How to practice your scales effectively: LESS time and MORE mastery!

Interestingly enough, scales are played over and over in a very repetitious way.  How to change that?  Well, figure out the way you want to play your modes and also figure out a way to connect these across the neck.

Once you do that, DO NOT do what everyone else does (unless you really want to spend the time!).

Here is what you do in a step by step format.  Let's suppose that the first mode you are starting with is not the Ionian but the Dorian since you might be practicing the key of Eb major.  Obviously, the first mode you will play from the lowest note on the guitar is F Dorian or the second mode of Eb major.  So, here are the practicing steps:

#1 -- Play the F Dorian mode ascending
#2 --Play the G Phrygian mode descending
#3 --Play the Ab Lydian mode ascending again

And, continue to do the same by "connecting" the last notes you play on each mode (whether on the first or sixth string) to the following mode...then, you would have ended up playing all the modes in Eb or whatever the key in half the time.  Another benefit is that you really got a more continuous sonic sense of the scale and you also built dexterity across the neck...so you could turn the scale exercises into meaningful practice in way less time and more mastery!!!