Friday, September 5, 2008

A random thought, and scale variations



Hello, this Alex speaking. I wish only wish to show you a brief thought which has plagued me for the past day.
Yesterday I was viewing the definition of the word "A", little was I aware that the definition took over twelve paragraphs.

Aside from this, I have been learning "Cannon In D" (Bach) with my cousin David. I have a different version so we are having to do a bit of patching and reorganizing so that we can play together.
In addition to sight reading I have been working a lot on improvisation. I recently bought "Dan Tyminski's" solo album, and am currently working on bringing the fiddle break on the song "knock knock" under my rule. Other great albums I now posses are the "Infamous String Dusters" new record, and Sierra Hull's new solo album "secrets".
Here are some of the exercises I do on fiddle:
Key of C/c,d,e,c,d,e,f,d,e,f,g,e,f,g,a,f,g,a,b,g,a,b,c,-
(Numerical pattern) 1,2,3,1,2,3,4,2,3,4,5,3,4,5,6,4,5,6,7,5,6,7,8.

(this can be carried on to the next 6 available octaves, and can be duplicated in any key)
Something else you can do is mix two different scale variations. For example try ascending with a pentatonic scale and descending with a major scale.
Example/(ascending) g,a,b,d,e,g,a,b,d,e,g(descending)g,f#,e,d,c,b,a,g,f#,e,d,c,b,a,g. This is a convenient two octave scale variation which goes from open G string to the second finger on the E string. This is great for warm ups because it is difficult,diverse, and quickly acquaints you with all possible notes in the spectrum.
If you play fiddle,guitar,mandolin,or Cello, please try these and tell me what you think. And if you are a professional who knows something better for guitar or fiddle(Which I am currently learning) I beg you to comment and tell me it in detail. I would love to learn something new so please do not be shy.

3 comments:

  1. Yes, Hello Alex,
    This is "so-and-so", and I was just wondering how you got so good at your instruments. I mean, playing 4 of them!!!
    Uh, yeah, so I was...uh...wondering...but...you probably are too good to talk to someone as lowly as me. Anyway, it could be another post idea for you?
    Talk Later.

    Best Guitar Player in the World,
    -Big Happy Dave :)

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  2. Great pictures and post Alex. I can't wait to hear you and David play. Be home soon. Love you, Grandma Dot

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  3. Hey alex, long time no talk, write etc. i have a new blog, radicalrebelutionary.blogspot.com. you should check it out sometime.

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