pentatonic scales, runs and anything based on the pentatonic scale. Must be due to my early love of Allman Brothers and Johnny Winter (I've improvised many different versions of "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo", "Rock me Baby" "Don't Wan't You No More" and "It's My Own Fault")!!!

 

[allen_m]

B Flat Major.

Ninth grade. First day of high school jazz band. Most of the group were Jrs. and Srs. and I considered them much more accomplished musicians than I was at the time, particularly the drummer and the pianist. I had owned my new Kay bass and matching solid state amp less than 24 hours but had spent the previous evening playing that scale over and over, backwards and forward. As luck would have it, the first song the director called up was in B flat. My chart just said “walking bass” and had the chord changes. I read music but didn’t really know what that meant at the time so I just played my scale up and down and around. And it worked! They thought I was a natural.

 

[allen_m]

I find the Mohs scale pretty handy for rock.

This geology major approves.