Originally Posted by: mrsoul55I'm wondering why patterns are taught instead of teaching intervals.
[/quote]Great question. Three inter-related reasons.
1. Because intervals (and as a result, scales and chords) actually form graphic-visual patterns on the fretboard.
2. Because you can play the same note in more than one place on the guitar, so the same intervals can be played in multiple configurations, on the same string or even different sets of strings.
3. The result is that patterns are a convenient way to perceptually and conceptually memorize and recall musical information. This particular shape makes that particular sound.
However, patterns should not be taught without also the intervals that form them. Intervals are more fundamental and patterns are merely the result, the consequence of the intervals.
That's why I always teach scale and chord patterns by means of their scale degrees, or interval. I agree with what I think is your point. Sometimes students are handed a fretboard graphic image with only dots or circles. That's flawed teaching in my estimation. The scale degrees are WHY the pattern is shaped the way it is. :)
Here's a link to my tutorial on the C major scale as an example.
[quote=mrsoul55][br]I learned the pentatonic patterns but had a really hard time connecting them.[br]
I have a whole tutorial oh the how and why of pentatomic scales, with intervals and why they form the boxes.
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=296
Hope that helps. Please ask more if necessary. Best of success!
