When playing lead guitar while jamming, what scales do YOU use specifically?

Question

I know penatonic and major and minor scales are common, but there are different variations right? I'm working to improve my arsenal of impromptu riffs, but I don't really understand exactly how the scales work. I play a variation a penatonic scale the majority of time time. I think...but it doesn't always work...

I play mostly acoustic guitar so i'm referring more to a softer lead fill than a face-melting solo...

So basically do you use a specific, generic riff when you're playing:

Major?
Minor?
Seventh?

Or am i just confused? Clarification would definitely help :)

Answer 1

I hope this helps....

(a more direct answer after the line of '***'below ... ok?)

w= whole step (2 frets)
h= half (1 fret)

as you know: major scale = w,w,h,w,w,w,h
and minor is the same this starting on the 6th
(aeolan<6 th mode>= w,h,ww,h,ww

major used mainly in western music

there are other "exotic" scales that have a totally differnt feel to them
(i.e. the "enigmatic scale" loans an air of cryptic wonder :
h,w+h,w,w,w,h,h) (example: c, c #, e, f#, g#, a# ,b)

besides major (heptatonic - 7 tone) and pentatonic (5 tone) there are also hexatonic (6 tone) scales that work well with a melody laid over them. Just take a major scale and subtract one tone, make chords that fit into that new scale, and hummmmm any melody...

********************************************************


ok so...

here is my master thoery... use it but don't steal it ... please...

run your rythm section in a pentatonic....
lets say a minor pentatonic (a,c,d,e,g)
you already know this fits into c major (im only speaking in scales in this answer)
c Major: c,d,e,f,g,a,b
and so you know: it fits into 2 other scales as well....
f major and g major

(showing how it fits...a minor pentatonic within major in caps)
c major: C D E f G A b
f major: f G A b flat C D E
g major G A b C D E f#

b minor pentatonic fits d g and a majors
c minor pentatonic fits d# g# and a# majors
and so on and on...

do you see ? the pentatonic fits into all 3 scales!!! so you can solo freely betweeen c f and g major with an a minor pentatonic background.... oh how wonderful...

Answer 2

i just learn as much scales as i can.major,minor,minor pentatonic,major pentatonic,blues,whole step. i learn them in 6 or 7 different patterns. and when im improvising with a band, i make up little patterns and build speed. different variations? well id suggest learning the 7 modes. they are built on each 7 scale degree of the major scale. learn what they're about. they're good to learn if you wanna transpose music in different keys. i dont really understand the question too well. but here is the best i got.

Answer 3

Stone Gossard: rhythm guitar Mike McCready: lead guitarist. And Eddie plays guitar sometimes. And to correct a previous post, the drummer is Matt Cameron, formally of Soundgarden. He's been drumming for PJ since 1997.

Answer 4

I have a collection of about 25 or so scales I might draw from. It all depends on what the song calls for, and what effect I want to give it.

You know, this is too complex for a simpole answer here. This is going to require you to get a teacher, put in some time understanding, and working on your mechanics. There's just no easy way around it.

Answer 5

Learn the pentatonic minor and pentatonic major scales first then take it from there.