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Prog rock scales?
- Thread starter Limelight
- Start date
There's nothing that makes a scale 'prog'...and there is no such thing as a 'prog rock' scale. Expand on your question a little more : )
Modal scales come to mind:
C major seven modes
1. C Ionian
C D E F G A B C
2. D Dorian
D E F G A B C D
3. E Phrygian
E F G A B C D E
4. F Lydian
F G A B C D E F
5. G Mixolydian
G A B C D E F G
6. A Aeolian
A B C D E F G A
7. B Locrian
B C D E F G A B
See where I'm going?
Basically, a mode of the C major scale uses only notes from that scale, but the roots are in different places.
It should be clear that in prog rock you aren't limited to what scales you should use, but in fact, you are only limited to what makes sense. Take the theory as far as you want to.
C major seven modes
1. C Ionian
C D E F G A B C
2. D Dorian
D E F G A B C D
3. E Phrygian
E F G A B C D E
4. F Lydian
F G A B C D E F
5. G Mixolydian
G A B C D E F G
6. A Aeolian
A B C D E F G A
7. B Locrian
B C D E F G A B
See where I'm going?
Basically, a mode of the C major scale uses only notes from that scale, but the roots are in different places.
It should be clear that in prog rock you aren't limited to what scales you should use, but in fact, you are only limited to what makes sense. Take the theory as far as you want to.
hm... trying to make a quick compilation of the most common scales in prog music (it's my favorite genre)
(not in this order)
1: minor (harmonic and aolian)
2: fridgean
3: lydian
4: dorian
5: diminished
I know there are more, but those are just off the top of my head.
I've heard a major scale with a flat 6 played a few times... anyone know what that scale's called?
oh, and a big +1 to modal playing. If you're gonna play prog, LEARN YOUR MODES!!!
(not in this order)
1: minor (harmonic and aolian)
2: fridgean
3: lydian
4: dorian
5: diminished
I know there are more, but those are just off the top of my head.
I've heard a major scale with a flat 6 played a few times... anyone know what that scale's called?
oh, and a big +1 to modal playing. If you're gonna play prog, LEARN YOUR MODES!!!
Also, there are three kinds of minor scales in classical music, and it's good to know this if you're playing prog:
Harmonic minor:
C D Eb F G Ab B C
Natural Minor:
C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
Melodic Minor (It goes down differently than it does going up):
Up: C D Eb F G A B C Down: C Bb Ab G F Eb D C
Harmonic minor:
C D Eb F G Ab B C
Natural Minor:
C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
Melodic Minor (It goes down differently than it does going up):
Up: C D Eb F G A B C Down: C Bb Ab G F Eb D C
I suggest the Refridgian mode for mental lubrication and socializing with your prog buddies.
(I play in an original instrumental proggish band and always keep a few mode, scale, and chord charts handy in case we are developing something new so I can confir with the guitarist)
example--throwing a few C# and F# 's into a G-Lydian section.
This applies to ANY musical genre---a few "cheater" charts lying around isn't really cheating if it makes an original song better.
(I play in an original instrumental proggish band and always keep a few mode, scale, and chord charts handy in case we are developing something new so I can confir with the guitarist)
example--throwing a few C# and F# 's into a G-Lydian section.
This applies to ANY musical genre---a few "cheater" charts lying around isn't really cheating if it makes an original song better.
guess I forgot my smily face thingy......HA
serious, though, we do have a fridge in the rehearsal studio
serious, though, we do have a fridge in the rehearsal studio
But you must wear a cape. A normal C Major Scale must be played with a cape....
prog rock in a nut shell.
I've never been exactly "with it" with respect to how various subgenres of music classify themselves, but here's a few ... "progressive" ... scales to try:
Octatonic: C C# D# E F# G A A# C
Basically, this just alternates whole and half steps. My example scale there starts with the half step because I like that "refrigerated" sound, but you can start with a whole step just as easily and get a leading tone up top. Another reason for the half step on bottom is that you can get both a major and minor triad starting on the bottom of each half step with this scale. This is important. I think jazzers might call one or the other (maybe both?) of the renditions of the octatonic scale a "diminished scale."
Whole Tone: C D E F# G# A# C
Goes up by whole tones...Pretty simple. If you like double and triple stops, try parallel major thirds, tritones, and minor sixths moving in whole steps with this one. Be careful with the major thirds (also m6), or you'll end up sounding like the end of a mario level. for Triple stops, try (C,E,A#) or the equivalent, once again moving by whole steps.
"Picardy" scale: C D E F G Ab Bb C
I made this scale (I think) and its name up. Sounds particularly good descending. Also try sticking that E on bottom and double stopping a m6. Note the refrigerated sound when descending toward the 5th. Use this.
Octatonic: C C# D# E F# G A A# C
Basically, this just alternates whole and half steps. My example scale there starts with the half step because I like that "refrigerated" sound, but you can start with a whole step just as easily and get a leading tone up top. Another reason for the half step on bottom is that you can get both a major and minor triad starting on the bottom of each half step with this scale. This is important. I think jazzers might call one or the other (maybe both?) of the renditions of the octatonic scale a "diminished scale."
Whole Tone: C D E F# G# A# C
Goes up by whole tones...Pretty simple. If you like double and triple stops, try parallel major thirds, tritones, and minor sixths moving in whole steps with this one. Be careful with the major thirds (also m6), or you'll end up sounding like the end of a mario level. for Triple stops, try (C,E,A#) or the equivalent, once again moving by whole steps.
"Picardy" scale: C D E F G Ab Bb C
I made this scale (I think) and its name up. Sounds particularly good descending. Also try sticking that E on bottom and double stopping a m6. Note the refrigerated sound when descending toward the 5th. Use this.
Don't forget to throw some chromatic in there. And if you are using a minor chord progression, on the final chord (assuming you land on a i chord), give the ol' picardy third. That's so prog it just sounds wrong. 
don't hate me if this doesnt sound right, but coming from a person who loves prog rock(mars volta, rush, king crimson frank zappa) I would suggest learning the blues scales and 12 bar blues and the blues progressions like I-IV-V. Mess with blues and see if you can make it proggy. If you like hendrix you gotta like blues. GOOGLE 'JAZCLASS SCALES' and it will give you all the blues scales for every key. ALso look into petatonic scales for soloing.
Back when I was in college (majoring in music), I had a "diminished fridgean" in my dorm room.
Didn't hold but a quart of milk and a few soft drinks, but it was the only kind that would fit under my desk.
I like messing with the whole-step scale. Every next note in the scale is a whole step up. It's not the most musical scale, but you can really makes some cool sound scapes with it, like being sucked into a blackhole or something. I think that Mahivishnu and King Crimson both have some interesting peices utilizing this scale.
