How To Choose A Guitar Scale To Solo With
Every beginning guitarist wants to jump in and start playing solos
. But the first question is always "What notes do I play?" Today, let's take a look at how to choose a scale to play over a particular chord.
There are a variety of ways to think about choosing a scale, and this is just one. But it's a powerful one that can open up a lot of new melodic avenues for you.
Let me make one thing clear from the beginning. You can play absolutely anything you want as long as it sounds good to you. I learned long ago that you can play any note anywhere as long as it's played with conviction and meaning. So if you hear a sound you like, follow it. Let the theory nerds figure out how to explain it!
Now, if you're like me and would like to be a theory nerd, let's dig in...
We'll start with a simple C Major chord, spelled C E G. How many different scales can be played over this chord? Our main idea here is that, as long as your scale includes two or three notes, the other notes in the scale can be extremely variable.
The obvious place to start is a C Major scale: C D E F G A B C
But let's change around some of the notes that are outside the chord and see what we can come up with:
Basic ones using all three chord tones:
C D E F# G A B C - C Lydian
C D E F G A Bb C - C Mixolydian
C D E G A C - C Major Pentatonic
A B C D E F G A - A Natural Minor
More advanced ones using two chord tones:
F# G A B C# D E - F# Phrygian (this is based on a tritone substitution with the C# acting as a b9 here.)
F# A B C# E - F# Minor Pentatonic (same as above)
E G A B D - E Minor Pentatonic (no C)
C Eb F G Bb C - C Minor Pentatonic (creates a bluesy sound)
Scales that only use one chord tone
B D E F# A - B Minor Pentatonic (we avoid the C and G altogether here)
C# E F# G# B - C# Minor Pentatonic (C#/Db is a b9, G#/Ab is a b13)
That gives you 10 different scales to play over a simple C Major chord, moving from the most consonant choices to some pretty dissonant ones. Don't try to attack them all at once. Spend some time with each one and see what it can do.
Now, here's one of my favorite tricks. Let's say you've got a collection of scales that will work over that chord like ours here. Instead of thinking about 10 different scales, could you merge them all into one giant scale?
C C# D Eb E F F# G G# A Bb B C
In fact we can. And guess what? It's a 12 note chromatic scale. We use every note. Which takes us back to my initial statement that you can play anything you want as long as you like the sound of it and play it like you mean it.
To really get into this idea, play around with each of the scales above. Then start letting your ear guide you and don't worry about coloring outside the lines.
How To Choose A Guitar Scale To Solo With
By: Phil Johnson
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