Intro to scales, arpeggios and voicings - why they're useful

Technical Exercises for Rock School

Hey, guys, it's James here. I'm going to take you through the technical exercises for Rock School. This video applies to all grades, and we will discuss:

• Scales
• Arpeggios
• Voicings

Why Learn Scales, Arpeggios, and Voicings?

So, most importantly, why do we even need to learn scales, arpeggios, and voicings in the first place? Well, the simple answer is for technique.

Improving our technique allows us to:

• Play more complicated things.
• Sound better.
• Play in time.
• Enjoy the experience of being a musician.

Better scales provide the function of playing smooth lines. Arpeggios allow us to break our flow within the hand, enabling us to stretch wide distances. Voicings are about playing chords that either accompany ourselves or others.

A significant part of being a jazz player, pop player, funk, rock, or any other discipline that we're working towards is about playing chords and accompanying ourselves and others.

The Benefits of Scales and Arpeggios

Scales and arpeggios are fantastic ways to improve technique. I know they can sometimes be a bit dry, going up and down the piano repeatedly can be tedious. However, there can be something quite meditative about them.

It doesn't all have to be boring! There are many different ways of applying scales and arpeggios that will make practice enjoyable.

Tips for Effective Practice

I highly recommend that you go through the exercises and really work on them. They can be done at the beginning of your practice session and don't have to be something you dread.

Here's a simple approach:

• Spend five to ten minutes at the start of your session on scales and arpeggios.
• Then, move on to the fun stuff, playing, improvising, etc.

Scales and Arpeggios in Improvisation

One thing to mention is that using scales and arpeggios is a great way to develop improvisation. When I'm improvising or performing, I often use chord tones and patterns based on scales and arpeggios.

I'm not strictly thinking about these concepts while I'm playing. Instead, I'm using the knowledge I've already acquired. When I perform live, all that knowledge comes to the surface and happens instinctively.

This principle applies to any aspect of playing music, but particularly with technique, as technique is the fastest way to make a good piece sound great. You'll have more fun playing as a result.

So, I highly recommend you get stuck into scales. It's not all boring, I promise, and the payoff will be huge!