Bored with scales? Join me for a whole month’s worth of 31 different ways to approach scales. New posts go up every day in January 2023. Start from Day 1 here.
It was inevitable. There had to be at least some time this month playing scales with a drone (a steady pitch played from some external device like a tuner app or standalone tuner device). And that time has come.
Today, I practiced my scales with a drone on tonic (the first note of the scale). This is a familiar way of practicing scales for a lot of musicians. In fact, to some musicians it’s not scale practice without a tuner going.
If you don’t have a tuner device already, there are many free apps available for phones, tablets, and computers.
🖐️ An alternative to tuners: Maybe the synthesized sound of tuners drives you crazy. Or maybe it’s difficult for you to tune to the synthesized sound. Fortunately, there’s an alternative! You can record yourself holding a perfectly-in-tune note, then use that recording as a substitute for the tuner drone. A one- or two-minute long recording (without vibrato) works well, especially if you can set it play back on a loop. Just be sure your pitch is steady throughout.
Why do this one?
It’s invaluable for finding a precise place for the key notes of the scale and maintaining a steady pitch center (not drifting sharp or flat). And better, more precise intonation always makes for a better sound.
It also refines your ear, and your ability to hear your intonation more precisely in everything else you do afterward.
The Details
If you’re familiar with this kind of scale practice, then you know what to do. But wait for tomorrow’s scales: drone practice with a twist!
If you’re not, here are some suggestions for how to get started:
First of all, remember to use relaxed technique and get a good sound at all times
Every time the tonic note of the scale comes up (for example, in the key of C Major, tonic is C), you’ll definitely want to make sure it matches the drone.
The next level for this way of practicing scales is to listen for the 4th and 5th notes, which form perfect intervals with the drone (for example, in C Major, F is the 4th note and forms a Perfect 4th with the drone; G is the 5th note and forms a Perfect 5th with the drone).
In a slow tempo, you might listen for every tonic, 4th, and 5th. But in a medium tempo, you might narrow your focus to just tonic and 5th. And at a fast tempo, maybe you’ll mainly listen to make sure tonic matches the drone.
If you’ve tried today’s scales, I’d love to know what your experience was like! Just post a comment below.
Do this in any key and keep your usual fingerings, but keep it slow so you can be sure if each note is perfectly in tune.
tomorrow:
I’m a violinist and private teacher in the Chicago area, and in a previous musical life I was in a professional string quartet. Teaching violin and chamber music are dear to my heart. Send me a note or leave a comment on a post — I’d love to hear from you.
If you’ve tried today’s scales, I’d love to know what your experience was like! Just post a comment below.