I find that scale sequences are one of the best ways to add or release tension in a solo. Sometimes a solo just calls out to end on a low note. In that case, descending scale patterns are a great way to get there. Other times, you want to lead up to a searing high note. An ascending scale sequence can do the job nicely there.

Hopefully these exercises will get you interested in scale patterns. These are just a few common examples. If you search hard enough, you will find tons of other out there. Or you can come up with your own!

Triplets are one of my favorite patterns in just about any area - arpeggios, Pentatonic scales, Diatonic scales. Basically, a triplet is just 3 consecutive notes (for a scale, it is 3 consecutive notes in that scale, for an arpeggio, it is 3 consecutive notes in the arpeggio). The triplet pattern also lends itself well to be playing as triplets in time. Or, you can play two consecutive triplets in one beat as a sextuplet.

We are using the familiar G Major scale for this exercise.

In this exercise, accent the first note of each triplet on a downbeat. You really want to use a metronome if you have one for this exercise. It is a very rhythmic one.