What scale to use for these Progressions?

[Extremist777]

Hello Guys! I know alot of you here are guitar masters. I've been playing guitar for a year now and just started learning scales to use for improvising/soloing. As you can see.. I'm still in the dark when it comes to applying scales to chord progressions.

Can anybody please help me out as to what scales to use on these chord progressions???

Song 1 - Verse :E-D-C-B
Chorus:E-C-D E-G-F

*** I wanna solo on these chords.... verse to solo... Currently I'm using a Phrygian Mode for the entire progression. Not sure if that's alright.

Song 2 - Progression - A-D (yeah.. 2 chords only)....
*** I've been playing a MINOR PENTATONIC on this one. It works ok.

Any suggestions on what scales/modes to use on these progressions to make my solos more interesting and meaningful?

Thanks Guys!!!

[wyzyguy]

Originally Posted by Extremist777

Hello Guys! I know alot of you here are guitar masters. I've been playing guitar for a year now and just started learning scales to use for improvising/soloing. As you can see.. I'm still in the dark when it comes to applying scales to chord progressions.

Can anybody please help me out as to what scales to use on these chord progressions???

Song 1 - Verse :E-D-C-B
Chorus:E-C-D E-G-F

*** I wanna solo on these chords.... verse to solo... Currently I'm using a Phrygian Mode for the entire progression. Not sure if that's alright.

Song 2 - Progression - A-D (yeah.. 2 chords only)....
*** I've been playing a MINOR PENTATONIC on this one. It works ok.

Any suggestions on what scales/modes to use on these progressions to make my solos more interesting and meaningful?

Thanks Guys!!!

Some more info will be needed. What are the qualities of the chords? Em or E (Major). Are they power chord intervals of Root & 5th? If these questions having you totally baffled then I would suggest doing a search for Scale & Chord Theory. The good thing is that it is very easy to understand. Putting it into practice will take some doing. Once you understand how the guitar is set up by tuning and fret board the rest comes over time.

The A > D progression is probably either. Am > Dm or A (Major) > D (Major).

The easiest way is just to play over the progressions until you pick the notes that work for your ear. Knowing scales will be a time saver in the end but having a good ear is also a great skill set to have.

[Extremist777]

Thanks for responding to my post.

As with the chords..... Song 1 (E-D-C-B etc.) Is all POWER CHORDS... it's a metal song I've written but no luck creating a good solo over it. I'm thinking of a slow solo to start it off then a fast one when the E-C-D E-G-F comes in. (dont know if you can picture it. lol)

As for the second Song.. A-D.... Its in Major. Basic A and D chords.

Overall... I'm making this all up Power Chords so it wont be too much of a problem soloing over 'em.

Thanks! I hope I'd given enough info.

Help me out with what scales/modes to use on these progressions please! =)

[Dave_M]

Hi Extremist777,

Analyzing song 1, I believe its in the key of E major blues because only the verse C chord doesn't fit in natuarally in that harmonized scale. Have you tried alternating scales with the chord movement? For example, E major pentatonic to A major pentatonic to C major (or C lydian) to B mixolydian. Another possibility would be to play relative minor scales against the major chords (C#m - Bm - Am - G#m). The same theories could be applied to the chorus or perhaps play minor scales against the verse then switch to major pentatonics for the chorus.

Song 2 leaves some more room for interpretation. What scales have both the A major and D major chords? A major and D major, obviously (as well as their relative minors - F#m and Bm). What "spice" you decide to add to the recipe is up to you. Good luck!

[Extremist777]

Originally Posted by Dave_M

Hi Extremist777,

Analyzing song 1, I believe its in the key of E major blues because only the verse C chord doesn't fit in natuarally in that harmonized scale. Have you tried alternating scales with the chord movement? For example, E major pentatonic to A major pentatonic to C major (or C lydian) to B mixolydian. Another possibility would be to play relative minor scales against the major chords (C#m - Bm - Am - G#m). The same theories could be applied to the chorus or perhaps play minor scales against the verse then switch to major pentatonics for the chorus.

Song 2 leaves some more room for interpretation. What scales have both the A major and D major chords? A major and D major, obviously (as well as their relative minors - F#m and Bm). What "spice" you decide to add to the recipe is up to you. Good luck!

Thanks for the help Dave. To tell you honestly I'm confused. lol. Dont know much about theory and stuff. I thought I could play just one scale over these progression?

Got a question for you regarding SONG 1... What do you mean ALTERNATING SCALES with the CHORD MOVEMENT? Did you mean.. Play a scale on first chord (E)..then a different scale on the next chord (D).. and so on?

Thanks alot Guys!

[Dave_M]

Originally Posted by Extremist777

Thanks for the help Dave. To tell you honestly I'm confused. lol. Dont know much about theory and stuff. I thought I could play just one scale over these progression?

Got a question for you regarding SONG 1... What do you mean ALTERNATING SCALES with the CHORD MOVEMENT? Did you mean.. Play a scale on first chord (E)..then a different scale on the next chord (D).. and so on?

Thanks alot Guys!

Exactly! With every chord change try a different scale. Theory isn't all that difficult and there's some stuff on the net you can check into for free. Search on "diatonic harmony". Once the free stuff runs out, check out this book: Edly's Music Theory for Practical People by Ed Roseman It's available at Amazon for less than $20. Hope that helps.

[Stiglar]

No offense guys but your putting way too much theory into this , if you start using a new scale for every chord your never gonna sound natural enough ...

I gave it a quick whack recording and playing over the progression and granted i don't know the rhythm of your song , i could get through pretty much all of it using Emi Pentatonic ... it's just a matter of using your ear to pick the right notes at the right time from the Pentatonic . it's a good starting point anyway . once you get that sorted you can started adding assorted notes to move on .

My Advice : Record it chuck it on loop and play over it solidly for as long as you can with the pentatonic ... if you find a tiny bit that works keep doing it ! you'll eventually build up a little library of licks that work in certain spots .. might seem time consuming but every time you do it you'll get a better ear at picking things out .

Just my 2 cents !

[AxemanRGM]

Originally Posted by Extremist777

Hello Guys! I know alot of you here are guitar masters. I've been playing guitar for a year now and just started learning scales to use for improvising/soloing. As you can see.. I'm still in the dark when it comes to applying scales to chord progressions.

Can anybody please help me out as to what scales to use on these chord progressions???

Song 1 - Verse :E-D-C-B
Chorus:E-C-D E-G-F

*** I wanna solo on these chords.... verse to solo... Currently I'm using a Phrygian Mode for the entire progression. Not sure if that's alright.

Song 2 - Progression - A-D (yeah.. 2 chords only)....
*** I've been playing a MINOR PENTATONIC on this one. It works ok.

Any suggestions on what scales/modes to use on these progressions to make my solos more interesting and meaningful?

Thanks Guys!!!

If you're playing nothing but power chords song 1 will be E phrygian...the scale: E-F-G-A-B-C-D
if you start making the chords minor, major, diminished, 7th, 13th or whatever you get a little more complicated. Plus you could always try Harmonic Minor or Melodic Minor...they're not part of the seven church modes but each have a pretty good feel. A book on theory & scales would help you figure this out.

song 2 --- since you said they were major chords I'd give F# minor pentatonic a try. It's basically the same as A major pentatonic. Same notes anyway. The book The Heavy Guitar Bible talks about major & minor relatives & this would be a case of that.

E minor = G major
A minor = C major
D minor = F major
F# minor = A major
B minor = D major

These are very basic but for the most part they hold true; at least for pentatonic minor & major. It also works for aeolian to ionian --- dorian to lydian --- & phrygian to mixolydian. I learned this because I prefer to think in minor keys. Example: G-D-C - G-D-Am is the basic chord change in Knockin' On Heaven's Door (all major chords except the Am). Most people see this as G major...I see it as E minor...it's just the way my mind works. Now my hand knows exactly where to go when I'm winging a solo live.

[Extremist777]

Thanks alot guys! You've all been very helpful. Wish all forums on the web are like forums here in G101. =)

I'll try all your suggestions over the weekend. I'm sure I'll find something that'll fit into the songs.

Thanks again! Cheers!

[AxemanRGM]

Originally Posted by Extremist777

Thanks alot guys! You've all been very helpful. Wish all forums on the web are like forums here in G101. =)

I'll try all your suggestions over the weekend. I'm sure I'll find something that'll fit into the songs.

Thanks again! Cheers!

Hey...I was just curious...did you ever get something you like worked out?
Hope so...let us know how it's coming along...

[Extremist777]

Originally Posted by AxemanRGM

Hey...I was just curious...did you ever get something you like worked out?
Hope so...let us know how it's coming along...

I did! I used a Phrygian mode for the entire solo with a mixture of Minor Pentatonic. Not the best solo ever but I liked it. I'll post the audio later on so you can tell me what you opinion.

Sorry for the late reply. I broke my computer trying to upgrade stuff. lol

[Extremist777]

By the way here's what I came up with the progression E-D-C-B...

My Solo Over E-D-C-B

Let me know what you think.

[AxemanRGM]

Originally Posted by Extremist777

By the way here's what I came up with the progression E-D-C-B...

My Solo Over E-D-C-B

Let me know what you think.

Liked the solo very much --- I'd like to hear the rest of the song --- the vocals were about to start & seemed to have a bit of a Metallica feel to it ---

[Extremist777]

Originally Posted by AxemanRGM

Liked the solo very much --- I'd like to hear the rest of the song --- the vocals were about to start & seemed to have a bit of a Metallica feel to it ---

Yeah.. Im still in the process of recording it. And yeah.. theres a metallica feel to it... Metallica is my favourite band. \m/

I'll post the entire song once the recording is finished.

Thanks.. Glad you liked the solo.. I thought it sucked big time! lol

[chris guitar]

everyone has their own methods in searching for their melodys to fit with their songs, what i did a few years back (and this improved my song writing 1000%) just use 1 string and use all 24 frets to find the melody your after, this should ensure you never play preditable patterns and youl find a lot of your own unique sound and more importantly your own phrasing here, try it and see, it will take many months of this before you feel comfortable doing it , but when youve cracked it, youl sound like you and not a theory guy, remember scales alone are not music, hum a tune and play it on 1 string it works