Pat Metheny -- "What scales do you use ?"

John Lockney · Post by **John Lockney** » 4 Nov 2005 7:16 am

There is a great "Guitar World" interview with Pat Metheny re-printed in a book called <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/087930 ... s&v=glance" TARGET=_blank>
Secrets from the Masters: Conversations With Forty Great Guitar Players" </A> where he says:

"I feel funny when someone comes up to me and asks 'what modes do you use?' or 'what scales do you use?' To me, that's the equivalent of someone asking, 'what kind of verbs do you use?' The idea is to play music, and assuming you're a good musician, you've spent a lot of time learning the grammar of music which includes the knowledge of all of those things. You can't just know a few modes or a few scales; you have to know all of them, and you have to be able to get from one to the next without even thinking about it."

I don’t know much of Pat Metheny’s stuff but, I thought it was a neat attitude to have about music!

[This message was edited by John Lockney on 04 November 2005 at 07:18 AM.]

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 4 Nov 2005 9:12 am

Just don't ask him what he thinks about Kenny G!!!!!!

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 4 Nov 2005 9:55 am

He uses every scale there is.
'Midwestern hip; and all those teeth.'
--Nat Hentoff (or somebody)

Tuned for the group (old and new) a few times. Really nice guy.

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 4 Nov 2005 1:22 pm

I prefer the atonal mode, that way no one can ever accuse me of dropping a clam, half baked I am but no clams.

Ben Slaughter · Post by **Ben Slaughter** » 4 Nov 2005 2:09 pm

That's a good old fellow Missouri native for ya.

My dad and Pat used to play RnR in my grandparents' basement.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 4 Nov 2005 11:44 pm

I played with Pat one time a LOONG time ago.
It was a jam session for a bunch Berklee oriented Boston players.

The guy is totally fluent in styles and theory you don't hear on his records.
In jams the cat can go all over the farm and back.

He played solos copying 3 different sax players at the jam,
then did something none of them was doing.

Sort of a neo post Django meldoic minor meets Arabic thing.
Over bop changes...

And always that friendly smile.

I have heard he is a super teacher too.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 04 November 2005 at 11:45 PM.]

Chris Lasher · Post by **Chris Lasher** » 5 Nov 2005 6:50 pm

Pat Metheny's playing and composition are truly inspirational! He's definitely made some "Desert Island" albums!

John Lockney · Post by **John Lockney** » 6 Nov 2005 11:14 am

It reminded me of the scene in the first Terminator movie where he visits the gun store. So, which one will it be ?

"All of them."

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 6 Nov 2005 8:01 pm

What kind of scales do you use?

Oh, Toledo, Ohaus, American, Sterling...

I think someone said here awhile back that a musician should first learn scales, and then he should forget (playing) them.