The minor scale, when to use it.

[jsa0100]

If i play all the notes in let's say the A-minor scale.
In a song that are played in Am at the same time.
In most cases some of the notes sounds falls in most
songs especially the 6'th (F in the case of Am).
But there are exceptions where it does not sound false.
Why is that ?

[mebusdriver]

go to youtube and look up a guy named marlowedk. check out his profile and search his videos using the word minor. he's got great examples of fills and walking using mostly the minor pentatonic scale and dorian mode.

In your question about tones sounding false well, it really depends on the chord not the key of the song. You'll use your arpeggios according to the "important" tones in the chord. Like an Am7 would pretty much be a dorian arpeggio, but an Am7d5 (minor 7 flat 5) has an altered tone so you'll need keep an eye out for little stuff like that. The chord may be based off of a minor chord, but it will have some tonal variations depending on the desired sounding, ie. changing a note here or there to make it sound different from every other minor chord.

Check out marlowedk.

[jsa0100]

Yes i have seen his videos and they are great.
And the dorian scale fits most of the time and that's the
scale i am using most of the time because i get read of
the troublesome 6¨th because it's raised a 1/2 step.
But i still don't understand why playing the A-minor scale
like 1+1/2+2+1/2+2 does not fit when the guitar and keyboard player
plays the A-min chord (some times it can fit).

[Chrispurchase]

Could it be melodic minor not natural minor?

[Forcemaster]

I think the problem you're having is why the minor pentatonic scale exists.

As far as I know, the minor pentonic removes the 6th and 2nd of the natural minor scale due to the fact these two intervals are dissonant against the tonic chord.

e.g. In A minor the tonic chord is A, C, E. B is a minor second below A and thus is percieved as dissonant, the same goes for the F, being a minor second above E.

[jsa0100]

Originally Posted by Forcemaster

I think the problem you're having is why the minor pentatonic scale exists.

As far as I know, the minor pentonic removes the 6th and 2nd of the natural minor scale due to the fact these two intervals are dissonant against the tonic chord.

e.g. In A minor the tonic chord is A, C, E. B is a minor second below A and thus is percieved as dissonant, the same goes for the F, being a minor second above E.

Well it's almost what i am woundering about.
In fact i understand why we have the minor pentatonic and the dorian (and most of the time i use those). I wounder if there is any use at all for the minor natural. it's 6'th sounds unatural in most cases (and some times it's 2'th), if there are exceptions what are they. ?
Becuse i remember there has been cases where it doesn't sound false. But most of the time it sounds odd.

[nysbob]

Originally Posted by jsa0100

Well it's almost what i am woundering about.
In fact i understand why we have the minor pentatonic and the dorian (and most of the time i use those). I wounder if there is any use at all for the minor natural. it's 6'th sounds unatural in most cases (and some times it's 2'th), if there are exceptions what are they. ?
Becuse i remember there has been cases where it doesn't sound false. But most of the time it sounds odd.

That why you have to use your ear to determine what's appropriate. If you're doing a little passing phrase, thase tensions might work well, but context is everything.

[Forcemaster]

Originally Posted by nysbob

That why you have to use your ear to determine what's appropriate. If you're doing a little passing phrase, thase tensions might work well, but context is everything.

+1

unfortunately, in music there's no hard fast rule on what works and what doesn't. All you have to do is experiment.

[EADG mx]

Originally Posted by jsa0100

Well it's almost what i am woundering about.
In fact i understand why we have the minor pentatonic and the dorian (and most of the time i use those). I wounder if there is any use at all for the minor natural. it's 6'th sounds unatural in most cases (and some times it's 2'th), if there are exceptions what are they. ?
Becuse i remember there has been cases where it doesn't sound false. But most of the time it sounds odd.

Correct, one reason why pentatonics are so useful (particular for melodies and solos) is that they remove certain dissonant and tense intervals. For example, C major and C major pentatonic:

C E G
C D E G A

Most of the intervals (1 2 3 5 6) are consonant. The 2 is dissonant but it's functioning as a passing tone between two consonances. The 4 and 7 (F and B) are more tense because they are not only dissonant intervals but are also a semitone away from chord tones and want to resolve (4-3 and 7-8). The 2 could resolve either up or down.


A Minor pentatonic:

A C E
A C D E G

Same deal, F and B are removed but function as different scale degrees. 6 and 2 instead of 4 and 7. They also want to resolve (6-5 and 7-8).