Guitar Journey is the online home of guitarist, composer, arranger, and educator Damian Bonazzoli. From world class guitar playing to ambient, cinematic, and symphonic composition to music production to music education, you'll find it all here at Guitar Journey.
They are the same scales they just start on different notes. the major scale is Ionian and the minor scale is aeolian. To me it comes down to note selection. Depending on which key your in you would select different notes and those would resolve on the root note. Will any of notes from either scale sound ok? Yes but some will sound better than others depending on the cord progression. So when picking notes to play think chord tones.
Thank you for writing. I agree that note selection (as I describe it in the video, "emphasis") is important, but so, too, is context. I think not enough people recognize the simple fact that is I'm playing over an A minor backing track, I can play all the C notes that I want, and it's still going to sound like A minor. (This is also a part of what makes the other modes work.)
Thanks for your channel Mr. Damien! So, the confusing part is this: in C Major, you said the modes are all the same notes as the Ionian Mode, however, F# is not the same notes that are in C Major. So….
Hi. What I mean (sorry if I didn't explain this clearly) is that all seven modes will have the same notes from a given starting note. So, C major (Ionian) will have the same notes as D dorian, as E phrygian, as F lydian, as G mixolydian, as A aeolian, as B locrian. That's why it's very important to learn the modes in order, one through seven, as I just listed them. None of these modes has an F# in it. But, for example, if you list the seven modes from G major (which *does* have an F#), you'd say that G major (Ionian) has the same notes as A dorian, as B phrygian, as C lydian, as D mixolydian, as E Aeolian, as F# locrian. (Whew.) I hope this makes sense. Let me know if you have a follow-up question. Best, Damian
You are very welcome. I'm really glad you found it useful. If you have a topic you'd like me to cover in a future video, just let me know. Best, Damian
You're very welcome! I'm really glad you found it useful. I know from many years of private teaching that this is a topic that throws many students. Best, Damian
Thank you for writing! They do sound similar. And yes, in my view, the overall musical context (chords, etc.) make the biggest (although not the only) difference. By the way, in the future, when you begin to learn modes, you'll find the same thing - it's about the chords underneath. Best, Damian
I was thinking about this only yesterday. 4 years ago I started learning some piano/keys and much is taught in C and then A minor is taught as you said, same notes just starting in a different place. But then I started learning a bit of Blues guitar a few months ago and much is taught in A, but because it's Blues it's both A Major and A minor, so more a parallel key relationship than a relative one. It took me a while to figure this out.
Yes, the whole "parallel key" discussion is another, and very cool, topic. For what it's worth, I talk about blending minor and major in a blues here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-T4uPj9PB0oc.html Best, Damian
Yes, I explain things as carefully as I can to help everyone understand. Sometimes this means I *over* explain things. But I'd rather explain too much than too little . . . . 🤔
Hey, I really do get what you're saying. I honestly try to teach in such a way that everyone can follow along. And it's balancing act. I get comments that some people wish I had explained something more thoroughly. So yeah, it's a balancing act. I'm still working on it. 🎸🎸
Lol. In my own defense, I said "almost" no music theory" is required. The chromatic scale is incredibly useful, and the key to many things on guitar, from playing in different keys to moving and using your barre chords.
Hi. That's a great question. The next step after learning (and getting very comfortable) with the chromatic scale is to learn to assemble a (diatonic) major scale, and after that, to understand the chords that we expect to see in a given key. I created a video that combines those two ideas. Here is the link: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7pxmm4fl-EQ.html I hope this helps! Best, Damian
FINALLY maybe you can answer my Question. What does it mean when a MUSIC BAND tells you, OK we will PLAY this NEXT SONG, in the KEY of 'G' . DOES that mean everyon in the BAND is going to PLAY the 'G' SCALE repeatedly, throughout the entire PLAYING of the SONG?? Have hear countless answers but NONE make sense.
Ok, I'll do my best! If a band is playing a song in the key of G (and I assume they mean G major, not G minor), then really, as a guitarist, you just need *first* to support the rhythm by playing the correct chords. And yes, typically these chords are going to come from the key of G major, and are actually based on a G major scale. (I created a video on this topic. It's deep, but you might find it helpful: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7pxmm4fl-EQ.html If you are going to solo (improvise a lead), you will typically use G scales throughout. As for the question of whether everyone *else* will be playing G scales, that depends on the instrument. For example, a bass player might not be playing scales at all. A keyboardist might be playing chords throughout the song, as opposed to scales. On the other hand, the singer might be singing a melody that yes, comes from a G major scale. If there is another instrument (say, a sax player), then yes, that player's notes will come from a G scale. I hope this helps. It's a tricky question.
Hi. Thank you for writing. My best advice is simple enough. Since your fretting hand knows the chord shapes, focus your eyes on your picking hand, and really go slowly. Really concentrate on developing the fine motor control that you need. Best, Damian
Thanks very much for another great lesson! Too many on line lessons go straight to the songs and the chords without any explanation of how these things are constructed.Understanding these concepts is the foundation for truly understanding the instrument!!
Another great great lesson.The critical piece of listening and recognizing the chords as they change remains somewhat elusive after all these years.Do you think hearing aides would help??
Thank you very much for the feedback. I do appreciate it. And if there's a topic you'd like me to cover in a future video, just let me know. Best, Damian
Yes, sometimes it's more important to explain than to demonstrate. (Although I do play some toward the beginning of the video.) I think too many teachers have an approach of "just do what I'm doing." I try to help people really understand the concept. Have a great day! Best, Damian
As someone who has taught very complex material to engineers, I was praised for being able to instruct it in such a way, that something that appears overly complicated, is fairly easy if you can explain the basics in a manner that relates to the person's mindset...in short, not trying to impress the students, but to make it simple enough that they grasp the concept and start figuring things out themselves. Well, after that long-winded comment, you have made my day because you are actually a true teacher. There's an old saying, "if you can teach kindergarteners, you can teach anyone, but if you can only teach advanced students in advanced academia, you can't teach everyone". Your 19-minute explanation saved me a year of struggling trying to figure it out. So glad I found this video. I am excited to know this information, Thank you
Thank you for suggesting that! That can be a good idea, yes. Just be careful to recognize that whether we call a note by its sharp name or its flat name is really dependent on the overall musical context.
@@BloodySoup74 hi. That's a great question. Honestly, you can start with either, because even if you start with the index finger, it's fine because that note is actually found inside the major scale, anyway. You'll notice if you use the major scale to improvise, that index finger note will not sound out of place at all. That being said, you might find it a better idea to start with the pinky note, because that will help to reinforce that you are actually in the given major key. I hope this helps! Best, Damian
Hi,I am blind. Please Mention the fret number and fingers involved during the demonstration. I am unable to take advantage of the PDF document that you have provided. Thank you for your attention.
Hi. If you play a diatonic scale shape starting with your index finger at the 5th fret of the sixth string, the notes will be: A at the 5th fret (index finger); B at the 7th fret (ring finger); C at the 8th fret (pinky) On the 5th string, the notes will be: D at the 5th fret (index); E at the 7th fret (ring); and F at the 8th fret (pinky) On the 4th string, the notes will be G at the 5th fret (index); A at the 7th fret (ring); and B at the 9th fret (pinky) On the 3rd string, the notes will be C at the 5th fret (index), and D at the 7th fret (ring) On the 2nd string, the notes will be E at the 5th fret (index); F at the 6th fret (middle); and G at the 8th fret (pinky) On the 1st string, the notes will be A at the 5th fret (index), B at the 7th fret (ring), and C at the 8th fret (pinky). I really hope this helps! Best, Damian
Thank you for writing! I'm so glad you found it helpful. And if you have a topic you'd like me to cover in a future lesson, just let me know. Best, Damian 🎸👍
ok you started getting out there with the chromatic. you got off topic and the brain shuts down. not showing me anything. you are teaching theory. which you said you were not going to do
Hi. In my own defense, I actually said you don't need to learn "much" theory. The reason I put it that way is that although you definitely need to know the chromatic scale if you're going to play in different keys, you don't need anything beyond that. You don't need things like knowing how to assemble a scale, etc. If you're looking more for how to actually solo *once you're in a key*, I think this 5-step guide will be helpful: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-MA3xUBwKuwM.html And honestly, please take my word that while you may not want to learn music theory, learning the chromatic scale will pay off over and over. (For example, you use the chromatic scale to move barre chords.) I hope this helps! Best, Damian
I thought you could teach solo, but you explained the chromatic scales and blah blah blah.. explained how to make a solo in a minor or major scale in every fret or position.
Yes, the goal was to help players navigate the fretboard. After all, the first step to soloing is to be in the correct key. That being said, here's a 5-step guide to getting started playing solos, once you're in the correct key: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-MA3xUBwKuwM.html
I try to explain things very carefully so that everyone can follow along. Sometimes this means I end up talking a lot. It's a tricky balancing act, certainly.
I’ve had x look at your pentatonic diagram but unfortunately I don’t understand it. Would it be possible to number it 1-5? I don’t understand the the numbering system sorry 😢
Hi. The numbers represent the fingers of your fretting hand. Find 1 is you index finger, 2 is your middle, 3 is your ring, and finger 4 is your pinky. You can get started with your index finger (finger 1) at the 5th fret, which will be the key of A minor. I hope this helps!
Thank you so much for the feedback! I really appreciate it. And I have some videos that are more advanced. I just released a video on incorporating triads into your lead playing, and this coming Saturday's (September 21) video is on chord formulas. Thanks for watching! 🎸🎸
I'm not a complete beginner, nor do I consider myself an intermediate player. I am always on the lookout to learn something new. What I found very helpful was your explanation of the minor and the major pentatonic scales with the index and pinky fingers. Although I do know some of the major scales and their corasponding minor scales, I never put it together with the pinky and index fingers. Thank you.
The relative minor is the 6th tone of the scale. Key of C major, relative minor is Am. Both scales have no sharps or flats. Key: D major, relative minor is B minor. Both have 2 sharps.
@@ravish3802 Yes, that is correct. But when players are just getting started improvising, the concept of relative keys is a difficult one for many. The goal of this video was to help players find the right key without having to know about relative keys, circle of fifths, etc. Of course, that information becomes very important later in the learning process.
