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Thread: Fingering chromatic licks (and scales)

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    Registered User kelsonz27's Avatar
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    Default Fingering chromatic licks (and scales)

    Hi, I've been working on my fingering a lot lately and one of the things that have been giving me trouble is chromatic licks like this one. Do you guys think its better to finger it like 1, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 3 or to use the second finger for both the Ab and the G like 1, 3, 2, 2, 3, 2, 2, 3? The same goes for chromatic scales going all the way up, are you usually using one finger for two notes in row?

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    Registered User Dan Johnson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fingering chromatic licks (and scales)

    this might depend on the speed and the style... bluegrass would favor slurs, which you could get with the same finger... jazz maybe not so much... interesting question...

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    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fingering chromatic licks (and scales)

    My rule of thumb is "whatever sounds better". How do you want it to sound - do it that way.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
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    Registered User Pete Martin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fingering chromatic licks (and scales)

    There seem to be 2 common ways to finger chromatic lines.

    One is 1 finger gets two frets idea:
    1st and 2nd fret Index
    3rd and 4th frets Middle
    5th and 6th frets Ring
    7th and 8th frets Pinkie

    One I use a lot when playing LONG chromatic passages (such as Russian Rag), taught me by a world class classical violinist:
    1st index
    2nd middle
    3rd index
    4th middle
    5th ring
    6th pinkie
    7th index
    8th middle
    9th ring
    10th pinkie
    etc...

    Each passage, you just need to find a way that seems to work for you.
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    Registered User Pete Martin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fingering chromatic licks (and scales)

    Quote Originally Posted by Dan Johnson View Post
    this might depend on the speed and the style... bluegrass would favor slurs, which you could get with the same finger... jazz maybe not so much... interesting question...
    I hear a LOT of slurs from Jazz horn players. Therefore, I use many more slurs in Jazz playing than in fiddle tune or Bluegrass playing.
    -----------
    Pete Martin
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    Jazz and Bluegrass instruction books, videos, articles, transcriptions, improvisation, ergonomics, free recordings, private lessons

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    www.AppleValleyWranglers.net
    Western Swing music

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    Registered User John Soper's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fingering chromatic licks (and scales)

    Pete: I wish there were a "Like" button on Mandolin Cafe!

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    Facing the Storm Duane Graves's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fingering chromatic licks (and scales)

    Quote Originally Posted by John Soper View Post
    Pete: I wish there were a "Like" button on Mandolin Cafe!
    ....I agree, John. Often I would like to show my pleasure and agreement (like now) but not so much with words....dgg
    "....if you can't find a way out...go deeper in..."

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    Default Re: Fingering chromatic licks (and scales)

    In an old MWN, Mike Marshall addresses this very issue. The question was: if I'm playing a closed ascending E Major scale starting on fret 7 A string, do I play 7-9-11-12 on A and E strings with all four fingers, or slide up to 12 with my ring finger? Mike's answer was (paraphrased): Learn to do both.

    Somewhat tied to this thread: working on Dizzy Gillespie's Be-Bop. In Fm, it has some chromatic licks which require some thought on which finger to use. Pinky comes into play, and hand shifting. Not too easy. But very hip. And thanks to Don S. for the transcription.

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    Default Re: Fingering chromatic licks (and scales)

    Quote Originally Posted by kelsonz27 View Post
    Hi, I've been working on my fingering a lot lately and one of the things that have been giving me trouble is chromatic licks like this one. Do you guys think its better to finger it like 1, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 3 or to use the second finger for both the Ab and the G like 1, 3, 2, 2, 3, 2, 2, 3? The same goes for chromatic scales going all the way up, are you usually using one finger for two notes in row?

    what would make the most sense to me would be:

    1 , 4 , 3 , 2 , 4 , 3 , 2 , 4 ,

    that's get's it done with the least amount of overall motion for your left hand, and you can leave that B ringing over the whole thing. I'm not sure if you want that given that I don't know the context of the lick but it's an option.

    Matt

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