Theory Question: "Good Times" by Chic

[Icculus]

What is it that makes the C# work in the walk up to the A chord? The guitar chords during the "E" section of the line are Emin7 and E7sus. I know that C# is the major 3rd of the next chord, but Edwards uses it before the change, and it sounds better than using the C (minor 6th of E) or D (minor 7th of E) which are in the scale.

The Emin7 portion is just 3 hits on the low E, then he walks up an E dorian scale during the E7sus.

 

[dreamadream99]

The basic progression is Em7 to A7. This places the sound firmly in the E Dorian mode. The bassist is using that scale (mode) of E Dorian (E F# G A B C# D E).

 

[Les Fret]

The basic progression is Em7 to A7. This places the sound firmly in the E Dorian mode. The bassist is using that scale (mode) of E Dorian (E F# G A B C# D E).

Exactly. The number one funk scale!

 

[Ekajimmy]

The basic progression is Em7 to A7. This places the sound firmly in the E Dorian mode. The bassist is using that scale (mode) of E Dorian (E F# G A B C# D E).

+1
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