how do you apply a chord to a scale?

[WhiteKong]

I've seen stuff about it on studybass but they never really tell you how to do it.

[Skywalker83]

Erm....not 100% sure what you mean. If you mean how do you play a chord in a scale then lets take for example Cmaj. In the C major scale you would play the notes C-E-G all at the same time.That would give you a Cmaj chord.

[fretlessman71]

Right - you don't so much apply a chord to a scale as you EXTRACT a chord from a scale. A chord is generally the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of a given scale (and often the 7th as well). If it's just the three notes, it's called a "triad", and if you add the 7th, well, it's some kind of a Seventh chord.

Every chord implies a scale - remember that.

[manutabora]

I think most of the time you actually want to think the other way around, how to apply a scale to a chord.

[Skywalker83]

The page that describes all this is right here on studybass

[EADG mx]

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

Right - you don't so much apply a chord to a scale as you EXTRACT a chord from a scale. A chord is generally the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of a given scale (and often the 7th as well). If it's just the three notes, it's called a "triad", and if you add the 7th, well, it's some kind of a Seventh chord.

Every chord implies a scale - remember that.

You can use the 2nd (9th), 4th (11th), and 6th (13th) as well. Also chords can imply multiple scales.

[fretlessman71]

Originally Posted by EADG mx

You can use the 2nd (9th), 4th (11th), and 6th (13th) as well. Also chords can imply multiple scales.

Yep - there are no "rules", just "guidelines" and names for what we're used to calling things. But from a basic standpoint, the standard triad will get you there without confusing you with lots of other information. It's a good starting point.