Bout those scales

[catul 56]

why do we practice scales?

[bandmommy]

So that when someone throws a piece of music at us that has 6 freakin sharps or flats we don't have a panic attack.

[shotgun]

Just think — you'll be able to play "Doe, a deer, a fe-male deer" in every key!!!

[Souportwenty]

Placing your scales into a "reflex mode" allows your brain to focus on making great music as opposed to searching through the notes to find the ones that are actually diatonic. Scale skill frees us up to practice the art of improvisation. A secure foundation of scales allows you to work from the 7th and 3rd and really play with the tension and release that is inherent in a scale and also makes a great solo.

[gary]

Same question: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthr...ghlight=scales

[BabyBoomer]

I was a Navy pilot back in the 70s and on my first flying lesson the instructor got us up to altitude, then gave me control and said "let's start with straight and level flight..."

To me, scales are the equivalent of "straight and level flight" and you can't take off or land without mastering that first - a concept I believe applies to aeronautics and music equally.

[Carl H.]

Because we don't play drums.

[marton]

scales are a logical method of sound separation and can be used to create melody and harmony. same goes for the modal system. i'm learning them so in that in the heat of the moment - ie improvisation - i don't have to think about them.
besides, it gives you something to do in between those times you feel less than inspired.

[kavala]

Because when you change the key on a saxophone, the fingerings
for each key are unique.

So practising scales gives you the ability to play equally smoothly
in all keys.

[bfahle]

Because we don't play drums.

I was going to say because we aren't guitar players. Those lucky sots get to just move their hand up a fret and they're in a different key (at least the lead players do. this only works for barre chords for the rhythm players).

[catul 56]

So when do I know which scale to use and when?

[SuperAction80]

For the same reason that we study letters and words in order to make sentences.

[Pete Thomas]

So when do I know which scale to use and when?

When you have enough knowledge about using scales presumably.

[hgiles]

why do we practice scales?

It gives us some foundation to build musical phrases and it's a way to get around between musical phrases.

[toughtenor]

I've been brushing up on my scales lately and ....I actually enjoy doing it, in triads, triplets eight notes / in thirds fourths fifths etc.
There's so many things you can do with all the scales, very good technique builders, prevents you from having "road chops". (where you don't have time to do technique exercises) .

[jazzcat58]

scales are paramount, to your technique, besides reading patterns, you should i believe make up your own and incorporate them into your solos.
If something sounds good play it in all the keys it will become invaluable in your reportiore!!.
most tunes are made up of parts of scales, fly me to the moon,autumn leaves,have you met miss jones...etc...etc.it works to practice them and then again..

[KevinSax]

Scales are the natural building blocks of music. Just try to create a good improvisation without using any scalular ideas; Its just about impossible. Or. Read some classical piece. I'm sure you will find its melodic composite to be based on scales.

[nj2009]

One of my early teachers told me something like this about practicing scales:

If you can drill into your brain and imprint into the muscles of your hands to always sharp your F's when playing something written using the G Major Scale, you will, naturally, sharp your F's and never make that particular mistake. However, playing lots of pieces in the key of G Major will create the same result, it will add to your musical repertoire and it is not as boring.

The problem is that learning lots of musical pieces require more time practicing, right?