What Scale to Play Over What Chord | Choosing What Scale to Use

In this video I'm going to talk about what scale to play over what chord, and how to choose what scale to use when there are multiple options.
🎸 FREE PDF: Download the most important scale diagrams for guitar → bit.ly/3hfGTUx
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🔗 LINKS & LESSONS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
🎸 My website → www.soundguitarlessons.com/
🎸 The blog post version of this lesson → www.soundguitarlessons.com/bl...
🎸 23 different scales that work over dominant 7th chords → • 23 Scales You Can Play...
🎸 Singing along with what you're playing → • Do this for better mus...
🎸 FREE PDF: Download the most important scale diagrams for guitar → bit.ly/3hfGTUx
🎸 WATCH THIS NEXT: What scales go with what chords → • What Scales Go With Wh...
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💬 LESSON DESCRIPTION:
In this lesson I'm going to talk about choosing what scale to use when you know multiple scales that work over one chord.
This comes from a question that I got from a follower, Steve.
“I play lead improvisations with backing tracks, often blues.
I’ve found that when I'm playing the minor pentatonic scale it is often more interesting when I add the two notes and play the full natural minor scale.
When does the full scale work and when does the tune demand just the pentatonic scale?
Do you decide by ear or is there a music theory rule here?”
This question is relevant to so many other chord progressions, scales, and musical styles too!
In the video I'll read you my answer and tell you a story from a time when I had this exact same question, and what the answer was from a guitarist I looked up to.
Then I'll go deeper on some examples and play a few different scales over a loop so we can hear them in a jam.
I hope you enjoyed this lesson about choosing what scale to play over what chord and found it beneficial. Let me know what you thought in the comments.
Thanks! :)
- Jared
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🎸 FREE PDF: Download the most important scale diagrams for guitar → bit.ly/3hfGTUx
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⏱ VIDEO CONTENT OUTLINE (WITH TIMESTAMP LINKS):
0:00 - About this lesson / viewer Q&A
1:59 - Words of wisdom from a killer guitarist
3:57 - Comparing the mixolydian and blues scales over over a one-chord groove
7:08 - Paying attention to how music makes us feel
8:25 - Can we play what we want to hear?
9:38 - The most important scales to know on guitar (FREE PDF)
#blues #improvisation #guitarscales

[@soundguitar]

🎸 FREE PDF: Download the most important scale diagrams for guitar → bit.ly/3hfGTUx

[@davidlind3237]

You play the scale you want to hear. Brilliant! When we try to learn something new we tend to over complicate things.

[@soundguitar]

Ain't that the truth!

[@DancingPony1966-kp1zr]

Love the mixolydian. It’s got this quality of changing the tonic when that minor seventh comes in.

[@soundguitar]

Likewise! :)

[@masterbuilder3166]

Jared. Your teaching has helped my playing in ways i never dreamed of. Thank you for making my world a better place. God bless you sir 💯

[@soundguitar]

Thank you so much 🙏

[@chrisrosencrans]

I love using phrygian dominant over the 5 chord. I like to throw in the natural 7th while ascending too. Great video!

[@soundguitar]

Right on! Good stuff :)

[@Ilove2surf]

You are a fantastic teacher (and player) Jared. Thanks SO MUCH!

[@davidpatrick1813]

neat... I need to hold my neck at about the same angle when I practice / study ... and use a guitar strap .. (using now new to me a H7 335 type)/// I notice Muriel Anderson sometimes does the same thing and uses something to prop it. Also what do you use as a practice loop peddle.. I have a R30 (I think it is boss) but not set it up .. old but like new... I suppose it could be used for easy study uses..

[@braddanielson7705]

When I play over the "changes" sometimes on the four card I end up in that key and can't work my way out.I have never heard anyone touch on this subject.Thank You.

[@soundguitar]

I hear you! I've experienced that as well. Thanks for watching :)

[@chijiuzoololo-ogwu341]

Jared you are great have learnt a lot just watching your video

[@soundguitar]

So glad to hear that! :) Thanks

[@michaeldmytriw1047]

I’ve been thinking that once you really get the scales and modes underneath your fingers and in your mind’s ear, you could use a story arc (narrative arc) and assign different scales according to where you want a brighter, neutral, or dark tone. Also where you want tension and relief. I think it doesn’t have to sound too heavy handed or like romantic era classic music, or movie scores. Anyway, your lessons are always edifying and inspiring!

[@soundguitar]

I LOVE that idea! Thanks for sharing :)

[@Bluebuthappy182]

When I was learning to play I would play what I called a "Jazzed up blues scale" over jam tracks always thinking it would be much better if I only knew modes and how to apply them. It turned out that the little scale I had made up was actually the Dorian mode. I only found out years later when I was reading a theory book and it dawned on me, oh hey look at that lol.

[@DryRoastedLemon]

Ha! I love the idea of thinking about what guitar face the sound is associated with. Funnily enough that totally works for me!

[@soundguitar]

Haha, nice!

[@garrettplumley]

Same lol!

[@HighStakesDanny]

Best on KZbin

[@soundguitar]

haha, thanks, Danny!

[@paulbreaux909]

Nice reference to Fiddler.

[@soundguitar]

haha, thanks! :)

[@user-mp6tj8ry6v]

Hi I noticed that your guitar is not with a strap, are you using some kind of upright stand so its free in front of you.

[@soundguitar]

I use a guitar support cushion called a "dynarette" on my left leg.

[@hycus4292]

Jared, what kind of "guitarholder" do you use ?

[@soundguitar]

I use a guitar support cushion called a "dynarette" on my left leg.

[@333Blacktooth]

Soo this means the mixolgical scale will be last on the list to learn for me

[@soundguitar]

Perfect! having those priorities sorted brings so much clarity to practicing and I love that there's no right or wrong answer :)

[@GladmanNow]

Mixo-pentatonic, gettin all George Benson on me...

[@soundguitar]

Yes indeed! I love me some George Benson :)

[@Burnt_Gerbil]

Which notes are in the chords. Analyze and use a scale that contains those notes. Seems basic to me. 🤓

[@chaos55678]

You are God

[@soundguitar]

😂

[@paulosilva8200]

Thanks for explaining nothing . Lol. Major .minor. started from where. And this things still kills me.and if we have 3 chords. Each one it goes. Should I play 3 scales for 3 chords

[@VadimKirilchuk]

Exactly. Playing 23 scales over single chord is easy. But once you have a chord progression it gets complicated. Sometimes just one scale of the key works, but sometimes chord core tones are not matching original key scale.