Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

[Sune]

Well, I've been reading up on some theory and stuff in a book. I can learn all the major scale stuff with it, but there's nothing about minor scales. As far as I understood it, you can solo in the key of the song even if it's over a different chord, does that mean I would be able to make a song in the key of C, for example, and then still use the C major scale to solo over it's relative minor chord, the Am?

Your help is appreciated, I've never cared for theory before, but I'm trying now, and it's rather interesting. Playing music isn't enough for me anymore, I need to understand it, so I can make my own music too.

 

[Soulman]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

Well, I've been reading up on some theory and stuff in a book. I can learn all the major scale stuff with it, but there's nothing about minor scales. As far as I understood it, you can solo in the key of the song even if it's over a different chord, does that mean I would be able to make a song in the key of C, for example, and then still use the C major scale to solo over it's relative minor chord, the Am?

Your help is appreciated, I've never cared for theory before, but I'm trying now, and it's rather interesting. Playing music isn't enough for me anymore, I need to understand it, so I can make my own music too.

the answer to your specific question about C and Am is: yes.

but you really need to understand why...and I don't think you'll get the right and complete info on an internet forum.

try finding a teacher (jazz players are great at this stuff) that will explain at least the basics of western musical harmony so you can start kicking away doing your own thing! :smokin:

 

[Sune]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

try finding a teacher (jazz players are great at this stuff) that will explain at least the basics of western musical harmony so you can start kicking away doing your own thing! :smokin:

I'm pretty sure that is not possible around here. So the only way I can learn is by asking others and by reading stuff. Another thing I was wondering about is: can I use major scales even if the song is in a minor key?

 

[Marinblues]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

I'm pretty sure that is not possible around here. So the only way I can learn is by asking others and by reading stuff. Another thing I was wondering about is: can I use major scales even if the song is in a minor key?

Then all you need to know in the next couple of years is here:

http://jazz-primer.com/index.html


As far as guitar music theory site's go, this one of the better ones I have found.

M.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

Major scales have a related minor scale. G Major is equivalent to E minor (in key signature), etc. So:


G major: I ii iii IV V vi vii I
notes: G a b C D e f# G

E minor: i ii III iv V VI VII i
notes: e f# G a B C D e

(lower case: minor chord. upper case: major chord)

So basically you have a whole bunch of relative major/minors
C major -> a minor
D major -> b minor
etc

It's delving into music theory, so I'll skip the theory.

Basically you can solo major scales over minor keys all you want. Just experiment and hear and feel the songs, and try stuff.

 

[Sune]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

Ah, I see. So the C major scale is exactly the same as the A minor scale? That's why it's relative?

Then how do you hear a difference between a C major scale and a A minor scale? By listening to which root you start and end on?

 

[Sune]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

Maybe I should mention that this is not for guitar, but for ukulele, however most of the things regarding theory are the same, it's just a different tuning and less strings and frets.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

Ah, I see. So the C major scale is exactly the same as the A minor scale? That's why it's relative? Then how do you hear a difference between a C major scale and a A minor scale? By listening to which root you start and end on?

Yeah, but then there are variations on the scale:

Relative: a b C d E F G a

then there are ones that sharp the F and G once in a while (since the V of a minor is E major), can't remember the names of those scales.

Try this scale:
a b C d e F# G# a g f e d c b a
it goes up then down.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

without getting into theory, yes you can use the fingerings used to play a c major scale to play an a minor scale ... it will all come down to phrasing to determine how the notes you are playing fit over the chords

interestingly, with little variation, you can use the fingerings you use to play a c major scale over D minor chords and E minor chords as well ... this is the entry point to modal playing

trust your ears .. if it sounds good to you, it is good

cheers
t4d

 

[Sune]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

without getting into theory, yes you can use the fingerings used to play a c major scale to play an a minor scale ... it will all come down to phrasing to determine how the notes you are playing fit over the chords

interestingly, with little variation, you can use the fingerings you use to play a c major scale over D minor chords and E minor chords as well ... this is the entry point to modal playing

trust your ears .. if it sounds good to you, it is good

cheers
t4d

Sure, but I want to know what is correct too :laugh2:

I read in the book, that if a song is in C for example, you can solo with the C major scale over ALL the chords in the progression. Did I understand this right?

So if a song was in G I could solo over all the chords in the progression with the G major scale as well..right?? Just trying to get the basic idea.

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

Sure, but I want to know what is correct too :laugh2:

I read in the book, that if a song is in C for example, you can solo with the C major scale over ALL the chords in the progression. Did I understand this right?

So if a song was in G I could solo over all the chords in the progression with the G major scale as well..right?? Just trying to get the basic idea.

All the chords in a chord scale are built from those individual notes in the scales. Which gives you the freedom to pretty do whatever you like.

Correct really doesn't matter, it can be a limiting mindset, IMO. It ain't a math problem, its musical expression, when you think too much about what is supposed to go where you can lose touch with the artistic side of things. Trust those ears and take chances.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

without getting into theory, yes you can use the fingerings used to play a c major scale to play an a minor scale ... it will all come down to phrasing to determine how the notes you are playing fit over the chords

interestingly, with little variation, you can use the fingerings you use to play a c major scale over D minor chords and E minor chords as well ... this is the entry point to modal playing

trust your ears .. if it sounds good to you, it is good

cheers
t4d

+1

Even then, look at Jimi Hendrix and others: they'll "borrow" notes from other scales while playing. Nothing wrong with that. Also, check surf music: lots of chromatics. Each style has its own thing. There's the flatted ii used in metal as well.

 

[Sune]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

All the chords in a chord scale are built from those individual notes in the scales. Which gives you the freedom to pretty do whatever you like.

Correct really doesn't matter, it can be a limiting mindset, IMO. It ain't a math problem, its musical expression, when you think too much about what is supposed to go where you can lose touch with the artistic side of things. Trust those ears and take chances.

Yes, but I feel that in order to be able to create, I need to be able to at least understand why.

Perhaps the reason why I think this way, is because I don't even have my ukulele yet. I can understand most of the theory that is described in the book but I can't try it out yet, because the state hasn't given me the money that they were supposed to give me earlier :smack: . So I'll probably have to wait a little over a week before I can actually try it out. But it sounds like I can use the Major scales for pretty much anything, which is a good thing, then I don't have to memorize too many scales, at least not in the beginning.

Let me see if I got everything right then. I can use the relative major scale for any minor chord, right? I should also be able to use the relative major scale to solo over a song that's in a minor key, right? Would that fit all the notes that the chords are built on too, since we established earlier that a C major scale for example, is the exact same thing as the A minor scale, because they are relatives and contain the same notes?

Sorry if my question is a bit confusing. I'm just trying to see if I got things right in my head.

 

[Sune]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

+1

Even then, look at Jimi Hendrix and others: they'll "borrow" notes from other scales while playing. Nothing wrong with that. Also, check surf music: lots of chromatics. Each style has its own thing. There's the flatted ii used in metal as well.

That's a good point, but I guess I need to learn the basics before I can go further and add notes from other scales, etc... Or do I have the completely wrong mindset? :smack:

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

I'm not sure, but I think George Benson said " You are only a half step away from a correct note" or something like that....when referring to hitting a "clunker".....Play what sounds good to you.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

That's a good point, but I guess I need to learn the basics before I can go further and add notes from other scales, etc... Or do I have the completely wrong mindset? :smack:

Just play notes. Experiment.

 

[Sune]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

I can see where you're coming from, but I need to learn the basics of music theory, or else building a song might feel a whole lotta harder than it really needs to be.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

I'm pretty sure that is not possible around here. So the only way I can learn is by asking others and by reading stuff. Another thing I was wondering about is: can I use major scales even if the song is in a minor key?

If you play the scale of the "relative major" of the minor scale, sure. If you're in A minor, soloing in C major will work. Just play in the major scale of the key one minor 3rd (3 frets) up from the minor key of the tune. If it's A minor, play in C major, if it's G minor, play in B-flat major, and so on.

Later you'll learn how to make passing tones and other little "outside the box" moves work to create tension, but the above is a good starting point for what you're asking.

One thing to avoid in the meantime, and that is solos that sound like scales because that is BOOOOORING. Play in arpeggios (i.e., 1-3-5, 3-7-5, 5-9-7-2, etc., instead of 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 or vice versa, etc.) the way horn players naturally do and the solos will come to life because they will be far more melodic and compelling.

 

[Sune]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it. Sounds like I've got it right in my head then.

I won't make solos that sound like scales, because as you say, that's boring. But in the book there are lots of examples how you can solo with the scales, so I'll learn some different phrases, and not just 1-2-3-4-5-6-7.

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: Can I solo with major scales over minor chords?

One thing you should know is there are different minor scales. There are three. The one you're speaking of is the Natural Minor, which is the relative minor scale to C Major. There's also the Harmonic Minor and Melodic Minor scales, which are a bit different. I'm not sure of how well using those scales would work if you were to play a solo over those with the C Major scale. I guess that's kind of irrelevant, though, since you're probably not referring to those scales. But... just a thought. Might help you out in the future to know that there are 3 different minor scales.