Hi all.
I am bit confused on what notes I can or should play while soloing over chords. I purchased a loop pedal and have recorded a basic C->G->A transition. When I want to solo over these chords, do I need to keep my solo notes within the chord itself?
So for instance if the C chord is being played do I need to keep within the C Maj scale, or can I mix them up between C,G &A scales?
Any assistance is appreciated.
thank you
This year the diet is definitely gonna stick!
Originally Posted by: William MGI am bit confused on what notes I can or should play while soloing over chords. I purchased a loop pedal and have recorded a basic C->G->A transition. When I want to solo over these chords, do I need to keep my solo notes within the chord itself?[/quote]Great question!
The best place to start to learn to play melodies or lead solos (licks or improvisation) is to find a group of chords that are all in the same key, then learn to:
1. Find the key, or scale that works for all the chords (this is essentially what it means to 'play in key').
2. Use the notes from that scale to target the chord tones of the chords in the progression.
3. Build melodies (musical phrases that work in time with the chords).
I'm not sure of your knowledge & skill level, so I encourage you to start with these tutorials aimed at teaching the basic relationship between scales & chords.
Scales And Chords Relationships
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=426
[br]Using Scales to Connect Chords Exercise 1
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=427
Using Scales to Connect Chords Exercise 2
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=428
After you work through those, then you'll be ready to work through the next tutorials I suggest!
[quote=William MG]So for instance if the C chord is being played do I need to keep within the C Maj scale, or can I mix them up between C,G &A scales?
You can do it either way. You can stay in one key or scale, or you can change scales for each chord. It really just depends on what kind of sound you want to achieve. But the best place to start is to keep it simple & work in one key, before you start changing keys, modulating or making things more complicated than they need to be.
For example, in the progression you suggest, C major & G major chords are both in the keys of C major & G major. So you could play either scale over either chord. But the A major chord is in neither one of those! So it might be better to change that to an A minor chord.
With all that in mind, these tutorials will show you the basics of improvisation, what it means to play in key, how, when & why to step outside of that key.
[br]Introduction to Improvisation For Beginners[br]https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=876
[br]Improvisation in a Major Key[br]https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=483
[br]Improvisation in a Minor Key
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=491
Improvisation in a Major Key Series 2
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=2318
Improvisation in a Minor Key Series 2
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=2329
Hope that helps! Please ask more if necessary & have fun!
Thanks for the response Christopher. I'll spend time going through these. I'm sure it will give me the direction needed.
Bill
This year the diet is definitely gonna stick!
