• Astronomikal
  • Astronomikal
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  • From: Texas
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Topic: Question about changing chords while soloing

Hey gang:

My guitar teacher introduced me to the blues scale and I've been practicing it -- a lot.  I can play it pretty well but ther's a lot of room for improvement.  She also started me on a basic blues riff in A.  (We started out in E but I can't quite make the reach yet to pull of the B.  I'll get there eventually, but for now we're starting in A.)

My homework assignment this week is to develop a blues solo while she's playing the A-D-A-E-D-A-E progression.

Now, I've never tried a solo before, but I think I understand the concept.  The idea is to play any of the notes in the scale corresponding to the chord being played, preferebly in some sort of order which sounds nice.

So here is my question for those of you who know how to solo well:  When you are soloing, and a chord change occurs, how do your mind / eyes / fingers automatically adjust to the new note positions (for the new scale) on the fretboard?

For example, when the song changes from A to D, and you are soloing in A, do you automatically look for the nearest D (root) or common note between the two scales and then go up or down the D scale from there?

What I find is that when a chord change occurs, I have to stop my "solo", locate the starting position for the next scale, find a suitable note within that scale on one of the strings, and then I can restart.

Is this normal?  If not, suggestions?

Thanks,
'Nomikal

"Just because you've always done it that way doesn't mean it's not incredibly stupid." - Despair, Inc.
  • From: Central Flatland
  • Registered: 2007-05-30
  • Posts: 223

Re: Question about changing chords while soloing

A, D and E are all part of the A major scale.  The A-minor pentatonic scale, which is what your basic blues scale is based on, also contains the A, D and E notes.  It works out that just about any note in the pentatonic scale will "work" with those three chords in musical context.  It's nice to hit the chord tones on the beat when the chord changes, as this provides "resolution", but it also gets boring and predictable (from a listening standpoint) very quickly.   If you start on the A (fourth string 7th fret) and just noodle about a bit in the pentatonic, maybe sliding up from the D to the E (hitting the blue note on the slide) in time for the chord change to E, you'll be fine.

Disclaimer--  I'm by no means a soloist, I'm just learning to improvise as well.

"There's such a fine line between genius and stupidity."
                              --David St. Hubbins
  • From: Hampshire, UK
  • Registered: 2008-11-23
  • Posts: 306

Re: Question about changing chords while soloing

And just in case you need it here's the A minor pentatonic scale. Enjoy

http://www.guitarforanyone.com/minor_pe … scale.html

Jerry

Live the life you love, love the life you live
  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Question about changing chords while soloing

The beauty of chord progressions is you don't have to think about the chord changes if you know the scales well.

The A major scale contains all of the notes in the A chord, D chord, and E chord.

Observe

Chords:

A = A C# E
D = D F# A
E  = E G# B

A major scale

A B C♯ D E F♯ G♯

So what you do is learn to play that scale all the way across the fretboard, and you don't have to change anything.  You'll always be in key.

If you're playing a minor pentatonic over A, you should start with F# minor, as it is the relative minor to A.  All the same notes, though.  F#  G#  A B C# D E.  After a while you won't really even differentiate the major or minor, as you won't need to.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

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  • From: Probably Somewhere
  • Registered: 2010-12-09
  • Posts: 2,446

Re: Question about changing chords while soloing

I disagree with Jerome a bit. While you'll be in key by staying in a pentatonic, you will not necessarily be emphasizing chord tones. Ideally you'd stay in key and also shape your melody to emphasize the chord tones of the chords that you are currently on.

  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Question about changing chords while soloing

Baldguitardude wrote:

I disagree with Jerome a bit. While you'll be in key by staying in a pentatonic, you will not necessarily be emphasizing chord tones. Ideally you'd stay in key and also shape your melody to emphasize the chord tones of the chords that you are currently on.

You don't need to be in pentatonic at all.  You could choose from any of the seven modal scales presented this way (B dorian, C prygian, D lydian, E myxolidian, etc...) as all of them share the same key signature, and thus the same notes.  Each of those modes comes with a pentatonic form, too, so you're looking at 14 different options out of one scale pattern.

You're right in that melodically you'll want to resolving with the chord changes, but that becomes a whole lot easier once you stop worrying about whether the next note you play is going to sound odd.  Commit those patterns to muscle memory and you're now free to actually think about what you want to sound like.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website

  • From: Chesapeake,VA
  • Registered: 2008-11-12
  • Posts: 332

Re: Question about changing chords while soloing

Well said Dguyton.  Add to that a couple things as well.

When noodling about you'll find occasionally you land on the same note as the root in the chord you are accompanying. 

When noodling in the minor pentatonic scale also try repeating some patterns such as up one up two, down one, down two.  Like you said it goes together and your ears will tell you some of you pattern matches better. 

Disclaimer--  me too by no means a soloist, I'm just learning to improvise as well.

AccoustikNoyz's Website

  • From: Probably Somewhere
  • Registered: 2010-12-09
  • Posts: 2,446

Re: Question about changing chords while soloing

sry confused posters, thought you referenced pentatonic. that was dguyton.

  • Astronomikal
  • Astronomikal
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Re: Question about changing chords while soloing

Guys:

Thanks for the feedback.  I had to play around with this for a while before I got what you were saying.

I originally thought that when I changed from (for example) A to D, I had to shift from the A scale starting position (6th string 5th fret) to the D scale starting position (6th string 10th fret) until (DUH!) I realized that I already have the same "D" on the 5th string at the 5th fret.  Again, DUH!

So after that epiphany, I realized (as you said), I could start the D part of my solo from there, and I'm actually still playing notes in the A scale.

I realize you all probably already knew this, but this was a big ol' light bulb moment for me.

Thanks VERY much for your help.

'Nom

"Just because you've always done it that way doesn't mean it's not incredibly stupid." - Despair, Inc.
  • From: Tooele Ut
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 4,049

Re: Question about changing chords while soloing

If the light bulb goes and and doesn't light anymore, then we are finished. Be thankful it still works

You can see all my video covers on [url]http://www.youtube.com/bensonp1000[/url]
I have finally found happiness in my life.  Guitars, singing, beer and camping.  And they all intertwine wonderfully.
  • Astronomikal
  • Astronomikal
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Re: Question about changing chords while soloing

jerome.oneil wrote:
Baldguitardude wrote:

I disagree with Jerome a bit. While you'll be in key by staying in a pentatonic, you will not necessarily be emphasizing chord tones. Ideally you'd stay in key and also shape your melody to emphasize the chord tones of the chords that you are currently on.

You don't need to be in pentatonic at all.  You could choose from any of the seven modal scales presented this way (B dorian, C prygian, D lydian, E myxolidian, etc...) as all of them share the same key signature, and thus the same notes.  Each of those modes comes with a pentatonic form, too, so you're looking at 14 different options out of one scale pattern.

You're right in that melodically you'll want to resolving with the chord changes, but that becomes a whole lot easier once you stop worrying about whether the next note you play is going to sound odd.  Commit those patterns to muscle memory and you're now free to actually think about what you want to sound like.

Actually, I see what both of you are saying.  It sounds better (to my ear anyway) if you "land" on the root of the chord when the change occurs, but it's not always necessary.  For example, if you find the right repeating pattern, you can carry it across multiple chords and it sounds good too.

Again, thanks for the input.  I actually think I'm starting to understand this.  Getting good at it will take a while longer.  smile

'Nom

"Just because you've always done it that way doesn't mean it's not incredibly stupid." - Despair, Inc.
  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Question about changing chords while soloing

Astronomikal wrote:

I realize you all probably already knew this, but this was a big ol' light bulb moment for me.

I love those "lightbulb" moments.  These days I'm happy if I get a little flicker now and then.   smile

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website