Chords - Scales Relationship

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                ... " Intelligent improvising depends on a working understanding of the relationship between chords and melodic lines."  - Joe Pass

 

CLICK HERE to see the Example - a chord-sequence (also MIDI files included) example with suggestions how to improvise on а certain chord.

Chords Scale for improvisation Scale construction (notes) Scale construction (intervals)
Gmaj7 G maj (ionian) G, A, B, C, D, E, F# 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Gmaj6 G maj pentatonic G, A, B, D, E 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Gmaj9 G lydian G, A, B, C#, D, E, F# 1, 2, 3, 5b, 5, 6, 7
  D maj pentatonic D, E, F#, A, B 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
  A maj pentatonic A, B, C#, E, F# 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Gmin7 G dorian G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F 1, 2, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7b
  G aeolian (natural minor) G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F 1, 2, 3b, 4, 5, 6b, 7b
  G melodic minor G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F# 1, 2, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7
  G harmonic minor G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F# 1, 2, 3b, 4, 5, 6b, 7
  G phrygian G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb, F 1, 2b, 3b, 4, 5, 6b, 7b
  G min pentatonic G, Bb, C, D, F 1, 3b, 4, 5, 7b
  D min pentatonic D, F, G, A, C 1, 3b, 4, 5, 7b
  A min pentatonic A, C, D, E, G 1, 3b, 4, 5, 7b
G7 (dominant) G mixolydian G, A, B, C, D, E, F 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7b
5# G mixolydian #4 G, A, B, C#, D, E, F 1, 2, 3, 4#, 5, 6, 7b
9 C harmonic minor from G G, Ab, B, C, D, Eb, F 1, 2, 3b, 4, 5, 6b, 7
9# G whole note G, A, B, C#, D#, F 1, 2, 3, 5b, 6b, 7b
11# G diminished dominant G, Ab, Bb, B, C#, D, E, F 1, 2b, 3b, 3, 5b, 5, 6, 7b
13 G altered dominant G, Ab, Bb, B, C#, D#, F 1, 2b, 3b, 3, 5b, 6b, 7b
  G maj pentatonic G, A, B, D, E 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
  Db maj pentatonic Db, Eb, F, Ab, Bb 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Gmin75b G locrian G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F 1, 2b, 3b, 4, 5b, 6b, 7b
  G locrian #2 G, A, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F 1, 2, 3b, 4, 5b, 6b, 7b
  G locrian #6 G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, E, F 1, 2b, 3b, 5, 5b, 6, 7b

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CHORD Mode Chord Formula
Maj 1 3 5        
6 1 3 5 6      
6 add 6 1 3 5 6 9    
Maj 7 1 3 5 7      
Maj 7 5+ 1 3 b6 7      
Maj 9 1 3 5 7 9    
Add 9 1 3 5 9      
7 Sus 2 1 2 5 7      
7 Sus 4 1 4 5 b7      
Dominant 7/5- 1 3 #4 7      
Dominant 7/9- 1 3 5 b7 b9    
Dominant 7/5+ 1 3 b6 b7      
Dominant 7/5+/9- 1 3 b6 b7 b9    
Dominant 7/9+ 1 3 5 b7 b10    
Dominant 9 1 2 3 5 b7    
Dominant 9/5- 1 2 3 b4 b7    
Dominant 9/5+ 1 2 3 b6 b7    
Dominant 11 1 3 5 b7 9 b11  
Dominant 13 1 3 5 b7 9 b11 b13
Min 1 b3 5        
Min 6/9 1 b3 5 6 9    
Min 6- 1 b3 5 b6      
Min 6 1 b3 5 6      
Min 1 b3 5 b7      
Min 7/3- 1 2 5 b7      
Min 7/5- 1 b3 #4 b7      
Min 9 1 b3 5 b7 b9    
Min 11 1 b3 5 b7 b9 b11  
Min 13 1 b3 5 b7 b13    
Sus 4 1 4 5        
Sus 2 1 2 5        
Aug 1 3 b6        
Aug 7 1 3 b6 b7      
Aug 11 1 3 5 b7 9 11  
Dim 1 b3 #4        
Dim 7 1 b3 #4 6      
7 Sus 2 1 2 5 7      

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G major (ionian)

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G major pentatonic

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G lydian

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A maj pentatonic

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* * *

G dorian

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G aeolian (natural minor)

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G melodic minor

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G harmonic minor

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G phrygian

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G min pentatonic

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D min pentatonic

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A min pentatonic

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* * *

G mixolydian

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G mixolydian #4 Go to top   Go to the Example

 

C harmonic minor from G

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G whole note

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G diminished

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G altered dominant

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G maj pentatonic

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Db maj pentatonic

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* * *

G locrian

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G locrian #2

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G locrian #6

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EXAMPLE

                Here is an example with a standard jazz chord-sequence that you can use for practicing the scales while the harmony changes.  I also made a MIDI file (with the same chords) that you can download and practice along with. Below you'll find a suggestion - which scales you can use for the different chords included in the chord-sequence. Of course, you can use any other scale, according to the Chords-Scales Relationship Table (just refer the exact tune, cause most of the scales shown on the guitar fret-board are in G key).

 

Cm7 Cm7 Fm7 Fm7
Dm75b G7 Cm7 Cm7
Ebm7 Ab7 Dbmaj7 Db maj7
Dm75b G7 Cm7 Dm75b , G7

  

                For Xm7 chords use X dorian scale

                For Dm75b  chord use D locrian scale

                For G7 chord use C harmonic minor scale

                For Ab7 chord use Ab mixolydian scale

                For Db maj7 chord use Db maj scale

 

Here are some more MIDI files made in the chords as shown in the Chords - Scales Relationship table. You can download them and practice the scales related with them.

    - accompaniment file in Gmaj7

    - accompaniment file in Gmin7

    - accompaniment file in G7

    - accompaniment file in Gmin75b

 

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