1,051

(28 replies, posted in Music theory)

Here's how I would think of the tune. Might not be the same as the rest of y'all but for my two cents...

The chord changes are A D E, which indeed looks like a I-IV-V in the key of A. In this case though, that isn't correct. It's actually a I-VII-IV in the key of E, which is also known as e mixolydian. We arrive at e mixo by taking the 7th chord tone of the major scale (in this case D#) and dropping it 1/2 step. (If the song was in e major the progression would go E - D#dim - A.)

Cork to answer your scale selection question, you can play A major over the changes but it'll sound square and very much like you aren't following the song. The notes will all be correct but you'll be playing them at the wrong time. (More on that below.)

A minor pentatonic won't work for the reasons below. (Note that these are basic reasons and if you're a good enough improviser you can get away with anything.) (*disclaimer)
-    Over the E major chord (E G# B) you will be playing A C D E G. The A and G in your scale will clash with the 3rd of the E major. (G as a b3 of the chord can work, but it works much better in a different context that I discuss below.)
-    Over the D major chord (D F# A) you will be playing A C D E G. The G in your scale will clash with the 3rd of the D major.
-    The A major chord is least problematic, but the half step between the C in the scale and the C# in the chord is still an issue. In this case though it's a blue note, which you can get away with if you understand resolution. (Read that disclaimer again smile )

Clashing isn’t always a bad thing. Dissonance is important in music. But the dissonance has to properly resolve or it just sounds wonky and out of key. Suffice it to say that the a minor pentatonic is not a good "one size fits all" scale for this tune.

So you would instead play E mixolydian, which is enharmonic with A ionian. (Hence my "It's more about how the notes are used" comment.)

If you play this in A Ionian you will tend to resolve to A. However since this song is in E you want to resolve to your I chord...so even though the note selection is identical, "thinking" in e will (hopefully) result in resolving to the correct note(s) at the correct time, creating happy noises.

E mixo:  E F# G# A B C# D

Note that the chord tones for all of the song's chords are in this scale (E G# B / D F# A / A C# E)

In my personal opinion that tends to sound a little square, so I play e major pentatonic and avoid that pesky 7th scale tone entirely...which to Russell's suggestion is enharmonic with C# minor pentatonic:
e f# G# B C#

For fun I'll throw in some e minor pentatonic just to create a bluesier feeling.
E G A B D

*Disclaimer: Strictly speaking a lot of these examples above involve playing b3rds and 4ths against major thirds, which is super common in blues and rock. The problem isn't really note selection but rather how the dissonant notes resolve to chord tones, and in the case of playing A minor pentatonic unless you're thinking in e, you won't resolve appropriately. Thus it will sound lost, dissonant, and likely that you are playing in the wrong key.

1,052

(5 replies, posted in My local band and me)

Thanks yall!

1,053

(28 replies, posted in Music theory)

E mixolydian is the same thing as A major. Sooooo you're both right. It's more about how the notes are used...

1,054

(5 replies, posted in My local band and me)

Thanks!

1,055

(5 replies, posted in My local band and me)

Just finished this bad boy. Fun to play smile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqLZ4Ow … 8uDkozD-xg

1,056

(11 replies, posted in Song requests)

In the video I'm watching it looks like he's playing power chords.

1,057

(17 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Junas, it raises the pitch of open position chords by four 1/2 steps. So instead of an "e" shape chord sounding an "e" it would sound a G#/Ab.

1,058

(9 replies, posted in Acoustic)

How high was the action? Very high?

1,059

(4 replies, posted in Recording)

try downloading chrome and doing a browser-based upload that way.

1,060

(17 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

AAAAAND I'm back. Volcano missed me.....or maybe it's better to say I missed it lol.

1,061

(17 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Northern lights were amazing yesterday. Hoping to land some big browns and char today. Will keep you all posted!

1,062

(17 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Doug_Smith wrote:

We are just hoping that he manages to get on the ground!  News is reporting another eruption of one of the Volcanos there..... last time it messed up air travel all over Europe due to the dust plumes.

BGD could be either sitting in some airport on the way waiting for a flight (camping), or wind up with an extended Holiday by not being able to get a return connection.

Fishing and Diving would be the high points.

Yeah they just escalated the volcano alert to orange. Fingers crossed!

1,063

(17 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

There's a dry suit dive between the two continental plates. Top 50 dive site in the world! 

#15

http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/esca … tes-895793

1,064

(17 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Hey Friends,

Going to be going to Iceland for some R and R this week. I will be gone nearly the whole week. Internet access will be limited. The schedule has me fishing for large brown trout and scuba diving. Wish me luck!!!

-BGD

1,065

(18 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSk-Zjon_h8

1,066

(10 replies, posted in My local band and me)

Makes me wish I could play harmonica. Great work.

1,067

(2 replies, posted in Electric)

Ya know, I just can't get on board with the multi-effects. I try as hard as I can to be as analog (or organic, if you will) as possible. I'm sure is psychological and bears absolutely no weight on my tone or sound...I'm also sure there are technique "things" i can do to improve my sound more than restricting my effects purchasing to stomp boxes.

1,068

(10 replies, posted in Acoustic)

For the non-drinkers: http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/brew … skets.html

1,069

(10 replies, posted in Recording)

Ohm my gosh watt are you talking about?

I have no idea about the answer but I couldn't help myself with the easy pun.

Love the story behind your crib!

Good work! What's happy hollow?

1,072

(3 replies, posted in My local band and me)

You should do one of those guitar duels. smile

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYW177hXFE8

1,073

(2 replies, posted in Poems)

Good luck with that. smile

1,074

(27 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

What is your favorite type of beer? I will have one in your honor.

1,075

(7 replies, posted in Acoustic)

hi