Scale Pattern Notation

Numeric Notation

Scale degrees can be written using numbers from 1 to 16.

• 1 represents the root note
• 2 represents the second note of the scale
• 3 represents the third
• and so forth

Example (five-note scale):

1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1

Octaves

Higher octave notes continue after 7.

• 8 is the octave above 1
• 9 is the octave above 2
• 10 is the octave above 3
• and so forth

Example (octave arpeggio):

1 3 5 8 5 3 1

Alphabetic Notation

Patterns can also be written using German note notation:

C D E F G A B

Lowercase letters represent the next octave:

c d e f g a b

Example (octave arpeggio):

C E G c G E C

Sharp and Flat Modifiers

Sharp (#) and flat (b) modifiers are supported.

Example (blues scale):

1 3b 4 4# 5 7b 8

or equivalent alphabetical notation:

C Eb F F# G Bb c

Note Length Modifiers - Prolonging

A star (*) placed after a note increases its duration.

Each star adds one additional note length. Therefore, the total note length is multiplied by the number of stars plus one.

• * → twice the note length
• ** → three times the note length
• *** → four times the note length

Example:

1 3* 5** 8*** 5** 3* 1

Note Length Modifiers - Shortening

A slash (/) placed after a note shortens its duration.

Each slash increases the number of equal parts into which the note length is divided. Therefore, the note length is divided by the number of slashes plus one.

• / → half of the note length
• // → one-third of the note length
• /// → one-quarter of the note length

Example:

C D/ E/ F// G// A// B/// c/// d/// c///

Note Length Modifiers - Staccato

A dot (.) placed before a note indicates staccato articulation.

Staccato reduces the sounding duration of a note to approximately one third of its note length, creating a short and detached articulation.

Example:

1 3 5 .8 .8 .8 8** 5 3 1