Music Theory the Fun Way:Through Soloing!

Steve Danielssonsteve@littlekidsrock.org

Opening Jam

“So What” - Miles DavisD Dorian - Use Dm Pentatonic at the 10th

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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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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