Monster, This looks like it was a lot of effort and has helped a bunch of people, thanks for putting it together! My question is, should I ditch the major scale pattern I learned for this one?
The one I learned matches the one aldrine talks about in uke minutes 103
http://ukuleleunderground.com/2010/10/uke-minutes-103-the-box-part-2/
I'd like to be able to improvise and I guess learning the scales from this thread are more flexible than the 'box' pattern right?
Thanks!
Hi Rerrett,
I looked at that video, and he is basically playing the same notes at the open position as in my 1st pattern; but for some reason he is not playing the notes on the G string. I'm not sure why though. I have to admit I've only watched a few of their videos.
The patterns are just a learning tool so you can figure out how the notes fall into place on the neck. Scales are made up of tones (some people, like me, call them steps). To play a "whole step" place your finger on the C note on the bottom string. Then move your finger up two frets and play the D note. That is called a "whole step". To play a "half step" place your finger back on the C note. Then move your finger down one fret to the B note. This is a "half step". That's all scales are, a series of half steps and whole steps.
In the case of the Major Scale the notes flow in this order: Whole Step, Whole Step, Half Step, Whole Step, Whole Step, Whole Step, and a Half Step. This is also represented by: W--W--H--W--W--W--H. In the case of C Major the notes would be C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and C (the octave).
There really isn't a "best system" to playing scale patterns. Use whichever pattern system that helps you learn the easiest. I prefer the system I learned (the three note per sting method), but others may prefer Aldrine's box system. The important thing to learn is how the notes flow together in tones (or steps).
In the end, once you figure out the tones (or steps) your not going to use every single note within a certain position anyways. When soloing your going be jumping to different position on the neck - using three notes here, bending notes there, and etc. Hopefully my ramblings make sense, lol. Let me know if they don't.