Re: [Harp-L] II V I and substitute scales

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

First look at the notes in the chord. Now, what scales contain all or most of those notes?

For instance, maybe you're playing a C chord in the key of C. The C major scale is the obvious one, but what other scales contain the notes C, E, and G (notes of a C chord)? Those are the likely substitute scales.

Let's say you find some possible substitute scales. What notes do those scales contain that aren't in the C Major scale? What sort of effects do they create?

You can look up lists of substitute scales in some jazz books, but the principles above will give you a good chunk of the basis for exploring them (I'm leaving out some additional stuff).

Of course, sometimes you want to use a substitute scale that totally clashes with the chord, ir order to create tension (which you can follow with resolution), as in the scale played a semitone higher that Richard Hunter mentioned in a related post. Then your operating principle would be, how many note of the chord can i AVOID and plays something clashing instead?

Winslow Yerxa

Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5

--- On Sat, 1/9/10, John F. Potts <hvyj@xxxxxxx> wrote:

From: John F. Potts <hvyj@xxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] II V I
To: peyrelevade@xxxxxxx
Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Saturday, January 9, 2010, 11:00 AM

Jerome,

You posted the following:

Concerning the possibility of playing a note on a chord, I don't think about
the problem the same way. The problem, according to me, is not which note
you can play, but which scales. You can perfectly play a substitution of the
current scale, with notes which seem to be relatively far from the original
chord.


I am very intrigued by the concept of "scale substitutions.''  Is there a reference or a formula for determining which scales can be "substituted" for use over which chords?  Or can you at least elaborate upon how this determination is made?

Thanks,

JP


_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l