Quote:
Originally Posted by ElectroVibe
(Post 13984565)
This question could apply to this song or any other that uses this common mode or whatever it is that is used in this song and other rock songs like it.
How do you approach this song if you don't know the theory behind the different modes?
Normally I would just keep it simple. (And I'm sure that is what the Lyrnyrd Skynyrd bassist probably did.) But what if you really wanted to "explore" the song. Other than just playing by ear, is there a simple way to think of it in regular scales, or do you have to actually learn the mode used in this type of song?
Thanks.
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Well first I would not be playing modes. Modes are melody notes and I play chord tones or notes of the chord. So here is what I would do.
I first find the chord progression on the song by asking Google for: Guitar chords, Sweet Home Alabama -- and got this.
http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/l/ly...labama_crd.htm
OK now that I have the chords I next want to know the key. Why? So I can place the root note of my Major Scale Box Pattern over the note found on my fretboard.
Code:
Bass Patterns based upon the Major Scale box.
Major Scale Box.
G|---2---|-------|---3---|---4---| 1st string
D|---6---|-------|---7---|---8---|
A|---3---|---4---|-------|---5---|
E|-------|---R---|-------|---2---|4th string
Want to build a bass line around the Cmaj7 chord? Place
The R in the box over a C note on your fretboard. The one
at the 4th string 8th fret is what I would use. Then play
the R-3-5-7 found within the box. Those are the notes of
the Cmaj7 chord.
Quote:
Basic Chords
• Major Triad = R-3-5
• Minor Triad = R-b3-5
• Diminished Chord = R-b3-b5
7th Chords
• Maj7 = R-3-5-7
• Minor 7 = R-b3-5-b7
• Dominant 7 = R-3-5-b7
• ½ diminished = R-b3-b5-b7
• Full diminished = R-b3-b5-bb7
See a chord and play it's chord tones. As every key will have three major, three minor and one diminished chord it's a good idea to get your major, minor and diminished bass line chord tones into muscle memory so when you see a chord your fingers just know what will work. Now the song may only give you enough room for the root, or root five - adapt and get as many chord tones into your bass line as needed. Root on 1 and a steady groove from the other chord tones plus something to call attention to the chord change will keep you gigging.
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Next thing I would do is decide what key is being used in that fake chord sheet music. Notice how all the verse lines end with the G chord. That tells me that this song is to be played in the key of G. Key of G major chords are; G, C & D or D7. It is here that I use the Nashville number system and on the fake chord I substitute Nashville numbers for chord names, i.e. ......
Key of G has these chords: G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em, F#m7b5
Nashville numbers for that..1..2.....3.....4..5..6.....7
I put a 1 over the G chord notation on the fake chord, and yes a 4 over the C's and a 5 over the D's. Then I place my major scale box so it will have the notes of the key of G in them. Forth string 10th fret and then play from the fake chord.
Lyric syllable - one note per syllable. Big wheels keep on turn-ing. OK Big gets one note and I'm going to play just roots for now - so D chord is what Nashville number? Yep, it's a 5. So in my box I grab a 5 for one beat. Now up comes the C chord over the lyric word "wheels" so I sound the C chord or 4 on my box. Now the lyric words "keep on" each need a beat of the 4 and then the word "turn-ing" is going to need a G chord and that is the 1 Nashville number, so I sound the 1 in my box twice, why twice? because "turn-ing" has two syllables.
That's it. Keep going with all the verses of the fake chord.
Gotta go, will check back later.
