music theory the fun way: through soloing! steve danielsson steve@littlekidsrock.org
Post on 19-Dec-2015
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Music Theory the Fun Way:Through Soloing!
Steve Danielssonsteve@littlekidsrock.org
Opening Jam
“So What” - Miles DavisD Dorian - Use Dm Pentatonic at the 10th
fret
Approximation
• Now try to add these new cool notes!
• The Blues notes are added to the pentatonic scale!
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What We’ll Cover
• Basics of music theory
• Pentatonic Review - Why it’s awesome
• Starting point - The Major Scale
• Advanced (more fun!) scales
• Building your knowledge further
What Is Music Theory?
• Music theory is the formalized study of the rules of music that we hear
• It is studied to further our understanding of what we hear
• The formalized study is based on musical trends
The Stigma of Music Theory
• Learning rules to music implies there is a “right” answer
• Many of us learn music theory in a regimented classroom setting
• There is no immediate success in the study of music theory
• Studying/practicing music theory with your instrument in hand increases your understanding and enjoyment
Approximation
• Learning to approximate your ear takes practice
• Building a low stress environment is easy!
• Simply take out your guitar and get ready!
Approximating “Do”
• In all three musical examples, we will work to find what key we are in
• We will find this simply by using the sixth string
• Play along with the song, until you find the note that the song seems to rest on
Notes On Approximating
• Most musicians ear are developed enough to find Do in popular music
• Occasionally, it will be difficult to find a key, feel free to use online hints!
• Every second you are playing and listening to your instrument, your musicianship is developing
• The most important thing to learn is The Confidence To Try!
Approximating A Solo
• According to most guitar players: “All music was written to have guitar solos played over it”
• Approximating with a familiar shape will develop your ear, your hand and increase your fluency using the scale
• Let’s start by Approximating on a famous progression
Blues In A
• A Blues in A is built on the idea of tension
• An A7 Chord has a C# in it, while an A pentatonic has a C natural in it
• These differing notes create musical tension, that many of us today know as a “bluesy” sound
Blues in…
• We will now play a Blues in a few new keys
• After each 12 bar phrase, we will switch to a new key
• Find the key by experimenting with the pentatonic shape
“Let’s Crank It Up a Notch!”
• The tension in blues makes it feel safe to miss notes
• In Diatonic music (music built in one key), missed notes will sometimes sound more out of place
• Ignore your desire to be perfect, and try as many pentatonic shapes as you can
• The location of the scale will tell you what key we are in!
“BAM!”
When To Approximate
• Alway! The best way to develop your ear and understanding of your guitar is to have your guitar out while your listening.
• Try everything you hear
• Every missed note should be thought of as an exercise
• Sitting on the couch watching TV? Take out the guitar! You’d be surprised how much there is to try and play along with!
Beyond the Pentatonic
• Let’s take a look at the pentatonic scale
• Five different notes
• We use this shape for major and minor
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1 1
Back to the Basics: Major Vs. Minor
• Learning to hear the sound, for you and for your students
• Avoid “happy” and “sad”
• Make the terms Minor and Major part of your classroom vocabulary
• Most songs use major AND minor chords together
A Major vs. A Minor
The difference is only one note. When the second fret moves to the first, we are lowering on note in the chord by a half step.
Why/how major and minor?
• All modern Western music is built on the same pattern
• Even the most advanced music theory is based on the same simple information
• That information is so famous, most people already know it
The One String Major Scale!
• The major scale is the foundation of music
• Let’s play five different major scales
• Here is the pattern we can use for a One String major scale
0 - 2 - 4 - 5 - 7 - 9 - 11 - 12
Do - Re - Mi - Fa - Sol - La - Ti - Do
The One String Minor Scale
• The minor scale has three different notes than the major scale
• Here is the pattern we can use for a One String minor scale
0 - 2 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 8 - 10 - 12
Do - Re - Me - Fa - Sol - Le - Te - Do• Notes different from major scale are underlined
• Notice how Lowered notes end with an “e” sound!
Unpacking the Pentatonic
• The Minor Pentatonic Scale is a simple five note scale
0 - 2 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 8 - 10 - 12
Do - Re - Me - Fa - Sol - Le - Te - Do
Or as we usually know it…
• The black notes are Do
• The scale is shaped perfectly for the guitar
• Most guitarists master this scale without knowing its origin
• Now you know!
G. I. Joe Says:
• Knowledge of how a scale works will ALWAYS enhance your ability to use it
• Even just knowing where “Do” is
• Learning scales is a life long process, each time you play it, it builds itself stronger into your musical lexicon
A Full Minor Scale
• The full minor scale can be played in the same position as the minor pentatonic
• Only one finger is slid out of position
• The new notes are marked in blue
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Major… Minor… We CAN All Just Get Along!
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Improvising With The Full Scale
• We add two important notes in the full scale
• These notes are the 4th and 7th of the major scale
• They add a lot of tension, which can be a great tool for soloing
Improvising of I, V, VI-, IV
• Playing the world famous progression, you can use this scale to craft new melodies
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What Are Modes?
• A “Mode” is a unique scale pattern and shape
• These are all based on the original major and minor scales
• Just like minor/major have the same notes, so do modes
• Most guitarists learn these modes in new shapes
Full Dorian Mode
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• The full Dorian Mode can be played in the same position as the minor pentatonic
• One finger is slid out of position
• The Dorian Mode will be two frets (one step) up from the key of the song
• If a song is in G (3rd fret), you can use the A Dorian Scale
Dorian Jam Along
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• The dorian mode has a minor sound, but the one different note gives it a different feel
• It is used in jazz, rock and all kinds of music
• The two most prominent examples are “Kind of Blue” and Carlos Santana’s soloing style
“Oye Como Va” Jam Along
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• Jam on “Oye Como Va” using the A Dorian mode
• For fun, try switching it up to the E minor pentatonic, which will also work but have a different sound to it!
We’re Miles Ahead!
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• Miles Davis’ “So What” off the album Kind of Blue is a great example of using the dorian mode in improvisation
• It also changes keys!
• We change keys by sliding up just one fret, using the same scale
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