How to find the right scale ?

[SwilsonR]

ClarkW to the rescue...

 

[lo lio]

Merci Clark, j'ai choisi A Majeur, G Majeur, D Majeur, E Majeur. ça a l'air de bien sonner. Maitenant je me prends la tête à trouver le bon son de guitare.

 

[cephas45]

Originally posted by Bruce Lindfield
I would say the way to find the right scale is to determine what the 3rd and 7th of the current chord are - these characterise the sound of the chord. Then find a scale which also has these same notes - easy!!

not all chords have 3rds and 7ths.

regardless, i would say that you should first pick a key center. without a key center, the scales that you choose may or may not mean anything in relation to one another.

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally posted by cephas45


not all chords have 3rds and 7ths.

regardless, i would say that you should first pick a key center. without a key center, the scales that you choose may or may not mean anything in relation to one another.

Well - the vast majority of "popular" music is based on chords with 3rds and 7ths - you will be very unlikely to play anything without either!!

And if you do - it will be very hard to work out what scales go with the chords - if not impossible!

Secondly - many tunes I've played, have more than one key centre - but this assumes that the original poster is actually writing a tune on this basis and knows about how to write around a key centre...which is very much in doubt from the replies we have had!!

Far easier to take existing tunes and see how these are built up - which is what I was suggesting.

 

[cephas45]

Originally posted by Bruce Lindfield


Well - the vast majority of "popular" music is based on chords with 3rds and 7ths - you will be very unlikely to play anything without either!!

True. I was merely pointing out its not a requirement.


And if you do - it will be very hard to work out what scales go with the chords - if not impossible!

Secondly - many tunes I've played, have more than one key centre - but this assumes that the original poster is actually writing a tune on this basis and knows about how to write around a key centre...which is very much in doubt from the replies we have had!!


Agreed. I remember when I was a youngster however learning the upright and playing in school orchestras, we were taught to read and play in the proper key signatures before we ever learned anything about scales and so forth and how they fit with chords in a pop tune.


Far easier to take existing tunes and see how these are built up - which is what I was suggesting.

Agreed.