Below is a list of songs that have at one time been popular enough that you should have a copy of one them somewhere. Check the public library if you haven't yet. It is a wonderful source of music. Most have CD's and or cassettes that you can check out at no charge.
If you want to buy the CD, click on the underlined title, and you can order the CD from Amazon.com. Use your back button if you want to return here. Assuming you are tuned to standard pitch, the correct keys (at least for the recordings I have) are listed, as are scale forms and positions. Improvise. From the white notes in the scale form, pick random notes in random order to see what they sound like. Add the dark notes later, as you gain confidence.
Crossroads(
Wheels of Fire)
Key of A
Try using the G form with your first finger at the fifth fret. Treat the 6 as the root. This gives you a minor pentatonic, which gives a good rock/blues sound against the major I, IV, V chord progression.
Next, try the same G scale form with your fourth finger at the fifth fret. Treat the 1 as the root. This gives you a major pentatonic, which gives a different sound against the same chord progression. Listen to Clapton's solo. He switches seamlessly from major to minor in the same verse.
This is a very simplistic way of looking at what will grow into the Joe Pass major/minor scale. Be patient. I'll get you there.
Black Magic Woman (
The Best Of Santana)
Key of D minor
Try the G scale form with your first finger at the 10th fret. Treat the 6 as the root. This gives you a minor scale.
Next try the C scale form with your first finger at the 17th fret. That's way up high. Squeeze your fingers in there. Treat the 6 as the root again, to get a minor scale. Notice you are playing the same notes (only higher) as you were using G scale form at the 10th fret.
Try the C scale form with your first finger at the 5th fret, again treating 6 as the root. Now you are playing the same notes only lower.
You Shook Me (
Led Zeppelin [BOX SET])
Key of E
Try the G scale form with first finger at the 12th fret. Treat the 6 as the root. This will give you a blues/rock sound. On alternating verses (or lines, or measures) shift 3 frets down, so your fourth finger is on the 12th fret. Use the same G scale form, treating the 1 as the root. Hear the difference?
In short, put your fourth finger on the root to get a major sound out of the G or C scale forms. Put your first finger on the root to get a minor or blues sound out of the G or C scale forms.
Now try:
Sweet Home Alabama (
The Essential Lynyrd Skynyrd [2-CD SET]
)
G form, first finger on 12th fret
(consider it D mixolydian or G major, more on modes later)
Wonderful Tonight (
The Cream Of Clapton
)
G form, first finger on 12th fret
Closing Time(
Feeling Strangely Fine ,
Semisonic
)
G form, first finger on 12th fret
Until I Fall Away (
New Miserable Experience,
Gin Blossoms)
G form, first finger at 9th fret
One of Us (
Relish,
Joan Osborne
)
G form, first finger 2nd fret.
Hotel California(
Hotel California,
The Eagles
)
USE the WHOLE neck! Use C form, first finger at 2nd or 14th fret (two different octaves) and try G form, first finger at 7th or 19th fret (squeeze those fingers in there!)
All For You (
Somewhere More Familiar,
Sister Hazel
)
G form with first finger at 13th fret.
HAVE FUN! Experiment! Jam! Then try the Lead patterns!
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Email me at
sadewater@hotmail.com
Copyright 1999 Randolph J. Sadewater
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