michaelhanson
I understand Am, but don't know much about theory. I just look for notes and chords that sound good together.

Honestly that's how I worked for the first half of my career and it was fine. It still is how I roll too when writing/learning BUT knowing the theory crap just speeds up nailing down the right chord and scale options (and how to totally ignore them in a more thoughtful way to make sh*t sound ridiculous... which is big part of what I do).
 
It goes like this...
 
Step 1) Spazz the frack out on the guit/bass
 
Step 2) Figure out the mess I made using the theory
 
Step 3) Fix the things that need fixing and break the things that need breaking
 
Step 4) Let out a triumphant fart and aggressively fill my nostrils

Beepster

michaelhanson
I understand Am, but don't know much about theory. I just look for notes and chords that sound good together.

Honestly that's how I worked for the first half of my career and it was fine. It still is how I roll too when writing/learning BUT knowing the theory crap just speeds up nailing down the right chord and scale options (and how to totally ignore them in a more thoughtful way to make sh*t sound ridiculous... which is big part of what I do).
 
It goes like this...
 
Step 1) Spazz the frack out on the guit/bass
 
Step 2) Figure out the mess I made using the theory
 
Step 3) Fix the things that need fixing and break the things that need breaking
 
Step 4) Let out a triumphant fart and aggressively fill my nostrils

Step 5) And play like heck, while jumping and poodling all over the stage to make it look like you are really good!

Nah... I never went through a "GG" phase.

BobF
If your new to theory, this is a great tool and the users guide is full of great info
 
http://randscullard.com/CircleOfFifths/

Not so new. Just slow :-)
 

Beepster
Nope. F is the 4th step in C Major/Ionian. So as you solo over the F you use F Lydian for your solo because Lydian is the mode that appears on the 4th step of a Major/Ionian scale.
 

So it is in the key of F? F - Lydian has the same notes as the C Major scale. That is why is sounds "good" over those chords because there are no sharps and flats?
 

maximumpower

Beepster
Nope. F is the 4th step in C Major/Ionian. So as you solo over the F you use F Lydian for your solo because Lydian is the mode that appears on the 4th step of a Major/Ionian scale.
 

So it is in the key of F? F - Lydian has the same notes as the C Major scale. That is why is sounds "good" over those chords because there are no sharps and flats?
 

No, it's in the Key of C. You are just using the F Lydian mode which is part of the key of C.
 
If you look over the stuff I posted upthread it shows the order the modes appear in the Major key.
 
All you are doing is changing which note of the Major scale you start on.
 
So...
 
C Major (Ionian)       =  CDEFGABC
 
F Lydian (4th mode) =  FGABCDEF
 
All the same notes. The order of the notes doesn't change. No notes are ommitted or added. You just started on the F instead of the C.
 
Make sense? That is all modes are. Just taking a base scale and shifting your start point.
 
Cheers.

1st) Thank you for your help and patience.
2nd) I can hear you saying: "Do you want me show it to the cat? 'Cause the cat will get it!"
3rd) Let's say my chord progression is F G Am. I have no idea if that sounds good I am just making it up for the example. This looks like it is in the key of C. When the F chord is played and I place a C major scale, starting on F, that is considered Lydian. Now the chord changes to G, do I still place in the C major scale, I.E. GABCDEFG? If so, that is no longer Lydian. That is Mixolydian. Correct? Then on to the Am, that would be Aeolean. On the other hand, would I still try to keep the Lydian feel and then change the scale with the chord to keep playing in the Lydian mode of each chord?
 
Thanks

I remember having to read essentially the same theory from about three or four different sources before I started to get chord progressions... *Sigh...*

maximumpower
1st) Thank you for your help and patience.
2nd) I can hear you saying: "Do you want me show it to the cat? 'Cause the cat will get it!"
3rd) Let's say my chord progression is F G Am. I have no idea if that sounds good I am just making it up for the example. This looks like it is in the key of C. When the F chord is played and I place a C major scale, starting on F, that is considered Lydian. Now the chord changes to G, do I still place in the C major scale, I.E. GABCDEFG? If so, that is no longer Lydian. That is Mixolydian. Correct? Then on to the Am, that would be Aeolean. On the other hand, would I still try to keep the Lydian feel and then change the scale with the chord to keep playing in the Lydian mode of each chord?
 
Thanks

Dude, you're totally getting it. Pretty much everything you said is about how it works (more or less). Little late in the day for me to really elaborate further but if F Lydian is what you have chosen to be your "root" mode for your song then that's your "resolve". Lydian is a little spacey and weird as a root but it's cool.
 
BUT when you move to the other chords solo around the notes of THAT current chord. If you keep trying to use lydian as the base then you'll force the solo back to the F chord which you don't really want. However the bass or rhythm guitar can nail that aspect down and you can just go apeballs if you want. Still better to pay attention to the current chord when soling though.
 
And no... the cat would totally not get it nor was that what I was implying at all. It's easy stuff once you understand it (kind of) but until then it can be completely confusing... especially on guitar.
 
No worries, man. Just keep slammin' on it.
 
Cheers.
 
PS: Lydian is TOTALLY a Satriani/Vai type of mode to noodle around with so you got that right. I use it quite a bit but not so much as a root (because it will totally come of sounding like those guys and I like the darker modes like locrian and phrygian).