advantage of learning major scale positions (diatonic)
Sunday, January 4, 2009 22:08Posted in category Rock Riffs
John explains why one would want to learn the diatonic scale(s) when playing blues, jazz, or rock. Sample melodies or riffs from one of these scales are given, and are mixed and contrasted with the sound of the pentatonic scales already covered.
1st of six in series of introductory diatonic scale lessons.
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johnhguitar says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Yes those lessons are on the website under Introductory Chord Lessons (course 3), but you should start at the beginning: Basics (course 1).
-jc
crazycunt123 says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
hey mate new to scales and have jsut started learning
but what kind of scale should i learn for chords
A
C
F
D
and do you have a video teaching that scale thankyou heaps
delpuckett says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
sounds like a banjo
lXJoseOleXl says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
is there a way to mix say the pentatonic and the other scale john spoke of (i don’t know how to spell it) in the same song? or would they conflict while trying to make the transition? does it matter what key the song is in?
killazilla02 says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Wow, with that short video, it opened my eyes finally. I finally clicked with theory and all that. I’m into metal which can use diatonics. Im also playin country lead so that little major pent. scale helped me too. I dont know how I didnt already know this. I’ve been playin for 3.5 years, lead for 1.5 years. This has helped a lot. Thanks man!
JazzGuitarist2007 says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
MY HEARING is not as good because when i was a kid the cops beat me up so bad in a police station they busted my ear drums and did permanent damage to my hearing.
because of this my timing is awful how do i fix this timing with my hearing impairment?
johnhguitar says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
You’d make a lousy talent agent but I think wouldn’t mind the Malkovich money… Thanks
IanPLUK says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
holy sh*t… you’re the best teacher dude… nice job..
projectmorf says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
You explain things well dude, thanks.
Deadfreeeak says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
John Malkovitch….thats who you are .
redwings02 says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
These videos are incredibly helpful, thank you
dialamale says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
thanx mate your tutorials have been very helpfull.mike
Jazzguts says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Excellent demonstration John, thoroughly explained and demonstrated, I did an educational Vid on about the same material and wondered if you could drop me a comment,there are some additional devices that you might find interesting,hope to hear from you,greetings Victor(PS,Robben is my man too).
LoveTruck says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Using chord tones will give you more notes to work with. Many players would approach say a G7 with a G minor pentatonic, which works, but it misses a crucial chord tone, the 3rd (major 3rd, B, found in the G7). (I would also miss the 9 & 13, again not found in the minor pentatonic. Who can play a blues without 6ths?) Try incorporating chord tones into your playing, (particularly targeting the 3rds & 7ths) you’ll love the sound, and never go back. Hope this helps.
LoveTruck says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
2nd: Jazz players often use large intervals, & arpeggios, and phrases centered around chord tones (the 3 & 7, 5, also 9 & 13) to outline the chord changes, which can be heard in their lines wheres a one scale or pentatonic approach may sound good, it would not imply the changes. Playing diatonically, targeting the chord tones of the chords throughout the progression, will imply those changes.
There is another advantage to learn to play diatonically:
LoveTruck says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Diatonic means to play targeting the tones in the chord, as well as a to play scales that include the chord tones. 2 Examples:
1st: Mixolydian: Works well around 7 chord because it contains both the major 3rd and dominant 7th found in a 7th chord. Playing the scale will sound more melodic, however:
chillichomper says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Pentatonic has only 5 notes, hence the penta(5) tonic(sound) while myxolydian hast 7 notes so ofcourse using myx will make your playing sound fuller and more melodic.
My issue with these instructions is that they use terms but don’t explain what that means. WTF is diatonic after all and why is that term important? IMHO, it is a useless term that adds confusion.
idkmyusername86 says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Cool stuff!
bluesuburban says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Contributing for free is an awesome gesture thank you very much for taking time and sharing your knowledge
rosieisahippo says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
nice way to put it
johnhguitar says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
If and when I put it on paper I’ll finally be able to shut the hell up……John
johnhguitar says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Mode(s) to me is one scale with different bass notes from that same scale being used to make the scale sound different..Thanks, John
hogr2 says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
John, I enjoy your work also, your guitar tone and demonstration and the fact your using a gibson product is incredible, please continue to share…….hog
groesch777 says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
dude, your ways of explanation, and the way you harness the words to explain is awesome. I have found, the more you explain with detail, the easier it is to get lost. The less detail you use to explain, people seem to still stay on track. Now, on paper, thats a whole different ballgame!
jdean9 says:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
because you have ears
i composed music for years before i started learning about scales and theory. i don’t regret that i learned some theory that i can use in addition to my ears, to help me identify or remember certain things quicker and to explore some new sounds. but i don’t regret learning to go by ears to a high degree before learning theory either. using the ears is the most important thing by far, theory is just an additional tool