Scale Practice
Hi David,
I'd like to start my practice sessions with some scale work, but I'm not certain what the most productive and efficient way of doing that is. Can you recommend a useful routine?
My current thinking is this: 1. arpeggiate the I7, IV7, V7; 2. major pentatonic of the I, IV, and V keys (i.e. what the "Movement Exercises" document calls the G, C, and D major pentatonic); 3. blues scale of the I, IV, V keys.
I suppose another option would be: 1. arpeggiate, major pentatonic, blues scale the I; etc. for the IV and V.
My goal is to be more informed and purposeful in my note choices: I'd like to know where to go for a 7b or a major 5, for example, on each chord, and understand why I would choose a particular note at a particular time.
Thanks very much for the help.
That's helpful: thank you.
Quick follow-up to clarify.
"1) Arpeggiate the I, IV and V, then the I7, IV7, and V7": when adding the 7th, it should be the flat 7th, correct?
Correct
Got it: thank you.
Hello PM42. What you propose would work fine. Another option would be...
1) Arpeggiate the I, IV and V, then the I7, IV7, and V7
2A) Play the MP scale in its entire range in quarter notes (to a backing track), then eighths, then triplets.
2B) Improvise with the scale (just G) to the backing track
2C) Improvise with the scale (G), highlighting in the scale where the notes match the IV and V, emphasizing those notes in your improvisation. I recommend working in blocks...using the entire scale can be information overload, leading to you just wondering around the scale (it's better to phrase, using Chorus Forms).
2D) Practice the IV and V chord MP scales (without backing track) and then improvise with a backing track that's not too fast. Use notes within those scales to their corresponding chords.
3) Do the same for the BS
P.S., if you look at Sharon's lesson, there is a Daly Exercises PDF that I use with my private students