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rbarata · Post by **rbarata** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 1:40 pm

Hello, my friends

I have a song in the key of EMaj and on top of it I have a solo with the following notes:

E G A B D

So, the solo could be based on the DMaj, GMaj or Cmaj scales.
Is there any "technique" to know which scale it is?

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 1:53 pm

rbarata wrote:I have a song in the key of EMaj and on top of it I have a solo with the following notes:

E G A B D

That's the E Pentatonic scale.
And it's just my experience saying so

Gamma-UT · Post by **Gamma-UT** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 1:54 pm

The notes you've posted are more consistent with Emin - so could be the result of a maj->min mode shift. Hard to know without knowing the song.

Bobbotov · Post by **Bobbotov** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 2:16 pm

For Emaj the pentatonic would be E, F#, G#, B, C#. That is a minor pentatonic you have as Gamma pointed out.

You can see all the scales and their respective keys here if that helps:

http://www.apassion4jazz.net/keys.html

rbarata · Post by **rbarata** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 2:32 pm

Thanks for the replies

In that case it doesn't seem to be a very good choice: Em solo on top of a EMaj progression. In fact it sounds a little strange.

Bobbotov · Post by **Bobbotov** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 2:38 pm

rbarata wrote:Thanks for the replies

In that case it doesn't seem to be a very good choice: Em solo on top of a EMaj progression. In fact it sounds a little strange.

Well, either raise the G a half step to a G# or drop it half step to an F# and it would work.

Loki Fuego · Post by **Loki Fuego** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 2:42 pm

Just listen to whether the solo fits your song or not. I usually compose a bunch of elements like lead, bassline, maybe chords, and then based on that I just look at the notes I used, and use those notes as a reference point for other elements I add. I don't really care what scale is that as long as I'm not going to make change to another scale.

geroyannis · Post by **geroyannis** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 2:57 pm

I don't know your level/experience but if the song is using chords Emaj, Amaj, and Bmaj, with no sevenths, then it could be taking a blues approach, in which case E minor pentatonic (E G A B D) is the most commonly used scale.

jancivil · Post by **jancivil** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 3:28 pm

rbarata wrote:Hello, my friends

I have a song in the key of EMaj and on top of it I have a solo with the following notes:

E G A B D

So, the solo could be based on the DMaj, GMaj or Cmaj scales.
Is there any "technique" to know which scale it is?

so you want to make a five note scale into seven note scale, it depends what you want that for.
given the key of E I don't think there's a lot of call for saying it's based in another key really.

you have a five note scale though, and it's known as the minor pentatonic on E. it does not have to be founded in any seven note scale.

rbarata · Post by **rbarata** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 3:44 pm

The chords basically spans from the I to the V, going through the ii and iii, with 7th chords. So I guess I should use the EMaj pentatonic instead.

dandmkirkwood · Post by **dandmkirkwood** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 9:34 am

It's Em panatonic. This can be played in the key of Emaj depending on the progression. For a basic bluesy progression with chords such as E, A, B, even D and G for a temporary key change to Em this will work quite nicely, but if you are using alot of chords only found in strict Emaj such as F#m, Abm, Dbm, this scale will ruin it. I suggest you use your ear, that's the best way to know what works and what doesn't. Other scales u can use is Emaj scale, D#m panatonic, even AMaj will work half the time, have fun with it and see what u can come up with, and keep us posted how you go, good luck.

rbarata · Post by **rbarata** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 10:12 am

When I use the Em pentatonic scale to solo it doesn't sound bad, just different. I believe it sounds ok because in the solo section the chords are the I, V and IV.
They are all played using power chords so the chord tones involved are E-B, B-F# and A-E. These notes exist in the Em pentatonic scale as well as in the EMaj scale, except the A.

Another pattern that fits is this one: E F# G# B C#.
This could be interpreted as part of the EMaj pentatonic scale but, because of the A5 chord, the most correct is to think of it as part of the EMaj scale.

Am I thinking right?

geroyannis · Post by **geroyannis** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 3:12 pm

rbarata wrote:Am I thinking right?

Yes.

rbarata · Post by **rbarata** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 3:19 pm

rbarata wrote:
Am I thinking right?
Yes.

Great!

Thanks!

thebaggytrouseredone · Wed Sep 14, 2011 3:51 pm

If you are using the power chords E5 A5 and B5 the progression can be major or minor as you have no 3rd in the chords.

Eg - E major - E G# B - E minor - E G B - E5 (no 3rd) E B

Another example comparing major and minor scales

E major scale - E F# G# A B C# D# E - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

E minor scale - E F# G A B C D E - 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7

E major penatonic - E F# G# B D# - 1 2 3 5 7

E minor pentatonic - E G A B D - 1 b3 4 5 b7

The pentatonics are variations on the relevant major and minor scales so for a song in E minor you can use the minor scale or minor pentatonic, major key - major scale or major pentatonic.

The chords E5 - E B, A5 - A E and B5 - B F#, those notes belong to both E major and E minor scales so you can use either major of minor pentatonic.

I hope this helps,

simon

Solo scale question