Lesson 7 Putting it together Ok, ya learned that some scales are minor and some are major. Ya matched 'em up and practices 'till ya saw bone in your fret fingers. How in the world do we put this all together and make music???? Do ya have a copy of Lesson 4?? Remember this chart?? KEY Starting Pattern Starting Fret G pentatonic (vi) 3rd D Pentatonic (I) 3rd A pentatonic (ii) 3rd E pentatonic (iii) 2nd B Pentatonic (V) 2nd F#/Gb pentatonic (vi) 2nd C#/Db Pentatonic (I) 2nd Ab pentatonic (ii) 2nd Eb pentatonic (iii) 1st Bb Pentatonic (V) 1st F Pentatonic (I) 1st C Pentatonic (V) 3rd Now take the same chart and add in the modes! KEY Starting Pattern Mode Starting Fret A pentatonic (vi) - aeolian (vi) 3rd C Pentatonic (I) - Ionian (I) 3rd D pentatonic (ii) - dorian (ii) 3rd E pentatonic (iii) - phrygian (iii) 2nd G Pentatonic (V) - Mixolydian (V) 2nd F#/Gb pentatonic (vi) - aeolian (vi) 2nd C#/Db Pentatonic (I) - Ionian (I) 2nd Ab pentatonic (ii) - dorian (ii) 2nd Eb pentatonic (iii) - phrygian (iii) 1st Bb Pentatonic (V) - Mixolydian (V) 1st F Pentatonic (I) - Ionian (I) 1st C Pentatonic (V) - Mixolydian (V) 3rd 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 {Number of Notes in the Scale} A B C D E F G A aeolian (vi) {minor} A C D E G A pentatonic (vi) {minor} C D E F G A B C Ionian (I) {Major} C D E G A C Pentatonic (I) {Major} D E F G A B C D dorian (ii) {minor} D E G A C D pentatonic (ii) {minor} E F G A B C D E phyrgian (iii) {minor} E G A C D E pentatonic (iii) {minor} G A B C D E F G Mixolydian (V) {Major} G A C D E G Pentatonic (V) {Major} A B C D E F G A aeolian (vi) {minor} A C D E G A pentatonic (vi) {minor} Chart 1 This is the basics for starting the matching of the scales and modes to the neck of your axe. Let's say that you're in the key of Bm. By the chart above, you know that you'd start with pentatonic 4 on the 2nd fret. Key Scale Mode Fret b pent. (vi) - aeolian (vi) - 7nd fret D Pent. (I) - Ionian (I) - 10th fret e pent. (ii) - dorian (ii) - 12th fret f# pent. (iii) - phrygian (iii) - 14th and 2nd frets A pent. (V) - Mixolydian (V) - 5th fret How about the key of Am? a pent. (vi) - aeolian (vi) - 5th fret C Pent. (I) - Ionian (I) - 8th fret d pent. (ii) - dorian (ii) - 10th fret e pent. (iii) - phrygian (ii) - 12th fret G Pent. (V) - Mixolydian (V) - 15th and 3rd frets You might be scratching your scalp right now and asking, "How did he come up with the chords and the matching scales with it?" Here's how. Let's look at the first example of b, D, e, f#, and A. Memorize the "steps" between the notes. By the way, the definition of a step is a major second interval or any 2 notes that are 2 frets apart on the neck, so a half step would be a note or chord 1 fret apart from the previously played note or chord. The steps between the notes in a Major Scale are: Whole , Whole , Half , Whole , Whole , Whole , Half Well, the steps in a minor scale go: Whole , Half , Whole , Whole , Half , Whole (I'll abreviate these W and H) So, to figure out the where to play each scale, you simply find their location using the above formula. b to D is a whole step, d to e is a Half step, etc. b D e f# A b W H W W H Is this true? Check it out on your axe! Here is an example on your A string. A -A#--B--C--C#--D--D#--E--F--F#--G--G#--A--A#--B-- 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 {fret number} W H W W H {remember the definition! A whole step = 2 frets between notes, Half = 1 fret between notes} You can easily see the relationship here! If you're playing a song in the key of B, (like "Iron Man"), then you could improvise your solo using the above pattern!! Ok, now try to do the above in the key of Em! Here is a quick chart you can circle your answer on. E --F--F#--G--G#--A--A#--B--C--C#--D--D#--E--F--F#-- 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Finally, how do you get the major and minor chords out of this. Go back up to Chart 1. Notice the pattern once again. Whole , Half , Whole , Whole , Half , Whole {steps in the minor scale} e G a c D e {notes in the scale and the chords that will work} minor Major minor minor Major minor {Scale "degree"} pent (iii), Pent (V), pent (vi), pent (ii), Pent (I) {Pentatonic scales that work} phrygian Mixolydian aeolian dorian Ionian {Modes that work} See the relationship??? It's easy! Once you have this, you won't need to learn much more! You'll be mixing and matching scales and modes all over the neck! Once you master this, you will be able to hear a lick and know EXACTLY what the guitarist is playing, where on the neck and where he will go! Ok, enough already!! I know this lesson was long and with quite a bit of info in it but take some asprin and master this lesson, and get ready for the Circle of 5ths!! Mike