i was wondering what would be the best way to practice a scale. Would it be running up and down each pattern or being creative and playing each note in the scale randomly.
That depends on why you're practicing the scale.
If you're working with a scale to learn the fingerboard (saying each note name and visualizing it), then jump around at random.
If you're working with a scale to improve your technique, then practice up and down, and patterns (like 1-2-3-4-2-3-4-5-3-4-5-6 etc), because the idea is to be fluent with scale fragments. Don't just play at random.
Most good solos are composed of 'sections' of scales and arpeggios. You probably won't rip through two octaves scalewise, but you will amost certainly go through 3, 4, or 5 note segements of a scale in the course of a solo. Practicing those segments will make your playing fluid.
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thanks man
