Originally Posted by: ToddstThe only thing I'm not sure of at this point is whether the key is in the major or minor version the scale shapes that I am playing (for example: A minor or C Major, D minor or F Major, etc). Any help there would be appreciated.

Context is everything. The only way to know what key (major or minor) you are in, is to identify the entire context.

Suppose you are playing around with these notes:

c-d-e-f-g-a-b

Those notes could suggest C major or A minor. You won't know until you've played them as a melody; in a specific order or pattern that suggests a root or home key. Many times that is even vague & hard to do without accompaniment that clearly outlines a chord progression to make the key explicit.

Let's say these chords are happening:

C major - A minor - D minor - G major (repeat)
Eventually ending on C major

Just about anything you do with those notes over those chords is going to clearly sound like you are in the key of C major.

But, if instead these chords are happening:

A minor - C major - D - minor - G major (repeat)
Eventually ending on A minor

Just about anything you do with those notes over those chords is going to clearly sound like you are in the key of A minor.

Notice that there is only one change in those groups of chords: the first two chords are reversed. But that means that the target, or end goal of each group changes distinctly.

But, what if these chords are happening:

D minor - C major - D - minor - G major (repeat)
Eventually ending on D minor

Playing the notes of the C major scale is going to sound like you are playing some kind of modal thing in D dorian. Again, this is because of the emphasis that gets placed on the D minor chord as the target chord that the progression aims at as its goal (& that is gets repeated).

One more example! How about these chords:

F major - G major - F major - G major (repeat)
Eventually ending on F major

This is another modal vamp. Even though you are playing the notes of the C major scale, those chords are setting the harmonic context. It will sound like you are playing an F Lydian or G mixolydian type of modal thing.

I have a tutorial on modes that might be beneficial:

www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=770

Hope this helps! Remember, context is everything. :)