How good are your SCALES? Test yourself with this fun challenge!

[@GangesMode]

This was super fun. I saw the thumbnail for it the other day and meant to come back to it. Felt a little scared at the beginning because you said it is a test, but the only time I had to pause the video was C# Harmonic Minor. Tooting my own flute here, but I also did it on alto flute while mentally transposing, and have only been playing flute since Spring 2022 (mostly a bass player). Only reason I say this is because it illustrates the importance for all musicians to spend a lot of time at the piano: piano was the key to unlocking this. Instead memorizing a particular fingering for a scale/key, somehow it helps one absorb the “set” of notes in that family, almost like each key has its own “color” in your brain. Piano enables you to transfer this info to any other instrument, the fingerings become secondary. Also, I think it is valuable for any musician, including classical musicians, to study from a jazz perspective. Scales are fundamentally important. A jazz scale test would be like “G Lydian Dominant”, “Half-Whole Diminished Scale starting on C”, or Bb Dorian”. One book I have been working out of recently that helped me in this test is called “Patterns For Jazz” by Jerry Coker - it is really good.

[@TheFlutePractice]

You’re inspiring me to learn some jazz scales 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I’m glad this was so fun and just brilliant work!!!!

[@angieallen4884]

Apparently my musical education was lacking. I will make 2025 the year of the scale! Thanks for this test to measure my progress.

[@TheFlutePractice]

Yay! Now you know were you stand and what to work on next 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@franciscomatamala3178]

Gracias 🙏 👍

[@heidifluteatl]

I love this idea. I don't know if you've done this but are there different ones from melodic and harmonic minor scales too? Hope you and the hubs are having a great holiday season :-) Merry Christmas from Atlanta!

[@TheFlutePractice]

Thanks 🙏 we are really looking forward to Christmas and being able to take some rest. To answer your question, yes, we have got separate cards melodic and harmonic minors but for some reason they did not want to show up in this test 😅

[@TheFlutePractice]

And…Merry Christmas to you too! MY it be a blessed season.

[@GangesMode]

Whoa, I am in Atlanta too!!! I play alto flute for fun, but am a pro bass player here. Atl flute crew represent!

[@sarasmith5160]

I got 5/7 5/7 4/6 = 14/20 is that any good. TBH I normally play them through in the same order around the circle of fifths so probably need to randomise them more often

[@TheFlutePractice]

That’s really decent! It sounds like the easy and intermediate scales are mostly in the bag. Time to work on the more advanced scales!

[@Balzac241]

M'y challenge for 2025😆Do we have to play from memory or I can have a look in my book? 😀

[@TheFlutePractice]

Great question! Ideally from memory, but you could do two versions of the test and see how you do for each. Then work at getting those scales memorised!

[@musmusicus]

19/20...guess which one got me 😹

[@TheFlutePractice]

Well done!!!! Haha 👀 Eb minor? I’m looking at you….

[@musmusicus]

@TheFlutePractice yes!!! That one 😆

[@TheFlutePractice]

@ 😂😂😂😂

[@Huonpines]

Am I meant to play them without looking at notes?

[@TheFlutePractice]

If possible! But, if you need to look at the notes from time to time, you absolutely can 👌

[@Huonpines]

@ Thanks, what about speed and fluency? The purpose of this exercise is to memorise or speed or fluency? I am a beginner and Ab is still quite challenging…

[@TheFlutePractice]

@ great question. This stream from a few years ago may be helpful: kzbin.info7_1T4Pnmfho?si=lALWgp4aX1kGwlRf Basically, there are two functions for scales: to be able to play different keys and to build technique. We should decide how we are using them in a practice session. Also, as a beginner. Start with the easier scales. Master those, memorise them, use them to build speed and then move on to more advanced scales

[@grauenritter9220]

ok like I did alright but like I never played the melodics

[@TheFlutePractice]

Good goal for 2025!!!