Chord progression & scale relashionships?

[nrosko]

I'm a bit confused as to how scales work with chord progressions. At present i write a chord progression then just hit the notes that sound right for the melody. But i feel i want to unerstand scales a bit more. The thing i don't understand is if i play 4 chords in a bar do you play 4 scales in the bar? Or just play the scale related to the first chord untill you change key?

[Ogg Vorbis]

I'm a bit confused as to how scales work with chord progressions. At present i write a chord progression then just hit the notes that sound right for the melody. But i feel i want to unerstand scales a bit more. The thing i don't understand is if i play 4 chords in a bar do you play 4 scales in the bar? Or just play the scale related to the first chord untill you change key?

It depends... For example, if you choose four chords in a row which are all in one key (or scale) then yes, you can use one scale. However, you might choose chords that do not lend themselves to a single key and so your scales that you play will need to change tonality.

The best and fastest way to learn is to analyze a bunch of songs that you love. Use a DAW or a special trainer devise to slow down the tempo without affecting the pitch. Figure out what the bassline, the melody and the harmonies are.

This will train your ear too. But it will certainly give you tremendous learning as you take the time to analyze songs.

I don't hear many people talking about study and analysis anymore. I think it's a great way to get the THEORY and the PRACTICE down pat.

[nrosko]

ok thanks i think i understand. I did listen to some music as suggested although it takes me a long time to figure out the chords.
maybe somebody could suggset a few good examples of music that vary from each other in compositional style. For example is there any music that does not lend it self to a single key within a single bar?

[eman8ions]

imo the best and quickest way to learn what you want to know would be to go to a music instrument/lessons shop and buy a beginners theory book or whatever kind jumps out to you when you page through a few.

Seriously, rather than remaining in the dark for months on end you'd be off to a sure start immediately.

Good luck!

[Max Headroom]

imo the best and quickest way to learn what you want to know would be to go to a music instrument/lessons shop and buy a beginners theory book or whatever kind jumps out to you when you page through a few.

Seriously, rather than remaining in the dark for months on end you'd be off to a sure start immediately.

Good luck!

This is exactly right. When I started learning, I spent a year surfing the Internet looking for information. I learned a little, but it was so slow. Finally, I decided to get a book and it was eye-opening. I learned more in two weeks than I had in the previous year.

First step: Buy a book and read it.
Second step: Use the knowledge from the book to analyze songs and create your own.

[jancivil]

I'm a bit confused as to how scales work with chord progressions. At present i write a chord progression then just hit the notes that sound right for the melody. But i feel i want to unerstand scales a bit more. The thing i don't understand is if i play 4 chords in a bar do you play 4 scales in the bar? Or just play the scale related to the first chord untill you change key?

I'm going to take a different tack and try to teach you to fish here (rather that resorting to some book's way), which is more like making music.

(There are no hard and fast rules in music, unless you're learning a style in a strict sense, which you have to have enough information to even do.)

The question is: "what relationship does the second, third etc chord have to the first?"

You can end up getting quite confused thinking of "scales", and have done.

Think in terms of melody. You're going to start with chord tones in all likelihood.
Find a connection between the tones in your first chord and the tones in your second chord, which aren't part of either chord.

Concrete example - two chords, Not In Same Key (quality of both = 'major'): Eb to C.

That C contains an 'E'. The Eb contains an 'Eb'. These aren't 'in the same key', here.
What notes, not belonging to either chord, aren't that jarring against either chord? 'F' is one. Note how F sounds against the Eb chord, moving to Eb. If it bothers you against that E in the C chord, replace the E with it. Now resolve it to the E.
Let's stay with that descending movement for a moment.

The Eb contains a 'Bb'.
let's find a way, descending movement, to incorporate the F to E manuever in this now. Hmmmm. Eb chord contains a 'G'.
Bb (G) F > E.

Now you have a row of notes which connect the two chords. Let's find another set to make it a seven note row, since you asked about a 'scale'.

Eb to C: both are neighbored by 'D'. Descending: Eb D C Bb G F E.
Wait, if you wanted 7 tones, we left out one, some sort of 'A', when you look at it.
Which do you choose? Let your ear be the judge, maybe.
Eb D C Bb A G F E?

If you happen to like A (better than say, Ab) here, it's a Bb major scale. Sort of a happy medium between scale of C versus scale of Eb? But not exactly either of these.
(also try this row of tones, replacing Eb with E. Try it against both chords. Play with the overlaps, see what works for you and what does not.)

Now, try these concepts out ascending, going from the C chord to the Eb chord, and see what you come up with.

(Key of C to Key of Eb exists along a continuum which can be described as a circle. I have indicated nother keys which fill in that circle.)

[vivies]

Hello nrosko,

First u should handle all chords and scales in all 12 keys, then practice the relationships between scales and the 6 natures of the chord.
To aswer your question, when 4 chords are played within a bar, we generally use 1 scale which can be common to all chords.

See here the improvisation basics :http://www.musiclassroom.com/cours/impr ... hp?lang=en

please feel free to ask me questions on this forum.

[nrosko]

Thanks for all your help I have learned alot in the past month or so. I now want to buy a proper full size keyboard & practice.