Learning scales quicker

Learning Scales(quicker memorization)

When I first started to learn scales there was a technique I was taught that was taught to me while I was learning them. Not for the purpose of learning the scale, but I found that I could memorize them quicker by using this technique.

I call it a pattern. I'm sure there's a technical term for it though. First you start with any scale at all.

We'll start with the C ionian(major) scale. The 3 note per string scales was the first scale I noticed the increased fluency in using the scale by playing it by using this pattern.

C Major ascending(this is a shifted version that i use in my playing) Its still the same as C major
*=where the pattern establishes itself and where you should notice it begin to "repeat" or cycle through the scale.

e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

G|--------------------------------------------------------------------------9--------------9-10-12*-|

D|-----------------------------------------9---------------9-10-12*-9-10-12---12-10-9-10-12---------|

A|--------8---------------8-10-12*-8-10-12---12-10-8-10-12------------------------------------------|

E|8-10-12---12-10-8-10-12---------------------------------------------------------------------------|





e|--------------------------------------------10----------------10-12-13-----|

B|--------10---------------10-12-13*-10-12-13----13-12-10-12-13--------------|

G|9-10-12----12-10-9-10-12---------------------------------------------------|

D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

C Major descending

e|13-12-10----10-12-13-12-10-------------------------------------------------|

B|---------13----------------13-12-10*-13-12-10----10-12-13-12-10------------|

G|----------------------------------------------12----------------12-10-9*---|

D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|



e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

G|12-10-9----9-10-12-10-9--------------------------------------------------------------------------|

D|--------12--------------12-10-9*-12-10-9----9-10-12-10-9-----------------------------------------|

A|-----------------------------------------12--------------12-10-8*-12-10-8----8-10-12-10-8--------|

E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------12--------------12-10-8|

This can be used for any scale/mode. Why I believe this helps learn the scale faster is that the muscle memory is triggered faster and it makes you think more of what you are doing and your mind recognizes it better.

Good luck.
Hope it helps.