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Dominant note

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cooder  
24 Feb 2006 14:51 | Quote
Posts: 2
Hello. I'm new to the list but impressed with the helpfullness of the posters.

With respect to scales and soloing, how does knowing what the dominant note in the chord progression is help? Or does it? For example, I'm playing a simple song in Am (Am7, Dm7, Em7) and trying to find the best scale to play (other than a pentatonic minor). Does knowing the dominant help me pick a scale?

Thanks.
gtrguru  
5 Mar 2006 20:20 | Quote
Posts: 15
Hi Cooder!

Here's my 2 cents (hope it helps).

I just 'spell out' the notes in each chord of the progression, 'squish 'em' together, and come up with my scale to use. For example:

Am7=A C E G
Dm7=D F A C
Em7=E G B D

Starting with A, the notes I come up with are: A C D E F G...

If you add a B note to this group of notes, you come up with the A natural minor scale (aka pure minor, aeolian mode, etc.)

There are no #s or bs, so you could just use the C Major scale to play over the changes (which, BTW, is the same notes as the A minor scale...)

Hope this helps and just doesn't add to the confusion!

Good luck!
cooder  
7 Mar 2006 08:03 | Quote
Posts: 2
gtrguru

Aptly named! Thanks for the help--I came to a similar conclusion using, for that progression, a Phrygian scale, which is very similar to a C major scale. Adds a nice jazzy feel.

Thanks again.


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