Playing Techniques

[grooveagent66]

I think it should be quite easy. Each pattern is unique. There is a "hole" of "white" keys not belonging to the scale. In major scale its a stroke down, in harmonic minor its a slightly shifted W and in melodic minor its something like a "bone". Just make the shape of the "holes" from paper and overlay it to the AXiS with the help of some tape. This reminds you to avoid these areas. Next you have a distinguished position of the root of the mode. Some "widen the bone", some form "a rocket downwards" and so on. OK, it takes a while, but it is much much easier than to learn it on a piano. After memorizing one mode, try it on the AXiS at a position you like. Try to "overlay" the memorized pattern. I could imagine that using this now with a Jamey Aebersold playback (Vol. 24: Major and Minor) will give the confidence for the improvisation.

[grooveagent66]

There are some more pictures I would like to share. I found these pictures helpful when learning the patterns of each tonality. Although the shape of a triad is always the same on the AXiS, one has to find the shape as fast as possible for fluently playing. Here are the chord patterns ordered by the cycle of fifths (standard form, inversions coming soon:-)

Cycle of Fifths for Major Triads

CycleOfFifthMajor.jpg

Cycle of Fifths for Minor Triads

CycleOfFifthMinor.jpg

[grooveagent66]

As before but first inversions:

CycleOfFifthMajorFirst.jpg

CycleOfFifthMinorFirst.jpg

[grooveagent66]

As before, but second inversion.

CycleOfFifthMajorScd.jpg

CycleOfFifthMinorScd.jpg

[grooveagent66]

Harmonization of Major Scale
I

MS1_Major7.gif

II

MS2_Minor7.gif

III

MS3_Minor7.gif

IV

MS4_Major7.gif

V

MS5_Dom7.gif

VI

MS6_Minor7.gif

VII

MS7_HalfDim.gif

[grooveagent66]

Harmonization of Harmonic Minor Scale
I

HM1_MinorJ7.gif

II

HM2_HalfDim.gif

III

HM3_MajorJ7#5.gif

IV

HM4_Minor7.gif

V

HM5_Dom7.gif

VI

HM6_Major7.gif

VII

HM7_Dim7.gif

[grooveagent66]

Harmonization of Melodic Minor Scale
I

MM1_MinorJ7.gif

II

MM2_Minor7.gif

III

MM3_MajorJ7#5.gif

IV

MM4_Dom7.gif

V

MM5_Dom7.gif

VI

MM6_HalfDim.gif

VII

MM7_HalfDim.gif

[sander1710]

THX GA66!!!!

[MusicScienceGuy]

Hi.
The diagrams look nice, but could we have an explanation of what the colors mean for us mortals?
Simple fingerings and/or numbered sequences would be even cooler.
Ken, the Music Science Guy

[grooveagent66]

Hi.
The diagrams look nice, but could we have an explanation of what the colors mean for us mortals?
Simple fingerings and/or numbered sequences would be even cooler.
Ken, the Music Science Guy

Hi Ken, the four blue tones belong to the seventh chord which is starting on the note of the scale denoted by roman number. Remaining three tones belong to the "background" scale. I used different "background" colors for better memorization only. It is similar with the "foreground" chord colors. They start at the root with a very intensive blue. All thirds are "light blue". Fifhts and diminished fifths are a bit darker and the (major or minor) seventh is colored in dark blue. This coloring is the same for all scale types.

Understanding the patterns is the first step in my learning process. At the moment I have no proposal, what a good fingering for each arpeggio would be.

PS: Try to watch the patterns of one scale type as a slide show (for example on the ipod touch).