Scales

Scales are yet another tool for the guitarists. I will not develop, I suppose everyone has a clue about what a scale is: a set of different notes separated from one another by different intervals. Scales are not so much used in Manouche style. Usually, arpeggios will be preferred because they naturally sound better due to the fact that they target the underlying chords notes, which is not the case with scales that bring alterations without really targetting any note in particular. Scales therefore become very useful when playing out of the fairly strict arpeggio canvas and adding alterations.

There are roughly five main scales often used in Manouche:

- The diatonic (or natural)
- The harmonic minor
- The melodic minor
- The diminished
- The chromatic

You should find proper definitions for these scales on the Web. In this section, I'll focus on workouts with scales, and specific tricks specificly for guitarists.

Diatonic scale

Natural minor (used on a minor or m7 chord), dorian minor (used on a m6 chord) and major (used on a major chord) scales all stem from the diatonic scale. As far as I'm concerned, I mostly use three-note-per-string scales because they're easier to remember and to play over the neck IMO. Actually it's possible to find the ways to play those specific diatonic scales (3 notes per string) applying the following pattern on the neck. This is a very synthetic and visual way to remember. Bear in mind that the pattern shifts one note to the right from the B string upwards. Note the position of the roots for each scale (here in G, D and F for the example).

G:
D:
F:

Besides, this pattenr can be used to easily identify modes. Each coloured note should then be considered as the root and the corresponding mode is played atop.



Harmonic minor scale



Melodic minor scale



Diminished scale

Scales workouts

There's a plethora of ways to practice scales. Every one of them helps building a sound right hand technique. All following examples are in G:

Straight upward scale


(480 KB)

Broken upward scale by groups of three notes


(950 KB)

Broken upward scale by groups of four notes


(1.130 KB)

Broken upward scale with thirds skips


(700 KB)

Straight downward scale


(450 KB)

Broken downward scale by groups of three notes


(970 KB)

Broken downward scale by groups of four notes


(1.150 KB)

Broken downward scale with thirds skips


(700 KB)

Broken upward scale on the two high strings by groups of six notes


(810 KB)

Broken downward scale on the two high strings by groups of six notes


(800 KB)

Chromatic scale

Chromatic scale is very often used, as an intermediate effect between two notes, or as a long appogiatura, or simply as a typical fast lick, or - it must be said - to find one's way back to the music after mistakes in the improvisation. The tough point is to keep a regular pace, especially as far as glissandos are concerned, so that every note is picked distinctly. Whichever the start and end notes may be, it is recommended to play at the top of the neck whenever possible. Chromatisms can be played very fast once the movement is mastered (which is not my case).

Upward chromatic scale

With four fingers (1.080 KB)
With two fingers and a glissando (1.420 KB)


Downward chromatic scale

With four fingers (1.190 KB)