Ahh! Help!

[Sonorous]

Ok. So there is a talent show on Friday and my friends and I will be playing Sunshine Of Your Love.

Now, I would like to try and improv some stuff into it towards the end.

What key is it in? I think it's D, or maybe A. Are these majors? Is that little two riff variation a key change? Does it change to G?

Ok so after that is out of the way, what scales do I need to know in that key? I mean, I've got no problem learning scales and such, but what do I do with them?

Do I just screw around using the notes in that scale and nothing else?

 

[Sonorous]

I've got to bump this so it will be on the home page.

 

[Sonorous]

.

 

[Chris A]

If I remember correctly it's in A. You can think of the change to the 4 chord as a modulation if you want. You can either just solo in A or change to D over the D chord, depends on your approach. If it were me, I would change with the chord, but you don't have to. Just be careful if you solo over the chorus changes there's a C I believe. That would make me think that the whole thing is in Am.


Chris A.

 

[Sonorous]

Thank you. Any 3rd opinions?

 

[Lyle Caldwell]

It's in D. Almost all the chords are sevenths or power chords, so it's only roughly D major.

Main riff alternates between D7 C7 D7 and G5 F5 G5. Chorus goes A, C5, G7, A.

Clapton's solo is in D pentatonic minor (against D7) and A pentatonic minor (against A maj). Note- the minor 3rds are just passing tones. He quotes "Blue Moon" here and there.

Nevermind about minor over major or what's major, what's dominant, etc. It's a blues pattern with a lot of dominant chords and a flat seven. Pretty standard stuff now, but it was an ear-opener when it came out.

What you're calling a key change is just a I7-IV7 change, then the choruses target the V7.

 

[Sonorous]

Wow, that was very helpfull.