a lesson on 7th arpeggios, here I demonstrate how to master these structures all over the guitar. I mostly play the major 7th arpeggio, but you can use any arpeggio in any key.
Printable PDF: 7th arpeggios – shapes
Tag: Soloing
2-5-1 minor
Like the 2-5-1 in major this is quite a reoccurring progression in many different styles. Its originates from the Harmonic Minor scale and the chords are IIm7(b5)-V7(b9)-Im(maj7). In the video I show you a scale (that really has no name) that fits these 3 chords, and if learned in all keys, will cover your basic soloing needs for this kind of progression. It is basically a natural minor scale with an added major 7th. To me it sounds a bit like a bebop scale so it naturally sounds its best when played in a descending fashion. This is the scale in Cminor:
C D Eb F G Ab Bb B (C)
You can download the printable PDF file: Minor 2-5-1/ Eight note scale.
Interval Color for Soloing
One of the ways to fight ‘patterns’ playing is to explore all the intervals you can find in a scale. It is a really easy concept you can apply to ANY scale. This is also a great exercise for your chops. Try to practice more with your ears than your fingers…enough said. If applied to soloing every interval has a specific ‘color’ or ‘sound’. Many styles are based around that color, just watch the video and you will understand.
Printable PDF: Scale in Intervals
Play a pop solo
Here I’ll show you how to put all the stuff you learnt so far, to create a simple solo on a backing track in G Major, with chords from the G major harmonized scale. This is the progression:
| G | C maj7 | Em | D | Am |
As you can see even if there are 5 chords, it’s all in the same key, and I would use phrases from these scales:
G major
G major pentatonic
G minor pentatonic/ blues scale (when you want to add that ‘bluesy’ sound)
Check out the solo at the end of the video for inspiration in case you are stuck for ideas, in this case I’d say just download the track and experiment.
Download MP3: >Backing track<