Melodic Patterns are number games that can be applied to scales to open the scale up to new and creative ways to play them. They also create fingering challenges that must be overcome, increasing your technical ability.

You are what you eat.

Practice scales a lot and when it comes time to make up a solo, guess what's gonna happen.... you're gonna play scales a lot. So to stop that from happening you should try to practice melodic patterns as much or more than scales - it will really help your improvising and free up you mind.

To use them imagine that each scale note is numbered. Then play the notes in the order of the pattern.

Groups of four

1a-- 1234, 2345, 3456, etc.
1b-- 4321, 5432, 6543, etc.
1c-- 1243, 2354, 3465, etc.
1d-- 1321, 2432, 3543, etc.

Groups of three

2a-- 123, 234, 345, etc.
2b-- 321, 432, 543, etc.
2c-- 132, 243, 354, etc.
2d-- 312, 423, 534, etc.

Intervallic

3a-- 13, 24, 35, 46, etc. (thirds)
3b-- 31, 42, 53, 64, etc. (rev. thirds)
3c-- 13, 42, 35, 64, etc. (rev. every 2nd)

4a-- 14, 25, 36, 47, etc. (fourths)
4b-- 41, 52, 63, 74, etc. (rev. fourths)
4c-- 14, 52, 36, 74, etc. (rev. every 2nd)

5a-- 15, 26, 37, 48, etc. (fifths)
5b-- 51, 62, 73, 84, etc. (rev. fifths)
5c-- 15, 62, 37, 84, etc. (rev. every 2nd)

Video

You might also find it helpful to check out the video about melodic patterns pertaining to The Major Scale in SC-022 • The Major Scale - Melodic Pattern Basics