How do I switch between major and minor?

How do I switch between major and minor?

Create a simple 2-chord progression that focuses on minor, and then move it to the relative major. To do this, simply move your minor progression up a minor 3rd (i.e., 3 semitones). For example, you might choose Am Em as your minor progression.

How do you improvise in a minor key?

Main takeaway

1. For most minor key chords, select notes from the minor family of scales to improvise.
2. For V (or V7) chords, select notes from the minor dominant family of scales to improvise.

What scales can I play over a minor?

The two most used and fundamental scales are the natural minor scale and the minor pentatonic scale. We can use the chords built from the natural minor scale to play these scales over. For example we’re going to play chords in the key of “A” minor.

How can we shift a major scale to turn it into a minor scale?

While a piece of music in a major key can be changed to a minor key merely by lowering the third, sixth, and sometimes seventh scale degrees, there will often be places in the melody where this doesn’t have the desired effect.

Can I use a minor pentatonic scale over an IV7 chord?

IV7: minor pentatonic is OK, major pentatonic has to be used carefully because of the major third (in C: E), which clashes with the b7 of the IV7 chord (in C: the note Eb in F7) As pointed out by Tim, it is a common trick to use the major pentatonic scale over the I7 chord, and then switch to the minor pentatonic over the IV7 chord.

Can I mix minor and major pentatonic scales?

First it’s important to understand when it is appropriate to mix minor and major pentatonic scales. If you have a piece in minor you will want to stick to a minor (pentatonic) scale. If you have a piece in major which is not meant to sound bluesy, you want to stick to a major (pentatonic) scale.

Should I play the scales separately when soloing?

You can always play the scales separately to give your soloing their different flavors.

Does combining scales make you a more versatile player?

While this approach can work to give you a more varied sound beyond merely the minor pentatonic scale, this trick is by no means a hard and fast rule, and moving beyond it to learn to combine both scales makes you a more versatile player.