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Looking for exercises to explore the major scale, out of the box


Moggo

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Posted

I need to stop getting stuck in box patterns on the neck, specifically, for the time being at least, on the major scale. I know all my positions but end up going up and down the positions and not really venturing out.

 

Has anyone got any good patterns/examples for this? I've been trying to work it out myself, but it's easier sometimes to have it in front of you and it'll just click.

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also try playing 4 notes per string, or play 3 notes from a 4-notes-per-string pattern

you can cover almost the whole neck this way

also try skipping over strings, so play 3 notes on the A string followed by 3 notes on the G string followed by 3 notes on the top E string etc etc...

sim

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Learn the fretboard in intervals. You can then play any scale up and down the fretboard like a piano. All you have to do is learn the intervals of the scale. No more jumping from position to position or trying to link forms together etc.
I take a metronome and set it to 120. I then start on any note, say 'A' for example. Starting on the first string, on each beat I grab every A, then go to the 2nd string, then the 3rd etc. After completing every A I then move on in different intervals. For example, I'll grab every D (fourth in the key of A) next. Then I'll grab every G (fourth in the key of D). This drill gets all the notes on the fretboard in my head as well as intervals. I change the intervals around. Sometimes 3rds, 5ths, 2nds, etc.
Then, when soloing in the Key of A, I know where all the roots are, and I know the intervals around it, so I can grab the notes I want.
Obviously, it needs to become completely second nature where you can grab what you want instantly. When I first started this drill, I couldn't even use a metronome. I had to stop and think forever where the note was and what the next interval note was.

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Playing the major scale on one string really helped me to get into the tonality.

I played pedal tone on the low E, and played the notes from E major on the D string (starting at the 2nd fret).

That helps to focus on the major tonality and not fall into the minor sounding parallel modes.

Later I added notes from the A and G string. That's easy since you can play the other two major modes on them using almost the same frets.

On the G string you have the lydian scale (the 4th becomes a #4), and on the A string you have mixolydian (7 becomes b7).

Focusing on one string at a time helps not to fall back to the same old box patterns and licks.

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