Basic Scale Pattern #1

Starting on the open string

There are four basic scale patterns on the fiddle. They’re super easy to understand; all you have to do is teach them to your fingers! But if you do, be a patient teacher for your fingers — it’s not enough to understand these ideas verbally; your muscle memory has to get a chance to be comfortable with them. And remember to give your fingers some slack as you become aware of and use these patterns, especially when there are other distractions.

Each of these patterns can be used for two strings in a row. Knowing that will give you a bit of a break — get the pattern right on one string, and you’re good to go again on the next higher one.

Starting on Open String

The most common of the four patterns is the one-octave scale that starts on an open string. All you have to do is make sure that the 2d and 3d fingertips are touching, even squeezing them together (a half-step). All the other fingers are about a finger’s-width apart (a whole step).

Here’s what it looks like, from my (patented, i.e. one-of-a-kind!) Finger Finder slide rule — the scale goes from the first dark blue note below (open string) to the next dark blue note (3d finger on next higher string). You may have read the post about playing in tune — it includes a video showing how a Finger Finder slide rule works for you.

The nut is at left, the heavier line between the zero and the empty circle (reserved for when we play a low 1st finger). Each circle is a finger’s width. If you have a very literal mind, please resist getting too technical about the size or length of your own fingers! Learn to trust your ears, and keep in mind that thinking of a “finger’s width space” is an easy and helpful approach, since each space (a circle on the Finger Finder) is reserved for use by one finger.

As you can see in the illustration above, the only fingers (circles) that are touching are the 2d and 3d. This pattern works the same on both strings, as shown. It produces a major scale starting with the open string note and using every numbered circle until the 3d finger on the next higher string. You can play this pattern starting on the G, D, or A strings, to get a one-octave G, D, or A scale, respectively. Most fiddle tunes are in these keys, so you use this pattern a lot! Are you aware of it as you play?

It’s easy to teach your fingers this very common scale pattern. In fact, it’s pretty natural. When your hands hang down at your side, the 2d and 3d fingers usually touch. (The Mr Spock sign, with 1 & 2 touching, big space, then 3 & 4 touching, is unnatural except for certain extraterrestrial beings, and is rarely used on the fiddle.)

If this pattern seems simple, great! It’s easy for your mind, but be sure to go all the way and teach it to your fingers. They’ll need several chances to get used to it in different contexts. Take note of it when you play tunes in G, D, or A. If you find yourself playing this scale, but the 2d & 3d fingertips are not touching, something is guaranteed to be out of tune! However, this is an easy fix if you’re aware of the pattern.

Next most common pattern: Scales that start on the 3d finger. Stay “tuned” for that.

Below is a video that is very helpful to practice along with. It allows you to play this pattern as a scale and as an arpeggio, starting on G, D, and A, with animated Finger Finder patterns as you play, so you can absorb the pattern in more than one way. (I’m avoiding involving the written music because that brings in a whole other intellectual level of processing with brain and eyes that can distract from teaching the basics to your muscle memory.)

Practice Video: Scale and Arpeggio patterns from the open string

Practice one-octave scales starting on the G, D, and A, plus a bonus scale — the “Scottish major” or mixolydian scale common in Celtic and other styles, using a flat 7th. After you view the introduction, you can come back to the video a little after 4:00 to just practice the scale and arpeggio patterns (or feel free to come back to the intro again to remind yourself how it all works best).

This is one of 10 videos in Technique Video Group 4, focused on Note Patterns, which also includes pentatonic, minor, and common 4-note patterns, on fiddle-online.com.