LESSONSeries : Playing by Ear
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Playing Melodies, Licks, Riffs, Motifs, and Single Note Lines by ear is all about getting your ear to recognize intervals and train the fingers to follow your inner ear and play these melodies on demand.
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This training involves the Mind, Hands, and Ear connection. Of the three, the hands need the most work.
Melodies come from four sources:
- Scales
- Intervals
- Arpeggios
- Sequences
All four of these can be addressed for training the ear and hands to work together.
Scales
There are Six (6) Essentials Scales for contemporary music to master and 17 for someone exploring the jazz repertoire. All melodies will be from one of these scales.
Intervals
An interval is the distance between two notes. Scale, intervals, and sequences are all made up of intervals. The most common intervals that are used for creating melodies are seconds and thirds. However, ALL common intervals of every scale need to be explored. This typically means seconds, thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, sevenths, and octaves. These intervals all show up in melodies and improvisation.
Playing by Ear - Melodies…
Here are the six essential scales, in open position, the key of C. Check out this video The Seven Scale Modes, Open Position Examples to see the Ionian, Dorian, Mixolydian, and Aeolian scales played on ukulele in open position.
C Blues (Minor Pentatonic) C Eb F G Bb C`
Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.
C Pentatonic (Major) C D E F G A B C`
Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.
C Dorian (Minor) C D Eb F G A Bb C`
Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.
C Mixolydian C D E F G A Bb C`
Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.
C Aeolian (Natural Minor) C D Eb F G Ab Bb C`
Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.
C Ionian (Major) C D E F G A B C`
Use the audio to compare the sounds of the individual scales.
What IS a Scale?
A scale is simply a collection of pitches or notes, not really a "this is a Jazz scale", "this is a Blues" or "this is a Rock scale". It's how a scale is used that really matters not its name.
Most music starts with a scale. The melody, chords, licks and riffs all can be related back to a particular scale or scales.
The Six Essential scales ( in no particulate order ):
- Blues (Minor Pentatonic)
- Pentatonic (Major Pentatonic)
- Dorian (Minor)
- Mixolydian (Dominant)
- Aeolian (Natural Minor)
- Ionian (Major)
There are two scales that can be the memorized and other essential scales referenced from these two. These two scales are the Major and Natural Minor scales. The Major and Natural Minor scales are traditional scales and common scales in all forms of contemporary music.
This lesson explores the Major and Natural Minor scales and their derivations.
QuickStart Scale and Arpeggio Fingerings for Ukulele
his lesson uses the same page format as the QuickStart Scale Fingering series of books.
QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele 3 volumes.
C, G, and D tuning.
(QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele
)
The QuickStart Scale Fingerings Vol 1 covers the Blues, Pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Ionian scales.
Download the PDF file for the latest, complete, and most up-to-date version. As well as additional information not presented on-line.
End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!
Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.
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Related Songs
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This Old Man
Updated: 03 Jan 2023
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Row, Row, Row Your Boat
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London Bridge
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Bingo
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Three Blind Mice
Updated: 30 Jul 2014
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