power chord possibilites


BarHook
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BarHook
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11/23/2002 12:25 pm
Now im pretty familiar with the fact the you can only really play a mode, if the chord behind it contains those notes etc, but would like to know, If you are playing over an E power chord vamp, you can obviously solo with E ionian, F# Dorian G# Phrygian and what not, but can you also play in any key which has E in it?
thanks
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# 1
SLY
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SLY
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11/23/2002 1:56 pm
The Power Chords are like an abbreviation for full chords.

For example you're playing a progression in Emin scale & using power chords, the E5 chords is like an abbreviation for Emin chord.

# 2
BarHook
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BarHook
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11/23/2002 2:01 pm
but how do you know that its an abbrev for a minor how do you know its abbreviating a minor chord and nota major chord becuase there is no IIInote in a power chord

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# 3
SLY
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SLY
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11/23/2002 2:05 pm
You can guess it, it's not hard at all. ;)
# 4
Christoph
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Christoph
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11/23/2002 6:33 pm

Power chords just contain a first, a fifth, and an octave. Depending on the chord progression, the third (major or minor) can be suggested, but since the third isn't actually being played, you have a wider range of available keys.

Say you have E5, D5, A5. You could play any number of modes over that - E minor/harmonic, E phrygian, E mixolydian, etc.

Try recording that progression in a loop and then solo over it using each of those modes for 4 bars. This is what Satch does a lot (called pitch axis). You'll find that the feel of the progression changes for each mode that you play. This is because when you change modes/key over that progression, the suggested major/minor tonalities of the chords shift. Have fun. :)

# 5
BarHook
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BarHook
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11/24/2002 10:10 am
k thanks alot
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# 6
TheDirt
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TheDirt
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11/25/2002 6:33 pm
E Power Chord = E5 = E and B

To solo over an E5 vamp, you can use any scale or mode that contains both E and B. It's that simple!

You can use
E Lydian - E, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#
E Ionian (major) - E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#
E Mixolydian - E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D
E Dorian - E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D
E Aeolian - E, F#, G, A, B, C, D
E Phyrgian - E, F, G, A, B, C, D

These are the E Modes that have a natural 5th (B). Notice that they are similar, but they all give different results.

E Harmonic Minor - E, F#, G, A, B, C, D#
E Melodic Minor - E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D#
E Phyrgian #3 - E, F, G#, A, B, C, D

These are three other scale choices. There are MANY others. Just use anything with both an E and a B.

Have fun trying these out.

"You must stab him in the heart with the Bone Saber of Zumacalis... well, you could stab him in the head or the lungs, too... and the saber, it probably doesn't have to be bone, just anything sharp lying around the house... you could poke him with a pillow and kill him."

- Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Universal Re-Monster
# 7
BarHook
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BarHook
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11/25/2002 9:14 pm
oh cool,
so could u play the C maj scake and its mode (d dorian e phrygian etc) because it contains E + B?
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# 8
TheDirt
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TheDirt
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11/25/2002 9:19 pm
Well, technically yes, you could play the C Major scale over the E5 powerchord, but it wouldn't be the C Major scale. You see, since you're playing over a tonal center of E, any scale or mode you play will have a tonic of E. So even though you're playing C Major, D Dorian, E Phyrgian F Lydian, G Mixolydian, A Aeolian, or B Locrian, (which all have the same notes) they'll all sound like E Phyrgian
"You must stab him in the heart with the Bone Saber of Zumacalis... well, you could stab him in the head or the lungs, too... and the saber, it probably doesn't have to be bone, just anything sharp lying around the house... you could poke him with a pillow and kill him."

- Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Universal Re-Monster
# 9
TheDirt
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TheDirt
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11/25/2002 9:32 pm
In case that last answer didn't make sense, here're a few more examples... The key to scale choices is the TONAL CENTER!!!

"Anything with E and B... I could play..."

A Ionian", but it will sound like E Mixolydian
B Ionian", but it will sound like E Lydian
C Ionian", but it will sound like E Phyrgian
D Ionian", but it will sound like E Dorian
E Ionian", which will sound like E Ionian (duh)
G Ionian", but it will sound like E Aeolian

"Hey, I could play F# Mixolydian! That's got an E and B!"

Well, if you did that, you'd be playing E Lydian, due to the tonal center.

Get it? Since the tonal center is E, no matter what scale you play, it's tonic will be heard as E by the listener, so when playing over single chords or vamps, think about your tonal center and pick a mode with that tonic. If your tonal center is C, pick the best sounding C scale, be it C Locrian or C Lydian or C Aeolian, it's up to you. Let your ear be the guide, but don't think that playing B Locrian over a C Major progression will sound any different than playing C Ionian over the same progression.
"You must stab him in the heart with the Bone Saber of Zumacalis... well, you could stab him in the head or the lungs, too... and the saber, it probably doesn't have to be bone, just anything sharp lying around the house... you could poke him with a pillow and kill him."

- Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Universal Re-Monster
# 10
BarHook
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BarHook
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11/25/2002 9:54 pm
k thanks for clearing that up
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Once you've lost everything.
# 11

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