G e L o N
Scales
More Advanced
Symmetrical Scales
Whole tone and diminished (or octatonic scale - the term used by theorists, especially in the discussion of Stravinsky 's music) scales are probably the best-known symmetrical scales in western music. Applications for improvisation on the guitar are somewhat limited and will be discussed below. For a more in-depth study of symmetrical scales, see "Techique de mon langage musical" by the French composer, Olivier Messiaen; he developed several such scales he called Modes of Limited Transposition. More than you really wanted to know, right?
Whole Tone Scale
There are only 2 Whole-tone scales. Since it is made up of consecutive major 2nds, when you move up a whole step (2 frets) you'll be playing the same scale starting on it's second degree.
Example 1 is a good warm-up, as it involves a bit of stretching. Fingering is 1,2,4; or 1,3,4. Play up and down the neck. Example 2 is the most convenient "box" for this scale - begin with 2nd finger as the pattern lies in the 4th position.
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Ex. 1 |
Ex. 2 |
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Whole Tone |
Whole Tone - across neck |
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E|--------------------------------7-9-11-||-----------------------3-5-(7)-*|| B|-------------------------6-8-10--------||-------------------4-6---------*|| G|-------------------4-6-8---------------||---------------4-6-------------*|| D|-------------3-5-7---------------------||-----------5-7-----------------*|| A|-------2-4-6---------------------------||-----4-6-8---------------------*|| E|-1-3-5---------------------------------||-5-7---------------------------*|| |
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Application: You won't be using this scale much down at the bar with your country band, but it can be handy whenever you're playing over any chord with an augmented 5th (A+9 for example). I find it useful just to get my fingers out of normal patterns.
Diminished Scale
Diminished seventh chords are symmetrical - stacked minor 3rds - and the scale is based on those intervals. The pattern is simply whole step/half-step and repeated up to the octave. Example 1 is a pattern useful for warm-ups and getting your fingers out of a rut. Example 2 is the scale moving up the neck (slide finger one up a fret on each string); example 3 is the main "box" and involves some small shifts (which are hard to avoid with this scale). Example 4 is the alternative box, i.e. the scale beginning with a half step. There are really only 3 diminished scales; if you move up a fret at a time the scale on the third fret is the same as your starting scale. Same notes, different position.
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Ex. 1 Diminished Pattern |
Ex. 2 Complete Scale |
Ex. 3 Across Neck - "Box" 1 |
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E|-------------------------------7-9-10-||--------------------------------------------6-7-9-10-||--------------------------------4-5-(7)-|| B|-------------------------6-8-9--------||---------------------------------5-6--8-9-------------||--------------------------4-6-7---------|| G|-------------------4-6-7--------------||-----------------------3-4-6-7------------------------||-------------------4--5-7---------------|| D|-------------3-5-6--------------------||---------------2-3-5-6--------------------------------||-------------4-6-7----------------------|| A|-------2-4-5--------------------------||-------1-2-4-5----------------------------------------||-------5-6-8----------------------------|| E|-1-3-4--------------------------------||-1-3-4-------------------------------------------------||-5-7-8----------------------------------|| |
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Ex. 4 - Second "Box" - Starting w/ 1/2 step |
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E|--------------------------------------7-(8-10-)-*|| B|-------------------------------7-9-10-----------*|| G|------------------------7-8-10------------------*|| D|--------------6--7-9-10-------------------------*|| A|--------6-8-9-----------------------------------*|| E|-7-8-10-----------------------------------------*|| |
Application: The scale works over diminished 7's (again, not real common in most styles), but jazzers like to use the 2nd box for chords with altered ninths (like C7#9/#11, C7b9). If you check the intervals from the root up, you'll see that the scale contains flat second (flat 9), minor third (sharp 9), major third, augmented fourth (sharp 11), fifth, major sixth (13), and flat 7. If you're into altered sounds, there'll be more in the discussion and lessons on minor scales and their modes.
More coming…
