Scalesongs

A scalesong is an improvised melody created by playing rhythm-enhanced notes of the scale. For this exercise, the basic C Major/A minor scale is our melody.

This snippet of scalesong is played over a variation of the C 100 backing track.

  • Always clap your rhythms before you play them.
  • Read, clap, and play each of the six sets of 4-measure rhythms spelled out below. At first, play one set at a time rather than continuing on to the next set immediately.
  • Begin by playing “edge-to-edge” style — walk single notes to the top of your field, then walk back down to the bottom of your field. No skipped notes, no repeated notes. You can branch out from there.
  • Use scale fingering.
  • Keep your eyes on the screen to read the rhythms. Don’t look at your hand.
  • Explore with both RH and LH.
or

A
0-1
B
0-1
Scalesong Playing Fields

A. Notes of the Scale

  • 1-, 2-, and 3-notes
  • 3-, 4-, and 5-notes
  • 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-notes (pentascale)
  • 5-, 6-, 7- and 8-notes
  • Full one-octave scale
  • Use the hand positions of Module 2: Double pentascale, double tetrachord, Major/minor

B. Notes of the Chord

  • I-chord: 1-, 3-, 5-, 7-notes
  • ii-chord: 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-notes
  • iii-chord: 3-, 5-, 7-, 9-notes
  • etc.

C. Minor tracks

  • Use the above fields as written, OR start them on the relative minor (the 6-note of the Major scale) rather than on the 1-note. In other words, the A-1 playing field would be the first three notes of the minor scale — the 6-, 7-, and 8-notes of the Major scale.
1
A
B
A
B
2
B
A
B
A
3
A
B
B
A
4
B
A
A
B
5
A
A
B
B
6
B
B
A
A