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Theory question

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2019 1:19 am
by Ulysses
This one is almost embarassing but i cant wrap my head around it.

In a 12 bar major blues progression in lets say A, where i can start my solo in either a major or minor pentatonic, can I use BOTH the minor and major D pentatonic on the IV chord? When I get to the IV chord, can I treat it like an I chord for that period of time? Ive seen a couple of guys who move to the 5th box of the IV chord to solo over it but how reliable is this technique?

Im asking because I noticed that 90% of my licks are for the I chord and when I get to the Iv and v chords my flow is broken.

Hope you understood my question

Thanks

Re: Theory question

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2019 2:54 pm
by 12bar
Blues and theory is always hard... you'll find different things about.
If you are at the IV chord and play the notes from the correspondig scale (like D in your post), they are "right".
However, it may sound as if you're changing the key. Instead of this, keep using the original scale and build the licks around the root note of the chord you're currently playing over. That's the reason you'll find things like "licks for the IV" or "licks for the V" in some tutorials.

Re: Theory question

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2019 8:18 pm
by Ulysses
Yes, it does sound like changing the key, that's what I was missing. I found an interesting video last night that suggests using corresponding arpeggios to help find the target notes, and that helped immensely. Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKe5jX-5pII

Re: Theory question

Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2019 3:28 pm
by VikingBlues
Hitting the right target notes is a massive piece of the battle for getting a solo to sound decent.
It's wonderfully satisfying to the ears to hit them at just the right moment!! :thumbsup:
I actually managed to understand some of the theory in that video!!! :yikes: