This Month's Topic: Scales

Happy New Year. Well here we are, a whole new year to talk about music. First of all I hope you had a great holiday season, lots of fun and good stuff.

Let's talk about scales, you know that doe re mi fa so la ti doe stuff. There are many many scales to play. The thing to do is know what scales fit with which chord progressions. The most common scales are the dominant major and minor scales.

The thing to do is practice these two forms of scales first and then move on to more complicated scales such as your augmented and diminished scales. These scales fit into different modes. The thing with scales as I was saying in the beginning is to play them against chord progressions. You should play a chord and then play the scale that is inside that chord and move on to the next one. You should also be able to play the scale in all positions on the guitar or whatever instrument you are playing. As you progress you will find other ways of approaching the way you play these scales. You don't have to always play it from the root note. This is where modes come in...where you start on the second or third degree of a particular scale and end on that note. For instance, if you are playing a C major scale start with the D which would be minor or the Dorian scale if you start on E you would be playing the Phrygian which would be E minor 7 and so with the Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian modes. You should get a book on scales and modes to actually see how this works.

Remember if you have questions I will be happy to address them in one of these newsletters. Depending on how advanced you are in your playing, some of what I've said in this newsletter may be confusing so please write me if so and I'll write you back.

I hope these newsletters are a help to you. I am off again on the road this week...actually on the high seas! I am hosting the Jam Sessions nightly on the Brian Culbertson All Star Smooth Jazz Cruise in the Caribbean (http:// www.allstarcruise.com to check it out!) and the photo is of me on the 2005 Cruise, where I also hosted the Jam Sessions, with the talented sax player Pamela Williams!

I will return next month to give you some more info. I will let it be a surprise. Also, don't forget if you want me to talk about a specific thing email me through my website - jazz@nickcolionne.com.

Until next time

MUCH MUCH LOVE TO YOU ALL

Peace, Nick

P.S. Forward this newsletter to your friends or sign them up yourself by sending an email to jazz@nickcolionne.com. Adults welcome, too, but they need to ask to be added to the list!!!