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Basic Scale Patterns

by Christopher Sung

Pages: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8

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In this lesson, we'll look at eight different permutations of the same scale pattern idea. The main scale we'll use is an A blues scale without the blue note so: A · C · D · E · G. This is one of the most basic scale forms used in rock music. The patterns that we'll use are either simple 3 or 4 note ascending or descending patterns, but we'll offset them in interesting rhythmic ways. By playing these patterns as either eighth notes or triplets, we can create a bunch of different lines that all have something in common: the pattern.

In the example below, we use a simple four note descending pattern within the scale. At the beginning of measure 1, we take the highest note and play 4 descending notes. Then, we take the next highest note and play 4 descending notes, and so on until we reach the bottom. What makes this a bit more interesting is that we don't start right on the beat and this makes it sound a little more like a musical idea, and less like an exercise.