How to play your own scales (Even If You Don’t Know Music Theory!)

Today I want to share with you how to build and play your own vocal scales and exercise even if you’ve never studied music theory at all.

And instinctively you’re already thinking why?

Why can’t I just use those online Youtube warm-ups/videos.

“But Ivan, there’s plenty of scales online. Lots of tutorials. Why do I need to play with it?”

Online videos can be a great start. Especially if you’re looking for something quick and convenient.

But the problem I have it is so much of the initial part improving at singing is deliberate practice.

This means when you’re practising and say if you get it wrong. Being able to correct yourself. This means playing it again, or even do it slower and breaking it down.

When you’re running through scales quick, it can be hard to self correct.

Now before I show you how to build those scales. Real quick! For those of you who don’t know me. My name is Ivan, I love making music and also teaching singing to students all around the world. On this newsletter my goal is to make learning to sing simple. If that’s up your lane, consider subscribing. If you want to improve your voice faster, check out the links down below for ways to work with me

If you want to inspire our next episode! Drop in the comments below what you want me to talk about next.

Anyway, let me show you how to play your own scales.

First thing.

Whilst it can be really helpful, you don’t need to understand music theory to build your own scales.

All you need is to recognise patterns.

Let me explain this through building your first scale

1) 1,3,5

For many people, they have no idea what it’s called the 1,3,5

It’s the first, third, fifth in a major scale.

It might make sense when you’re on all white keys. But what about when you go to different keys.

Now here’s how I teach my students. Rather than thinking of it at 1,3,5.

Look at the DISTANCE between the notes.

It’s really the starting note, then you walk up 4 steps, and then you walk up 3 steps.

The cool part is this pattern will always be true. The distance between the notes are ALWAYS the same. Watch what happens when I change my starting note and walk up one step.

[SEE VIDEO FOR DEMONSTRATION]

Notice how it still sounds the same?

2) Now let’s take it another step. And add the octave to make scale even longer

[SEE VIDEO FOR DEMONSTRATION]

Now you’ve got a longer scale without having to learn a completely new scale

3) Even from here, you have so many variations to allow you to build better technique

• TOP DOWN

• Repeating sounds with different vowels/sounds

• Repeating the top notes to help you coordinate better.

So in summary

Scales follow a pattern.

I’ve shared with you two patterns

1,3,5: Starting note, +4, +3

1,3,5,8: Starting note, +4, +3, +5

As long as you follow this, you don’t need to know the music theory. You can even build your own versions depending on what you need.

Now yes, it will take some time to learn how to play it, but this is a skill that will pay off long term because it’ll allow you to practice much more deliberately.

Anyway! That’s all. If you found this episode useful, please share or give it 5 star wherever you’re listening from. This really helps spread the word and means the world to me. If you’d like to study with me, links are down in description. Take care!

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