Non-musical scales XII.
Fingering scales by Sápi V.
In addition to the incredible amount of scales presented in the previous sections, Zoli Sápi still has ideas for further exercises, particularly for the four-string fingering scales; the structure of those scales are very similar to that of chords. Although that is definitely true, I suggest you consider those scales finger independence exercises rather than just chords.
As for the exercises, the basic concept is similar to the exercises with fingers stuck on the fretboard; one (or some) of the fingers always stay ont he fretboard while playing. Given that they exercises for four strings, there are two picking options:
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constant alternate picking
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or in some certain cases you can also use the sweep picking technique primarily used in arpeggios
Here are the fingering structures in mirror images:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Let's see a video on the 12th fingering structure, played with alternate picking:
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
We have two mirror images, the 1st and the 13th:
Let's see how Zoli Sápi changes between these two structures, with them played as chords.
It is apparent that fingers 3 and 4 are constantly moving (active), whereas fingers 1 and 2 are fixed to the fretboard.
Zoli has made a list on mirror image pairs that could possibly be played in a sequence, and categorized them by the number of active fingers, see the example below:
1-2
The numbers 1-2 on the top mean the active fingers. Thus this table shows what mirror image pairs are applicable if your active fingers are finger 1 and 2 (the numbers in the cells represent the mirror image numbers).
Here is the complete list of these mirror image pairs:
2 active fingers
1-2
1-3
1-4
2-3
2-4
3-4
3 active fingers
The finger movement is further described with the indication of the fingers moving together.
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for example, when playing the 8-9 mirror image pairs, we have 3 active fingers, out of which fingers 1 and 2 move together and finger 3 the other way.
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for example, when playing the 11-20 mirror image pairs, we have 3 active fingers, out of which fingers 1 and 3 move together and finger 2 the other way.
1-2-3
All three fingers are active, but each of them moves in a different way
1-2-3
fingers 1-2-4 active, finger 3 fixed
1-2-4
1-2-4
1-3-4
1-3-4
2-3-4
2-3-4
4 active fingers
12-34 means that fingers 1 and 2 move together, so are fingers 3 and 4, but the direction of the finger pairs is opposite to each other.
12-34
13-24
14-23
The first yellow-highlighted box shows that fingers 1, 2 and 3 move together, while finger 4 moves the opposite direction.
1-2-3-4
All four fingers are active and they will move when changing chords.
