Four-note-per-string scales?

Bigless · 11-06-2003, 06:12 PM

Alright. I've gotten past the "NO! NO BOXES!" phase, and now I've begun to get into legato and four-note-per-string scales. Legato's coming along fairly well(I'm left-handed and I play right-handed - and I'm glad I do).

My problem is this: I'd like to use four-note-per-string scales, simply because I want to.

Any suggestions? I've been having problems using these with legato on anything but the first string.

Nate · 11-07-2003, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigless

Alright. I've gotten past the "NO! NO BOXES!" phase, and now I've begun to get into legato and four-note-per-string scales. Legato's coming along fairly well(I'm left-handed and I play right-handed - and I'm glad I do).

What do you mean by legato? Are you using the real definition (i.e. something along the lines of "played smoothly, as a single phrase, with no lifts or breaks in between notes") or something else?

Eventually, your goal should be to move past the "NO! NO BOXES!" phase into the "Hmmm, ok... boxes." phase AND THEN PAST THAT and into the "Ooooh, notes... scales... anywhere." phase.

In other words, if you stick yourself inside that little four-note-per-string scale box and stay there, you will be severely limited.

Quote:

Any suggestions?

Practice.

Quote:

I've been having problems using these with legato on anything but the first string.

Huh? I don't understand.

In His love,
Nate

Bigless · 11-07-2003, 09:36 AM

Legato as in "using hammer-ons and pull-offs as much as possible."

I'm still moving towards that last phase, but I'd like to be able to play in the box, just for the heck of it. :P My problem is using hammer-ons and pull-offs beyond the first or second string.

Nate · 11-07-2003, 09:46 AM

Ahhh.... ok. I guess I can't be of much help then, since I've never played a single hammer-on or pull-off in my life... being a pianist and all.

Practice. That's all I can say.

In His love,
Nate

Bigless · 11-07-2003, 11:05 AM

I make sure that I practice 'till my wrists are sore every day, so that shouldn't be a problem. :P

georgeo · 11-07-2003, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigless

I make sure that I practice 'till my wrists are sore every day, so that shouldn't be a problem. :P

you're prolly practicing wrong if you practice that much and don't see improvement. i couldn't tell you what to do different, but i would think about practicing less, and figuring out how to be more efficient. don't kill your wrists/fingers, it stinks. mine are terrible, but thats from football, not guitar.

it may help to have slightly longer nails on your fretting hand. then you can catch the string better pulling off, and my experience is if the nail supports the finger, you get better hammer ons too.

Bigless · 11-07-2003, 10:10 PM

Until, not beyond. Practicing through pain and/or soreness = bad. I actually have found that longer nails are pretty awkward on my left hand, more so than my right.

georgeo · 11-07-2003, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigless

Until, not beyond. Practicing through pain and/or soreness = bad. I actually have found that longer nails are pretty awkward on my left hand, more so than my right.

nevermind then...can't help ya.