Lesson 12-More AMI scale applications

The hardest scales for me to do rapidly are those that go from low to high. This is when I may try to use AMI rest strokes for faster and more fluid speed. The trick is to finger the scale in patterns of 3 for each string.

Example-

From Villa-Lobos' Prelude #2-

-------------------------------2-4----

-------------------------2-4-5--------

-------------------1-2-4----------------

-------------1-2-4----------------------

------0-2-4------------------------------

0-2-4------------------------------------

a m i  a m i  a m i  a m i  a m i  a m 

here's a minor scale pattern specifically designed for AMI rest strokes

--------------------------------7-8-10---

------------------------7-9-10-----------

------------------5-7-9------------------

------------6-7-9------------------------

------5-7-9-----------------------------

5-7-8----------------------------------

AMI- throughout. 

Experiment with scales you know to make other patterns of this kind. It will help your technique and fretboard knowledge.

Usually, scales are not so long as the above- take this example from "the Miller's Dance" by De Falla

-----------------------------------

------------------------------------

-------------------------------------

--------------3-------------------

-------3-5-6-----6-5-3-------------

3-4-6------------------6-4-3--------

In this example- you can try using ami until string 4, and then-  m i until last note. Experiment.

Or here's another Example from a Luigi Legnani "Caprice". ( THE "S" INDICATES "SLUR")

-------------------9-10-12-----------------------

----------9-10-12---------------------------2-3-5-

---7-s-9-----------------------------1-2-4---------

------------------------------2-s-4----------------

----------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------

    i         a  m  i       a  m  i     p           a  m  i   a  m  i

Now, did I find these ideas in a book somewhere? No, I experimented and found it- I encourage you do do the same with your technique.

Have a great summer!

Kevin

Additional info-

Here's another great web page from virtuoso guitarist Phillip Hii dedicated to explaining this technique- http://www.philiphii.com/articles/scales.html- thanks to Jim Wharton for forwarding it to me- K.