What scale do I use?


NickFerra
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NickFerra
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02/26/2016 6:52 am
Hi,
My band has a few songs and I am unsure what scales to use for lead and/or solo parts.

Song 1
Intro/Verse - D and C
Chorus - F, G, A, D and C

Song 2
Intro/verse/chorus - G and Cadd9

Song 3
Intro/verse/chorus - Em, C, G, and A

Song 4
Intro/verse/chorus - A, Asus2, Asus4 and back to A

Song 5
Intro/verse/chorus - C, E, Am (I add to the Am by also fretting the 3rd fret on the B string and then back to Am)

Song 6
Intro/verse/chorus - C, Am, Asus2, Am

Song 7
Intro/verse- Asus2, Am, G, C, B
chorus - G, and F
# 1
ChristopherSchlegel
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ChristopherSchlegel
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02/26/2016 7:13 pm
Originally Posted by: NickFerra
My band has a few songs and I am unsure what scales to use for lead and/or solo parts.

Most of this can be cleared up by working through my tutorials on improvisation.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=876
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=483
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=491

The general principle is to find the key of the song, then target chord tones as the chords change.

The best way to figure out how to find the key & modulate to alter the scale with the chord changes is to be clear on exactly what your melody line is. Does each song have a clear melody line? Or are you just working with chord progressions at this point?

I'll answer each chord progression you've listed later when time allows.
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# 2
NickFerra
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NickFerra
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03/03/2016 5:57 am
Ok cool. Right now I'm going through the introduction to the major scale with Lisa McCormick. So I guess it would be alright to go out of order and check these tutorials out you posted? Or should I wait and finish Lisa's lessons on guitar fundamentals 2?
# 3
NickFerra
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NickFerra
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03/03/2016 6:00 am
I can give you the link to my bands demo if you want. It has lead guitar on the songs I posted BUT that guy left our band and I'm trying to figure out how to play his riffs which is why i was trying to figure out the scales...The lead guitar parts he recorded are essential to some of the songs we recorded.
# 4
ChristopherSchlegel
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ChristopherSchlegel
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03/03/2016 2:27 pm
Originally Posted by: NickFerraRight now I'm going through the introduction to the major scale with Lisa McCormick. So I guess it would be alright to go out of order and check these tutorials out you posted? Or should I wait and finish Lisa's lessons on guitar fundamentals 2?[/QUOTE]
You'll need two things to play lead guitar parts.

1. The knowledge of which scale to use.
2. The physical technique to play licks!

If you are a beginner working through GF1, then I encourage you to finish, then go forward to the Rock course. In the Rock course you'll learn basic lead guitar techniques.

If you already have some basic lead guitar playing skills, then you'll do fine working on my improvisation tutorials!

Either way you can have a look at them. Even if you don't have the skills yet, you can start learning the ideas of how to play lead guitar.
[QUOTE=NickFerra]
I can give you the link to my bands demo if you want. It has lead guitar on the songs I posted BUT that guy left our band and I'm trying to figure out how to play his riffs which is why i was trying to figure out the scales...The lead guitar parts he recorded are essential to some of the songs we recorded.

Sure! Post a link. I can listen to them & tell you what he was doing. Does this mean the lead guitar is the melody of the songs? Or do the songs have vocals also providing melody?
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JeremyRodriguez
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JeremyRodriguez
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03/05/2016 2:55 am
Originally Posted by: NickFerraI can give you the link to my bands demo if you want. It has lead guitar on the songs I posted BUT that guy left our band and I'm trying to figure out how to play his riffs which is why i was trying to figure out the scales...The lead guitar parts he recorded are essential to some of the songs we recorded.

Transcribing is fun! I'd love to listen and help out as well if you don't mind!
14 Day Mini Course That Boosted My Alternate Picking by 30 BPM In Less Than a Week at NO COST at www.transformmusically.com

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# 6
NickFerra
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NickFerra
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03/20/2016 7:05 pm
Hey thanks for the reply. Sorry this took me so long to get back but here is the youtube link to our demo. The first song here is called Drive

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQR2WiaGGTc

Then there are 9 other songs on our youtube channel. Do you want me to list the chords to each song?
# 7
NickFerra
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NickFerra
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03/20/2016 7:12 pm
We have some new songs we are working on that aren't recorded yet that I will put the chords to on this post.



Song 1
Intro/verse/chorus - G and Cadd9

Song 2
Intro/verse/chorus - A, Asus2, Asus4 and back to A
# 8
JeremyRodriguez
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JeremyRodriguez
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03/21/2016 9:36 pm
Awesome NickFerra. I didn't realize Christopher posted his tutorials there. Definitely go through those, and it will help you build a foundation that will make lead playing much easier!
14 Day Mini Course That Boosted My Alternate Picking by 30 BPM In Less Than a Week at NO COST at www.transformmusically.com

FREE Download of Forsake Me Not's debut single and annual VIP membership! Limited spots at www.forsakemenot.com
# 9
ChristopherSchlegel
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ChristopherSchlegel
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03/23/2016 8:21 pm
Originally Posted by: NickFerra
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQR2WiaGGTc

OK, this is the one with the chord prog: Em, C, G, and A

Your guitarist is doing something like this:

|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|----------15-15(B)16-15-15(B)16---------15-15(B)16(B)15-12-|
|------14-----------------------------14--------------------|
|--14------------------------------14-----------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------|

|---------------------------------------------------12------|
|---------------------------------------------------15(B)---|
|----------15-15(B)16-15-15(B)16---------15-15(B)-----------|
|------14-----------------------------14--------------------|
|--14------------------------------14-----------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------|

So, he's outlining the E minor chord but adding a flat 5th. It sounds like the C in the beginning is actually a C7, which fits nicely together, because the B-flat is the 7th of the C chord.

But it's mostly just E minor with a flat 5th. Or E pentatonic minor with the flat 5th.

The vocalist is singing:

|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|-----4-4-5--5-5-4-4-------------------------|
|--2--------------------5--------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|

And that's straight E minor scale. So that would work also. The vocalist is usually carrying the melody & you can't go wrong just playing what he's singing.

Hope that helps! Work on those improvisation tutorials & you'll get the idea of how this stuff works.
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# 10
NickFerra
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NickFerra
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04/13/2016 7:22 pm
This sounds great. Thank you for your help.
Can you help me with another song?

One of a kind
# 11
NickFerra
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NickFerra
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04/13/2016 7:23 pm
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pVC2IRFtlZo
# 12
ChristopherSchlegel
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ChristopherSchlegel
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04/14/2016 3:29 pm
Originally Posted by: NickFerrahttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pVC2IRFtlZo

The intro lead melody starts clearly in C major with a nice little call & answer (or response) phrase.

Call

|-15-13-12-13-12-13-12-----------------------|
|-----------------------13-------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|

Answer

|-15-13-12-13-12-13-12--15-------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|

Which works nicely over what sounds like just an F - C chord prog. Then there's another Call, but a different answer over the G chord.
Call

|-15-13-12-13-12-13-12-----------------------|
|-----------------------13-------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|

Answer over G

|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|-0-4-7-12-7-4-0----4-5-4--------------------|
|---------------------------5----------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|

It sounds like it's an open g string with hammer-ons & a tap on the 12th fret of the g string. You could also play it like this.

|-------3------------------------------------|
|-----3---3----------------------------------|
|-0-4--------4-0---4-5-4---------------------|
|--------------------------5-----------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|

Either way, it's just an arpeggio, playing the notes of the G major chord one at a time while the rhythm guitar strums the G major chord. Then a nice little suspension ornamentation with the 3rd-4th-3rd-root of the G chord.

Hope that helps!
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# 13
NickFerra
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NickFerra
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04/20/2016 4:48 pm
This helps out tremendously! Thank you! Thank you!!
There is one part in the chorus though that I can't figure out. It's at 1:18 to 1:28. I really wanted to keep that lick for the song. Any chance you can help out with that as well?
# 14
ChristopherSchlegel
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ChristopherSchlegel
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04/21/2016 11:04 am
You're welcome!
Originally Posted by: NickFerra
There is one part in the chorus though that I can't figure out. It's at 1:18 to 1:28. I really wanted to keep that lick for the song. Any chance you can help out with that as well?

I'm traveling this week. I'll get back to you on this by next week. Keep practicing! :)
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ChristopherSchlegel
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04/27/2016 3:48 pm
Originally Posted by: NickFerra
There is one part in the chorus though that I can't figure out. It's at 1:18 to 1:28. I really wanted to keep that lick for the song. Any chance you can help out with that as well?

Solidly in C major.

|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--5--7--5--7-s-9----------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|

|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--7-9-h10-9-7-9h10-9-7--9-7h9h7-------------|
|---------------------------------9----------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|

|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|---10---------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------|

Note how the first 2 lines work nicely over the C to F major chords, then when the G chord happens, he winds up on the B note which is the major 3rd of that chord. I put the final C note on a separate line to indicate that he does it as the verse comes back in to coincide with the return of the vocals as the verse starts again on a C major chord.

As fun as this is for me, I encourage you to start working these things out for yourself. :) These are really nice melodic lines that are relatively simple & a great place to practice your pitch matching & ear training.

So, you try the next one, post the text tab & I can "grade" it for you! Give it a try! It'll be fun! :D
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jimidurso
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jimidurso
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08/13/2016 4:16 am

Here's my suggestions, but bear in mind I've not heard the songs so I dont know what feel they are, which could affect your decisions:


Song 1 D blooze scale (minor pentatonic) would work great over this and sound very rock & roll
Intro/Verse - D and C
Chorus - F, G, A, D and C
Song 2 a regular G major scale would sound nice. You could also go w/ G major pentatonic (same as E minor pentatonic) if you prefer.
Intro/verse/chorus - G and Cadd9
Song 3 either E aeolian or E minor pentatonic
Intro/verse/chorus - Em, C, G, and A
Song 4 A major or A major pentatonic
Intro/verse/chorus - A, Asus2, Asus4 and back to A
Song 5 A minor pentatonic would be simplest. You could use A aeolian or A harmonic minor, but you might have to be more careful in these.
Intro/verse/chorus - C, E, Am (I add to the Am by also fretting the 3rd fret on the B string and then back to Am)
Song 6 C major or C major pentatonic
Intro/verse/chorus - C, Am, Asus2, Am
Song 7 A minor, same as C major
You coould also play G major (C lydian) on the verse and C major (G mixolydian) on the chorus.
Intro/verse- Asus2, Am, G, C, B
chorus - G, and F

Hope that helps.
Twang!
# 17
NickFerra
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NickFerra
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09/14/2016 12:21 am

Christopher,

This is my band performing that song you helped me tabed out. One of a kind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDI7-ZpklN8

How did we do? haha


# 18
NickFerra
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NickFerra
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09/14/2016 1:29 am

Originally Posted by: NickFerra
Christopher,

This is my band performing that song you helped me tabed out. One of a kind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDI7-ZpklN8

How did we do? haha



I'm the guy on the far left. black fedora and mtv shirt lol
# 19
ChristopherSchlegel
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ChristopherSchlegel
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09/15/2016 12:15 am
Originally Posted by: NickFerra
This is my band performing that song you helped me tabed out. One of a kind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDI7-ZpklN8

How did we do? haha

This is wonderful! Thanks for posting the results. You guys have a solid tempo & groove, a fun upbeat tune, everyone is playing together at good relative volume. And you've got the audience dancing & grooving!

You guys sound good. Bravo! Well done!
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# 20

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