Jonny333":3bczxcd8 said:
Krisztian,
Just watched your vid again. Perhaps you could help me out. How do I even begin to start understanding scales, modes and their uses in soloing? I have fast fingers but they are trapped in a world outside theory which I really want to improve. If you can suggest anythings for me to check out or let me know how you got to your level I would really appreciate it. This goes for anyone who could offer some advice.
Peace.
It's not easy to tell, but it would be If I could show you personally..
You need to learn only 5 scale shapes regarding the modes, and you will know everything about it, I mean you can use them, and you can play on the whole neck, not only some directions as the most player do.
(the numbers are your fingers, 1 : index, 2: middle, etc. )
C lydian is the same as B phrygian, just the first note is C, not B.
F# locrian is the same as E minor, just the first note is F#, not E.
1st is G-major:
.................3rd fret
/------|--1---|---2--|------|--4---|
|------|------|---2--|------|--4---|
|------|--1---|------|--3---|--4---|
|------|--1---|------|--3---|--4---|
|------|--1---|---2--|------|--4---|
\------|------|---2--|------|--4---|
2nd is A-dorian:
...............5th fret
------|------|---1--|------|--3---|--4---|
------|------|---1--|------|--3---|--4---|
------|--1---|---2--|------|--4---|------|
------|--1---|---2--|------|--4---|------|
---1--|------|---2--|------|--4---|------|
------|------|---2--|------|--4---|------|
3rd is B-phrygian:
.........7th fret
------|--1---|--2---|------|--4---|
------|--1---|--2---|------|--4---|
------|--1---|------|--3---|------|
------|--1---|------|--3---|--4---|
------|--1---|------|--3---|--4---|
------|--1---|--2---|------|--4---|
4th is D-mixolydian:
........10th fret
------|--1---|------|--2---|------|--4---|
------|--1---|------|--3---|--4---|------|
-1----|------|--3---|--4---|------|------|
-1----|--2---|------|--4---|------|------|
-1----|--2---|------|--4---|------|------|
------|--2---|------|--4---|------|------|
5th is E-minor:
12th fret
-1----|------|--3---|--4---|------|
-1----|--2---|------|--4---|------|
-1----|------|--3---|------|------|
-1----|------|--2---|------|--4---|
-1----|------|--3---|--4---|------|
-1----|------|--3---|--4---|------|
If you learn these shapes, on every directions, you can play on the whole neck in every key!
Let's say, we are in G major, you can play also A-dorian, B-phrygian, C-lydian, D-mixolydian, E-minor, F#locrian shapes, and you covered the whole neck. ( after the octave everything is the same )
If the key changing, the whole system move up or down.
Let's say, we are in A major: you can play B-dorian, D-phrygian shapes as well, etc-etc, so you just have to slide these shapes up.
So, I use these shapes for improvising.
Another cool thing is, if somebody play only one note, it doesn't matter which one, and you start to play these shapes from that note, you will hear very different feelings. My personal favourite is the lydian mode, it's so nice
Try it: play a neverending note (only one note!) with guitar pro, or anything else, let's say C, and start to play these shapes from C.
First C-major, after C-dorian, C-prhygian, C-lydian, C-mixolydian, C-minor, C- locrian, and you will get totally different feelings!
And you can improvise on the whole neck with the system's slide. If you play C-major, you will know that the next shape will be D-dorian, E-phrygian, etc-etc.
If you start to play C-dorian, you will know that the next shape is D-phrygian, F-mixolydian, etc-etc.
I hope that It could help you a little bit ;-)