The Spanish scales

OMG this is such a noob question but i cant help it. What scales does one use to get that "spanish" sound. THink of Anotnio Banderas' film "Once Upon a TIme In Mexico" (Didnt even know he could play the guitar :). As far as i can tell its not a straight up aeolian scale. I want to put a little spanish flavour into my playing but cannot get that sound by using the aeolian. THanks so much to whoever replies.

try the Phrygian and Harmonic minor. There is such a thing called the Spanish and Gypsy Scales. They are very similar. The convert the Spanish to Gypsy scale, the 6th note is increased by half step. So in E the Spanish would be E F G# A B C D and the Gypsy would be E F G# A B C# D. The C is increase by half a step.

Go to my lesson site: http://lessons.mikedodge.com

Follow the link for Phrygian Dominant Tutorial. That will get you moving in the right direction.

Originally Posted by: gennationGo to my lesson site: http://lessons.mikedodge.com

Follow the link for Phrygian Dominant Tutorial. That will get you moving in the right direction.

OMG you're kidding me that's YOUR site? i downloaded your whole 'advanced pentatonic' section.

Originally Posted by: pureOMG you're kidding me that's YOUR site? i downloaded your whole 'advanced pentatonic' section.

Excellent. Yes, that's my site!

I have a bunch of new stuff I'm working on too, so stay tuned.

I hope it's helping :)

Wow, I do like the Phrygian Dominant Tutorial. :D

I apologize if this has already been established, but I have not had time to read the above advice.

I saw that somebody mentioned the Phrygian Scale, which is a great choice for a Spanish sounding scale. That scale is based off the third mode of Major.

There is another scale though often referred to as the Spanish/Jewish scale. It's formally called the Phrygian Major scale and it's based off the 5th mode of Harmonic Minor.

What you do- take a Phrygian scale that you already know, and raise the third note a half a step. That'll give you the Phrygian Major scale. Or if you want to think about it this way- it has a lowered second, lowered 6th, and a lowered 7th. Whereas the Phrygian scale has a lowered second, LOWERED THIRD, lowered 6th, and lowered 7th.

Originally Posted by: ajweibeI apologize if this has already been established, but I have not had time to read the above advice.

I saw that somebody mentioned the Phrygian Scale, which is a great choice for a Spanish sounding scale. That scale is based off the third mode of Major.

There is another scale though often referred to as the Spanish/Jewish scale. It's formally called the Phrygian Major scale and it's based off the 5th mode of Harmonic Minor.

What you do- take a Phrygian scale that you already know, and raise the third note a half a step. That'll give you the Phrygian Major scale. Or if you want to think about it this way- it has a lowered second, lowered 6th, and a lowered 7th. Whereas the Phrygian scale has a lowered second, LOWERED THIRD, lowered 6th, and lowered 7th.

That's commonly referred to as the Phrygian Dominant scale. But, I've heard it called the Phrygian Major from time to time.

That's the scale my tutorial, I posted above, is about.

Awesome scale. It lives on it's own really nice but is also very powerful of Dominant 7 chords in general, especially when a Dom 7 chord is used as the turnaround for a minor progression.

Originally Posted by: gennationThat's commonly referred to as the Phrygian Dominant scale. But, I've heard it called the Phrygian Major from time to time.

That's the scale my tutorial, I posted above, is about.

Awesome scale. It lives on it's own really nice but is also very powerful of Dominant 7 chords in general, especially when a Dom 7 chord is used as the turnaround for a minor progression.

Yes, it is an excellent scale. I never thought of it as being called the Phrygian Dominant scale, but I'm assuming thats derived from it's root as the V of harmonic minor.

My most practical usage for it is when there is a Dom7(b9) chord. When it comes to straight Dom7 chords, I'll stick with Mixoldyian when we're talking a straight 2-5-1 progression or blues. But when there's a dom7 chord out of the key, I use a Lydian b7 scale (speaks for itself, #4 and a b7).

Good talking with you on this gennation. I'm a third year student, 19, at Greensboro College studying under Greg Hyslop for jazz/classical guitar. I'm working on my bebop game quite a bit- so I always love talking about theory....just keeps my mind going especially on summer vacation. I'll check out your webpage. Keep in touch. [email]aweibe@gmail.com[/email]

Originally Posted by: ajweibeYes, it is an excellent scale. I never thought of it as being called the Phrygian Dominant scale, but I'm assuming thats derived from it's root as the V of harmonic minor.

My most practical usage for it is when there is a Dom7(b9) chord. When it comes to straight Dom7 chords, I'll stick with Mixoldyian when we're talking a straight 2-5-1 progression or blues. But when there's a dom7 chord out of the key, I use a Lydian b7 scale (speaks for itself, #4 and a b7).

Good talking with you on this gennation. I'm a third year student, 19, at Greensboro College studying under Greg Hyslop for jazz/classical guitar. I'm working on my bebop game quite a bit- so I always love talking about theory....just keeps my mind going especially on summer vacation. I'll check out your webpage. Keep in touch. [email]aweibe@gmail.com[/email]

Excellent. Sounds like you are into things heavily.

I was also going to mention, for those domb9 chords, also experiment with the H-W tone scale starting in the Root of the chord. It'll open up the diminished and symmetrical world for you.

With the Prhygian Dominant, Lydian Dominant (Lydian b7), and the H-W tone scale, you'll find you've opened up diminished phrases, or paths, all over the place. And, you'll find all the chromatic passages too.

I plan on doing a tutorial on a number of things along these lines. Time has been an issue though, and I have stuff in the works that needs to be completed ad released first.

Keep up the good work.