Using The Scale Forms
Once you know the fingering for each scale form, practice each one using various sequence patterns as shown in the following examples. The first one uses the A form of C major.
The following example shows a triplet sequence played in the G form.
This example shows a triplet run using hammer-ons and pull-offs played in the D form of the C major scale.
It is important to remember that scales are just the raw material for making music and are not an end in themselves. The purpose of learning all the forms and practicing sequence patterns is to become comfortable with them in order to make melodic statements. Once you are confident with the scale forms, experiment with various techniques (e.g. bends, hammer-ons, slides, etc) and create some of your own licks and solos from them. The following example shows a lick derived from the G form of the C major scale. The ballad on the following page moves between all of the forms of the major scale, so be sure you know all the fingerings.
Here is a solo which moves freely between all the forms of the major scale. Once you have learned it, use the ideas to create your own lines and practice improvising with the C Major/ A minor Jam-Along track on the CD (CD2 ex 95 – page 216).
