Photo by Bigstockphoto
I used to be amazed by guitar players who’s fingers ran smoothly up and down across the fretboard while improvising.

It seemed their fingers just went to the right place at the right time without the guitar player really having to think about it. It’s like those fingers had a life of their own.

Although the pentatonic / blues scale would already allow me to go wild and free in a blues rock environment, but playing like that using diatonic scales (major scale, natural minor scale and modes) looked like a whole nother ball game.

A side note: If you haven’t mastered the pentatonic / blues scale yet, then take that journey first. Start here

I did learn the diatonic major scale and it’s modes in different shapes, keys and tried various exercises, but it didn’t come off as sounding natural and I missed that feeling of sliding freely and musically across the fretboard without having to think about it.

It took a while before I figured this one out when I started playing melodic patterns.

MELODIC PATTERNS
A melodic pattern is an intervallic and repetitive pattern that will make your scales sound less like scales and more like musical phrases. The pattern provokes melody. There are many variations, from easy ones to more challenging patterns.

Practicing melodic patterns will increase your dexterity and make your technique become more fluid. With regular practice you will start noticing that your fingers will be going to the right place at the right time. They will develop, to some extent, a life of their own. Your fingers are being trained to master the fingerboard.Continue Reading