Originally Posted by: roustaboutLet me make the I chord A, the IV chord D and the V chord E. The I chord is easy in pop, rockabilly and blues using a A major, pentatonic or blues scale but then the IV chord arrives and uhh..., does one play a corresponding D major, pentatonic or blues scale in any of the five positions and also do the same with the V position E?
Start by learning to stay in key. Use these 2 principles.
1. Use the notes from the scale that forms the key of the chord progression. In this case the A major scale.
2. Target chord tones. This means to melodically & rhythmically emphasize the notes of each chord as it happens. Fortunately all 3 chords have notes that are all in the A major scale.
Have a look at these tutorials on the basics of improvisation & learning to play in key over chord changes.
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=876
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=483
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=491
So you can move all over the neck, but still stay in one key & target chord tones of the chords as they change. Make sense? :)
There are also ways of playing using blues scales, pentatonic boxes but following chord changes & targeting chord tones. Here are a few tutorials aimed at that approach.
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=217
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=232
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=244
There are more advanced approaches to improvising that involve changing scales as the chords change. That happens in some blues & jazz. But as a beginner it will help to get a firm grasp on staying in key before you try more complex approaches.
I show a simple way to start thinking about that approach in these tutorials.
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=826
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1614
So ultimately, you can stay completely in key or you can change (modulate) with the chord changes as they happen.
Hope this helps. Please ask more if necessary. Best of success!
