Normally, scales are played as one note following another, with no real feeling of a time signature, however, the following two octave C major scale demonstrates, by means of counting, how a 4 or 3 beat feel can be obtained whilst playing the scale.
Use a combination of free and rest strokes: i.e., play a rest stroke on each counted note and free strokes on all other notes. Be sure to count aloud and continue playing until the first note, in this case, the C bass, is counted as 1, This requires 4 times through the scale for the 4 beat version, and 3 times through the scale for the 3 beat version.
(Counting 3 beat version)