| Author |
Topic: Chromatic Scales on E9 |
Clete Ritta
From:
San Antonio, Texas
|
Posted 22 Jun 2010 6:22 pm |
|
I was reading Zane King's thread on chromatic tuning and scales, and got to thinking that I don't use chromatics in my PSG playing enough!
As a novice this is a good study in order to get out of the "box" of pentatonic and diatonic scale patterns. While practicing the other day, I attempted to find some chromatic scale patterns on the E9 neck. The first challenge was to find three adjacent strings a half step apart. here are two that I began with:
A = Pedal A, raising string 10 from B to C#
E = E lever, lowering string 8 from E to Eb
This yields a chromatic cluster on strings 10, 9 and 8 of C#, D and Eb.
F = F lever, raising string 8 from E to F
G = G lever, lowering string 6 from G# to G
This combo yields another chromatic cluster on strings 8, 7, 6 of F, F# and G.
Like the diminished chord scale, the chromatic scale is achieved by raising or lowering fret position 3 steps.
I began by practicing the banjo roll picking T-I-M (Thumb, Index, Middle) on the three adjacent strings and moving the bar up in three fret increments for an ascending scale. I then reversed the roll and fret direction for descending scales.
At any rate, this is a lot of fun for me to practice. Trying to merge both of the above clusters into a seamless chromatic scale is another challenge I'm working on, as well as trying to incorporate chromatic notes into diatonic and pentatonic scale patterns.
Pleaase post any chromatic techniques you've found useful.
Clete |
|
|
 |
Zane King
From:
Nashville, TN
|
Posted 22 Jun 2010 7:34 pm
|
|
Good suggestions! I love whole tone scales as well. I use those a good bit when I want an unusual moment that to some degree "sounds Chromatical". For starters just run some sort of phrase from open position up the fretboard 2,4,6,8,10,12 then back down. (I got that from the Big E) That will show what they sound like. I have practiced picking and phrasing that way a lot. Just running up and down. I then mix up the patterns and do like open 3, 6, 9, 12...you get the idea. I hope we hear more about chromatic scales here.
_________________
Zane King
Email: zaneking@me.com |
|
|
|
Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
|
Posted 23 Jun 2010 3:30 am
|
|
As you mention, having chromatics available on three adjacent strings is VERY valuable for playing any type of single string chromatic phrase. If you can raise 8 E to F and lower G# to G on 6 you have F F# G on 8,7,6.
I can't, since both changes are on my left knee. Instead, I lower 7 F# to F and lower 6 G# to F#. This gives me the three consecutive chromatic notes -- E F F# (open) on 8 7 6.
You can play anything from the Flight of the Bumblebee quote to a simple ascending chromatic scale. As Clete said above, playing the three consecutive notes and then moving the bar up a step and a half (three frets) allows the full chromatic scale to be played. (e.g., at frets 3, 6, 9, 12 then raise the last note to the 13th fret makes a G chromatic scale starting and ending on G).
Here are a couple of examples from my most recent CD:
Up & Down chromatic phrase -- at about 0:07
13-note ascending chromatic -- at about 0:44
As Zane mentions, a whole tone scale is cool too -- and it has a 'hidden' benefit for chromatic scales. You can play a chromatic scale by moving the bar up -- or down for that matter -- a fret between each note of the whole tone scale.
For what it's worth.
_________________
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12 |
|
|
|
Don Drummer
From:
West Virginia, USA
|
Posted 24 Jun 2010 7:12 pm Chromo
|
|
| Here is what I like to do: 3rd string b pedal fret 8,7,6. release b pedal 3rd string to 1st string then 4th string f lever,release, 2nd string, lower half, 5th string A pedal, lower to 5th fret, return to 6th fret w/o A pedal, move bar to 5th fret, 6th fret 6th strin b pedal, lower to 5th fret, release b pedal, 6th fret 7th string, then down one fret, 8th string f lever, release, e lower, 9th string, we're at the 5th fret at this point, 10th string A pedal, down to 4th fret A pedal, 5th fret no pedal 4th fret no pedal....... |
|
|
|
