How to Solo over Chord Progressions (Basic Level)

[Danbalz]

JOHN CENA

[loveguitars]

Excellent

[OGsteezy]

i've been exposed to multiple music teachers way back in high school, and also had to do a thesis under a mentor who was a professional musician.... through all of that i never had anybody explain the modes as well as you have. very broken down... you rock man.

[highintel]

@OGsteezy Thank you very much for that ;) I have confused many people over the years (hehe) so it's nice to see when I finally make a break through ;)

[emekajji]

cheers



[highintel]

@emekajji Cheers ;)

[montreemtx]

YOU Light up my guitar life...

Thank you...

[highintel]

@montreemtx Thank you ! Glad to spread the illumination!

[MRCALIfornyay]

dude i never thought about using modes i just used chord tones which made my melodies sloppy and also boring

[highintel]

@MRCALIfornyay yea, you want to just use them as a target reference and use different rhythmic phrases to make it sound interesting to the listener.

[Thynkfree1985]

dude been playing for 10 years now and no ones ever explained that way. Now I get it thanks for posting this!

[highintel]

@Thynkfree1985 Your very welcome ;)

[sidhrtha]

been playing by ear doing this for many years, not knowing what i was really doing. thanks. what happens when the key changes and different scales come into play? do you cover that?

[highintel]

@sidhrtha Thank you. Yea, if the key changes you just transpose everything to that key. Ex.. If we are in A Major and we change to B Major you would just move everything up one whole step.

[67chapa]

For a begginer like me it made alot of sense, I'll just follow what u show me and i can start to soloing,THANK U

[highintel]

@67chapa Thank you!

[lordmorgoth7]

0:51 HOLY SHIT YOUR FINGER!

[retroguy02]

Good lesson but I think you need to put it in more layman terms. Each mode is essentially a "box" or "shape" of the major scale, starting at a different degree or note that comprise the scale - right? And I thought that you could play in any mode of the major scale as long as you're in key and start and end at the root note? many sites encourage you to learn the major scale as the whole shape across the fretboard, and then break it down into modes. you make it sound quite complicated :/

[highintel]

@retroguy02 this video is Tips on using modes. Not how to learn your modes. There are guys that mindlessly play scales over progressions. Which is what most sites will lead you into. I am showing people how to start to have melodic control. There is nothing complected about understanding a relation between the chord and mode you are playing. This video covers that as layman as I know how to disseminate.  Thanks for the feedback though.

[vlxxx]

Move the trumpeteer further down the hall. Otherwise, good explanation.

[kickthenads1]

wow thank you so much, it more clear now, but I hear many solo that start with different scale from the chord. Jesus why?

[highintel]

@kickthenads1 You can play any of the 7 modes from any of the chords in that Key. Ex... If I play a C Major Chord I can Play E Phrygian over it. It works because they are all relative (Diatonic) To that key.

[ravenshield56]

I still don't get it... great

[highintel]

You can construct a chord from every note in the major scale.

There are 7 notes so there will be 7 chords.

These chords are what you make chord progressions out of. (EX.. a 1-4-5 chord progression uses chords that were constructed from the 1st not, the 4th note, and the 5th note. ) If you play a chord from the 3rd note in the scale, you play the 3rd mode over that chord.etc... Does that help?

[ravenshield56]

@highintel Oh shitty nipples I get it! what a fag I am... im sorry I'm a bit slow :P thanks!

[highintel]

@ravenshield56 haha...right on man! No Problem. Glad it makes sense now ;)

[smaratelj]

So, modes are really starting the scale with a different note?

[highintel]

@smaratelj Exactly! It's one scale, a mode is just a section of that scale. 

[smaratelj]

@highintel Thanks, that really made it clearer. :)

[highintel]

@smaratelj Your very Welcome!!! 

[ezequielmcb]

i will kill the guys with the trompets behind!

[highintel]

@ezequielmcb haha! that made me laugh out loud ;)

[moncmon]

damn wish he was my teacher

[highintel]

@moncmon I'm working on getting online lessons set up for Fridays.

[IronPancake]

You're a good teacher of theory. I thought i never learned basic theory because i was younger and dumber but i realize I still dont fully understand. This helps. I still feel retarded though because I just cant grasp how this stuff works! HELP!

[highintel]

@IronPancake Just keep watching everything you can on Modes and scales and sooner or later something will click... And when it does you will be glad you took the time to search for it ;)

I'd be glad to help what I can.

[awidowsvoice]

Wow... Amazingly helpful and easy to understand. THanks!!!!!!

[highintel]

@awidowsvoice Your welcome ;)

[SINBrutal99]

Is that John Cena playing guitar? j/p

[quachimba]

Thank you. Modes confused me till today. Now it all just made sense.

[blesseddisciple]

Good stuff... thanks for the post.

[nxzo2]

Great lesson, but WTF is going on in the background with the brass instruments. Completely distracting.

[kingnt66]

Great lesson!! Thanks for your time and your generous heart to share your knowledge!!

[MrStimpy77]

Background trumpets made listening painfully difficult, but this video was otherwise really helpful and well-taught! I'm much closer to "getting it"..

[Mootorbreath]

Great lesson!!

I have one question though

when you play the dorian, mixolydian and all the scales over the chords, is it called for an, example A-Dorian when you play it over the Bm chord or is it called b-dorian?

or for another example, is t called A-mixololydian when you play the scale over the E7 or is it called E-Mixolydian?

Sry for my bad english;)

[highintel]

@Mootorbreath I am not sure what you mean, so I'll answer with examples.

If I were Playing A Ionian then I would play B Dorian. If I were Playing E7 chord I would play E Mixolidian. If I were playing D Ionian I would play E Dorian. If I Played E Phrygian I would play D Dorian. It is always relative, never changes in a diatonic scale. Is that what you were asking??

[outofslumber]

In the video when you play the scale to the chord progression of 1,6,2,5 and play the corresponding mode does it matter what key (if thats the right word) that youre in. In other words playing I think its an A major scale that you do here, could you start anywhere on the neck as long as the mode is correct or does it have to be from the A major scale, and if so does the octave of the scale matter.

[highintel]

@outofslumber If your in A Major then Ionian starts on the note A.. If in B Major it starts on B... It always follows the key. Any root note will work for the start no matter what Octave..

Hope that helps ;)

[outofslumber]

Im learning guitar and every now and then I get the "penny dropping" moments. Far too few for my liking, though I have to admit Im not very disciplined on the theory, I end up going back to the guitar and doing something familiar, which doesnt help. I accidentally stumbled on a blues (rythm)/(riff) and was totally lost what lead notes would work over it and then found this video. glad I clicked this link. I got a total penny dropping moment. Thanks a lot man.

[highintel]

@outofslumber Glad it worked for ya man ;) peace

[mophead02]

Killer lesson man, really helped a lot

[ShaolinHoedown]

Dude, I've spent months looking for how to solo over rhythms. This video, was a complete savior. For a guitarist of 2 1/2 years I have to say... you have introduced me to the next level. Keep on rocking. You are a fantastic mentor. Many thanks.

Btw, 2 people don't know what they were looking at lol. No one should dislike this video!

[highintel]

@ShaolinHoedown Thank you... There are always gonna be Haters out there ;) I just blow it off. 

[AstrophelTDeath]

@highintel Iv'e been playing for 7 years self taught which isn't always the best, and I just can't grasp the concept of modes, is there any place you would recommend ? I just recently started getting into music theory, I don't want you to think I have been practicing theory for 7 years. Lol.

[highintel]

@AstrophelTDeath Don Litarski has a Great Book Practical theory for guitar.

Think of it like this, there is One Scale.. The major scale. If you have a Poster with all the natural notes on the guitar, then you have the Major Scale.

Modes are just different starting points. Like if i start on the note C and play to C, I just played the first mode called Ionian... If I start on the note A and Play to A I just played the 6th mode Aeolian.

There are a lot of fingerings.

[AstrophelTDeath]

@highintel Its funny because right after I wrote that comment I looked into it a bit more, and figured out what the modes actually were and how to play them, and than realized the 7 positions of the major scale are based off the individual modes. I just then realized I had already known how to play modes. So i'm starting to understand alot more. Thanks very much. Peace.

[highintel]

@AstrophelTDeath hehe.. yea,it's all about putting a language to what you already know ;)

best of luck! Let me know if ya have any other bumps maybe I can help ;)

[AstrophelTDeath]

@highintel I kinda of do, i'm trying to figure out how to apply it to soling I know thats what your video is about but, i only know how to play the modes in there individual boxes how do i expand, like how do i move from one box to another smoothly ? And also do minor's work the same way do they also have modes ?

[highintel]

@AstrophelTDeath Moving from Mode to mode is like/called lead lines, usually having to do 4 notes per string in any given direction... I should do a video on this.. I have a Video, lightning fast guitar riffs that has a few in it, but that seems to confuse a lot of peeps.

Bare with me and I'll throw something up ;)

[AstrophelTDeath]

@highintel Thanks I appreciate it, and if i could ask one last questions if you can answer it. How do you figure out what chords can be played over certain scales, like for example if i were playing a G minor pentatonic, how would i figure out what chords could be played over that scale ?

[highintel]

@AstrophelTDeath You need to understand what chords are diatonic to the key in which your soloing in. I have a Video about Diatonic chord progressions that might help. Diatonic simply means, relative to the key of..

Ex... The Key of C major has C, Dm, Em, F, G Am, and B diminished (Or Bm b5)....Any of those chords can be used under the C major scale ;)

[AstrophelTDeath]

@highintel Iv'e seen that before but how did you get the minors in there where did they come from ? I understand where the chords come from, but how did you get minor is there some sort of pattern i'm missing ?

[AstrophelTDeath]

@highintel I'm sorry for asking so many questions, i'm very interest in learning theory.

[AstrophelTDeath]

@highintel I really have to say this, thank you so much for this video and all your help, because with your help you opened up a giant door of new possibilities and if not for you patience and answering all of my questions carefully, i might have not pursued as strongly or as hard to find the answer. Thank you so much, i bet you make a great teacher, and keep making videos, because i'm going to subscribe. And not because i have to, because i want to learn more. Thank you. Peace.

[highintel]

@AstrophelTDeath This comment right here makes it all worth it my friend ;) Thanks for your kind words and your very welcome for the help! I'll keep them coming ;) Peace to you too!

[DeepTeel]

@highintel Okay i have what i feel is a very good question, it would be nice if you or anyone could help me find a solution. How would i know what modes to go by if my chords are random chords i made? i love this progression i came up with and i want to do a slow melodic solo over it so bad but i cant figure out how to do it. Help Please!

[highintel]

Here are two quick options.

1. The easy way out is to treat each chord that is out of any diatonic sequence like it's a new key. Ex.. If I play F Major, G Major, (A Minor) would be the natural chord. But, if I substitute (A Major for A Minor) then I am playing a Chord out of sequence. I could just treat the A Major as the new Key.

2. Look at it like the whole sequence just moved up a whole step and play (A Major) as the 5th chord (Dominant 7) and the key would move to D Major.

[DeepTeel]

@highintel Thank you very much for your response, your reply answered the first part of my question, i was also wondering how you know what chord sequences/modes go with very weird chords. i have started developing a new progression starting on a very weird chord that i had to search to find the name of. "G# add9" How would i pick the chords to go with something like this, or pick scales to go with the individual chords that i may add based on what sounds good to me(random chords)?

[boywhosucksatlife]

hey man, i want to thank you for this very basic lesson. You have no idea how utterly invaluable it is. I always understood modes and basic theory, but the real magic comes in actually being able to APPLY THEORY INTO PRACTICE. With this lesson something clicked in my brain. I thought all those hours i spent reading books about theory were totally wasted because i couldn't apply the knowledge but this video was so clear cut, it allowed me to connect the dots. Thank you. \m/

[highintel]

@boywhosucksatlife This is why i do it my friend!!! Thanks for the awesome response ;) Really glad it helps ;)

[dukeofpearl]

hey highintel. now what modes should i concentrate on learning. i know all my pentatonics inside out. i play rock and blues stuff (clapton, hendrix, paige etc) and would like to know which mode i should be concentrating on as my mind tends to wander! so which ..ian mode or modes do you suggest. thanks.

[highintel]

@dukeofpearl Probably Aeolian, Dorian, and Phrygian work best over minor pentatonics.

[lleonidas004]

i've learn modes but dont know how to apply them over chord progression this video really helps a lot.

[highintel]

@lleonidas004 Your welcome!

[nn567]

Wow. a "light bulb moment" for me. Thanks

[cjkeegan100]

i really apriciate people like you who take the time to do lessons in order to help others thank you. i never thought of playing each mode individually over each chord. i was under the impression that if i start a chord progression from a degree other than its root lets say Am in the key of C and also resolve it to the Am then i would be playing a aeoleon progression and could play A aoelen over the whole thing. is my way of thinking correct?

[highintel]

@cjkeegan100 Yes, it is.. Technically you can play any of the 7 modes over any chord progression as long as the modes are diatonic to the Progressions Key. So I could Play B Locrian over the key of C Major if I wanted. the problem lies within the Melody. It will not sound very melodic but all the notes will still work.

Thanks for your kind words and Your welcome!

[cjkeegan100]

@highintel cool thanks for replying. So what i should do is record a diatonic chord progression. then since i know what chords im playing solo over each chord individually as modes in order to get a better melodic feel. rather than just mindlessly playing the major scale over it. woah!! i just thought of something while typing this. If i borrow a chord from a different key then when that chord plays all i have to do is play the mode from its key. i actually feel like im progressing now :) cheers

[wemakemuffins]

i found this video very informative and enjoyed the simplicity of the teaching :) i was just wondering what are some common chord progressions for blues and rock? and what would the corresponding mode be for those. i dont think i could memorize all the modes :O

[highintel]

@wemakemuffins The Most Common Progression is the 1-4-5 in Both styles.

1 is Ionian, 4 is lydian, and 5 is mixolydian.

application = 1-4-5 in the key of A would be A Ionian, D Lydian, and E Mixolydian.

Peace

[joemakelele]

@highintel

thanks genius.

[smashingpoop]

thanks! i finally understand modes! you explained it simple and good without too much talking

[medra1980]

does the tonality stay A? So are you playing (in that I-VI-II-V progression) the A ionion, A Aeolian, A Dorian and finally A Mixo-lydian? Or do I have to call it A ionian, F Aeolian, B Dorian and finally E Mixo-lydian? So in other words my question is: does the tonality of a mode get its name from the original root note of that major scale that you are playing the whole time but on different starting points, or does it get its name from the first note that you are playing at that specific point?

[medra1980]

@medra1980 never mind, I get it: the startting notes are used to called the scale and the division of intervals is the name for modality, thanks for the video, helped me out

[medra1980]

@medra1980 I mean F# Aeolian sorry

[highintel]

@medra1980 hehe  no prob!

[duroking13]

wow! this actually helped me out alot! thanks so much dude! keep it up! :D

[kevinleft]

i understood it perfectly, great job!!

[Guitarfreak365]

Do you have another lesson that goes more indepth in to modes? Great lesson!

[andysafetybay]

thanks great help

[andy92811]

kinda misleading title...

[Sh3lz123]

rthis was a great help

[bornintoutopia]

Everything seems so clear now that you've explained it in that way. Thank you

[MrAlfredocolon]

this video was the most help ive had in a while. got me out of a musical rut. thanks sooooooooo much i really appreciate it

[fetallica1]

thanx for the lesson really helpful

u look like John cina :D

[HippieDrummer06]

dude this video is boss

[duffmanGbone]

i dont know why everyone refused to tell us this, but i dig this. i just need a book to memorie it!

[Sarchiopode]

...emh...

I wouldn't use the word "mode", i'd prefer to say "modal scale".

[stepminestepminestep]

@Sarchiopode well, either is correct. even though you would say that the hindu scale is a scale. you wouldn't call it a "modal scale". The hindu scale is also the 5th "mode" of the melodic minor "scale". so, in conclusion, the hindu, is the hindu "scale". it is the 5th "mode" of the melodic minor scale. So when saying, "mode" it is in reference to the parent "scale". Saying "modal scale" is somewhat redundant. Also, in situations of Ionian, what would you call that lol. so, not nitpicking lol.

[JulianTheGuitarist]

its gana take me a while to understand, but from what ive learned so far, its an awsome lesson thx

[m0ldyt0ast]

dude helpful lesson. good job man

[scotty688]

what type of ibanez is that

[highintel]

I'm not sure. Rg 570 or somewhere around there.

[santiagoytito]

thanks man im trying to play like becoming the archetype type of music? ive heard your metal band so i really think youre the one bro wjajaj thanks man

[santiagoytito]

thanks man i hope it helps, in case it doesnt could make a video explaining modal chord progressions? its hell on earth to me man i would really apreciate it bro

[highintel]

Sure Bro! I'll hook ya up!

[santiagoytito]

dude so how can i come up with a chord progression for modes but in metal cause you usually tend to use power chords so i really dont understand

[highintel]

Go over my Diatonic chord construction lesson.

[stevieVantanna]

are you at a music store? I bet the MI book chord tone soloing would help with this.

[AngryLlamaz]

now that we have a verry basic understanding idea of this, where do we go next? what should we study to expand on this idea?

[highintel]

Rhythmic Variations, Syncopation, Harmonic Movement, Melodic Phrases. Basic Idiomatic Phrasing.

And of course try it over as many Chord Progressions that you can understand how to generate.

[AngryLlamaz]

this is freakin eye opening.

[illucid1982]

I've been teaching myself theory for almost a year now out of the guitar grimoire books and I am progressing, but I see a lot of people doing the same thing but just running through scales and not applying it musically, and lessons like these will help out a lot of people. You do a good job man, keep up the great work!

[highintel]

Thanks! Please Spread the word!

[slotjaw]

Really nice man. Thanks . I'll have to watch all your others.

[bronsonbaker]

i like this lesson. its not even that its simple. its clear. you arent tryin to show off by throwing around musical theory jargon.

[highintel]

Thank You :)

[medra1980]

it finally filtered down in my head what these modes really are, when great guitar players referred to them when "phrasing" , thanks a lot man

[Kevinter]

Ya man, these are the kinds of lessons you need to put on here. Thats where im having problems..Late niggles..

[highintel]

sweet! You owe me $25 now...lol

[Kevinter]

haha,, Think you still owe me a free lesson or two...You should post now how to construct arps and leads together, The simple lessons are the best, alot of dumb people out there like myself..arrrrrr

[larks33]

What kind of guitar do you have? Thats a 7 string right? are you using a clean effect? do tell

[highintel]

6 string Ibanez RG series. I am using the clean channel on my Crate GLX15, maybe a little reverb but that's all.

[666Vladolf68]

Is this Jarod (the pretender) with his guitar?

;)

Cool lesson, thx

[bleedingfly]

Good job keeping that nice and simple mate. Now i can just give people this link and they can stop bugging me! lol. Keep 'em commin'! \m/_

[AndreasBusshart]

Brian cool lesson..peace..[Freddie]

[runeman00]

Was that a trumpet or a trombone?

[RodneySTR]

wow very well explained ty :)

[codyclarke]

Very well put at the end! Knowing the framework and rudiments is key.

[stevieVantanna]

Wow I wish you were my teacher 10 years ago.

Are you at a music school or store?

[sunhouse76]

o and sorry about spelling, and we have no money for lessons so i hope i can do this on my own. if you could push me in the right direction

thanks man peace

[sunhouse76]

wow dude very insightfull. can i ask tho cos im really at a dead end, could i lern this by myself or would you say having a payed teacher is the best way to go, i meen iv played electric for 3 years and acustic for 3 years b4 that so 6 all in all. i can shred to a serton exstent. basicly im ok with tecneque but i suck lol cos i dont no what im doing at all lol. please help

[woodman151]

that was excellent ! Can't wait till you have more time to kill in between lessons :)

[Rush4Life70494]

this helped me a lot! thanks =]

[mayerock]

in theory is cool learn this way but in the practice is it better see in parallel not relative i mean see A major, A dorian, etc. works for me, just saying. by the way u teach very well.! 5/5