mode/scale

[OuTsIdEr_LP]

Hi

I've got a song that goes like this:

A E F#m D
A E D


What modes/scales/etc can I play over that ?
I'm still learning about scales and modes and am finding it hard to apply to my playing.

[WhiteKnuckles]

I'm not comfortable enough with modes myself to use them 'with intent' when writing. That said, there is always the quick fallback....the relative minors and majors.

A = F#m
E = C#m
F#m = A
D = Bm

Using the pentatonic versions of the above are a good way to make your runs and fills not sound so 'scalar'.

[ysand]

I guess A mixolydian and D ionian will do
Also F# pentatonic minor would do too
Mix em up :P

[projectMalamute]

Well for what it's worth you are in the key of A:

I - V - vi - IV
and
I - V - IV

I really recommend playing the changes as they happen rather than trying to find a scale that fits over everything, but you will have all the correct chord tones if you just stay in A(that's A major, or the Ionian mode).

The A mixolydian and D Ionian modes will give you come weirdness with the E chord which you may or may not like. Both will have some 'wrong' chord tones there.

[mutedeity]

Originally Posted by WhiteKnuckles

I'm not comfortable enough with modes myself to use them 'with intent' when writing. That said, there is always the quick fallback....the relative minors and majors.

A = F#m
E = C#m
F#m = A
D = Bm

The chords as presented most obviously form the "key" of A Major. A is your relative Ionian, E is your relative Mixolydian, D is your relative Lydian and F# is your relative Aeolian. In this context C# is not the relative minor of E, it is the relative Phrygian of A. By saying that C# is the relative minor of E you are implying that E is the Ionian.

There is no reason that these chords necessarily have to form a particular key on the other hand. for example, you could play Mixolydian over all the major chords, or any number of alternate scales for that matter. I would say in this case though that the "key" of A major is the most likely analysis.

[edit] By the way this is a general instruction question and has little if anything to do with technique.

[OuTsIdEr_LP]

Thanks for all that. I think i'm left more confused them before.
So, this is in A and the chord progression is:
I - V - vi - IV
and
I - V - IV

What can I do to make this sound better?

So far all I know how to do it play a few notes from the chords (1st, 3rd, 5th). What else can I do?

Also, can a moderator please move this to the right place, I wasn't too sure where to put it

[Pacman]

This is not Technique related. Moved to General Instruction.

[mambo4]

Originally Posted by OuTsIdEr_LP

So, this is in A and the chord progression is:
I - V - vi - IV
and
I - V - IV

What can I do to make this sound better?

So far all I know how to do it play a few notes from the chords (1st, 3rd, 5th). What else can I do?

Hard to suggest without info about the genre/style of music.
I'd start with just the root notes, using either 1/4 notes or 1/8 notes depending on the feel of the song try to find a basic rhythm that sounds appropriate. then listen to the other instruments + vocals and listen for places you can add ideas using the other chord tones or passionf tones.

Invent things and let your ear be the judge.

[OuTsIdEr_LP]

the problem is that currently I don't know what I'm allowed to play and what I'm not allowed to play. Is there any guidelines? Like a scale or a mode or something?
I'm bored of playing root - fifth over and over

[seventhson]

Those chords are from the key of A major. Agree with the poster above, try ideas out and come back to the ones that give you a woodie. At this stage of your experience level, if you learn a scale (oh, all right, you can use A major or A major pentatonic or go bluesy with A minor pentatonic), you'll go up and down the scale like connect the dots and stifle creativity in my opinion.

this is all just my opinion, but again at this stage of your development, i think it's better to focus on your grooving. just hit the root notes, maybe a fifth and an octave and make sure you are locked in with the drummer. that's what will make the song. don't get obsessed with note choices and have fun.

[OuTsIdEr_LP]

I have tried ideas out. So far I just play around with the root, third, 5th and octave. Sometimes the 6th too (1, 3, 5, 6, 8).

What can I do to "connect the notes" ?
Is that a walking bass line? How can I use the scale to add more notes and more options?

[Deacon_Blues]

I'd say use the A major scale and chord notes as your basic "playground" in this song, but use other notes as well, whatever fits. You don't have to lock yourself to a mode or scale. Chromatic approaches often sound good. That means you lead into the next chord by playing a chromatic progression, like if you go from A to D you can play |A-B-C-C#-|D... Or if you go from A to F#m you can try |A-A-G#-G-|F#.... or perhaps |A-G#-E-F-|F#....

Experiment with various chromatic approaches and you'll learn a lot of new things.

[axisluminary]

more than likely, you'll want to play that in A Ionian (your regular major). but you could also play these chords in the key of A Dorian (A minor with a sharp 6th). in A Major, the easiest F# scale to use would be the regular Minor scale, then your E scale is going to be your major scale with a flatted 7th (mixolydian). your D scale will be a major scale with sharp 4th(lydian). of course, these aren't the only notes you chould use, but yeah, use your ears.

[DocBop]

I would say the progression is in A major so you can play the Key Center of A. Remember the idea is to target notes that establish the chord change. You can think of the arpeggios of each or the chord/modes of A major to get the appropriate target tones for each chord. When playing in a single key center people use modes so they think different notes to emphasize on each chord.

Remember the two notes that identify a chord are the 3rd and the 7th so practice playing and targeting one of those two notes when the chords change. This is the meat and potato's basics so practice playing line that some one can hear the chord changes in the lines.

Once you have the basics above down then you can add more flavor with pentatonic or chromatics notes.

[JTE]

It's all in the key of A major so why waste time screwing around with different modes. Bottom line is that if you know and target the chord tones, and use the A major scale as your framework, you'll get to the same point as thinking of Ionia, Mixolydian, Aeolian, etc.

So, figure out the chord tones (which will make it clear to you that these are all from the key of A), and use those as your target notes.

jte

[OuTsIdEr_LP]

Should I then, learn the A scale (using Pacmans technique thats described in the sticky) and play noted from that that sound good?