Memorizing Scales

Krafty934 · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 2:10 pm Post subject:

What is the best way to memorize all the major, minor, lydian, etc. scales for practicing improv? I usually just play them on my trumpet but I'd like to practice them away from my trumpet during my school day. Any suggestions would be helpful.

P.S. I'm new to improv so that's the reason I want to have all these scales memorized!

Thanks,
Kaushik

PJN · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 3:39 pm Post subject:

Kaushik,

Keep on practicing!! But, you can practice your scales all day long on your desk at school. Make sure you hear and visualize the notes you are playing with your "desk trumpet" work the fingers slowly and methodically. This should help build a confidence and familiarity with the structure of the scales you want to learn. It will also give your fingers confidence, only play what you can imagine clearly, otherwise you are just wiggling your fingers.

Also make your left hand be the valves, and practice on your knuckles while you ride the bus or whatever. Then try doing the same scales on your right hand. This makes you think about things in a different way, very valuable reinforcement.

Good Luck
_________________
The most important factor in developing the high register is desire, the patience to wait, and the necessary time to acquire it.
Bud Brisbois

jamie · Regular Member Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 77

say the note names as well when you are "ghost playing" it will help you know better and once you know the scale strait play it in broken thirds

Krafty934 · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2003 7:24 am Post subject:

Jamie,
What do you mean by broken thirds? Thanks you guys for the tips so far!

Kaushik

JackD · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2003 7:45 am Post subject:

I agree - practising the fingerings away from the trumpet works really well.

mateoshaw · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2003 4:15 pm Post subject:

I'm always wary of saying something like "memorizing scales" because we automatically use it as a muscle memorizing exercise. The point of learning scales it to be able to use them in making music, not just to constantly up the marking on the metronome, playing them ascending, then descending... If you really want to understand how to use them musically, I would allow yourself time to focus on just one scale and try playing a melody with it, or improvise using only that scale and try not to repeat yourself for a large chunk of time. This way, you're actually learning the sound of the scale, intervalic relationships, etc... Not just memorizing finger patterns.

I also started practicing difficult lines with my left hand, after having a long discussion with one of my teachers about left/right brain relationships. I've found it very useful.

One other thing, when you are practicing scalar patterns... practice them slooooow first.

Hope this helps.

jamie · Regular Member Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 77

scale in broken thirds 1,3,2,4,3,5,4,6,5,7,6,8,7,9,8, (up) and 8,6,7,5,6,4,5,3,4,2,3,1,2,7,1(down)

Krafty934 · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2003 6:24 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the help guys!

Kaushik

HMHustead · Regular Member Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 73

Buy one of those circle of 5th's wheels. Very helpful. You will begin to recognize the patterns much sooner than just blasting through scales on sheet music.