Changing Scales over Changing Chords – do you have to?

[Justin S]

I’ve heard that you can stick with the same scale in the correct song key regardless of the chord changes correct? But should you change scales as the chords change?

[Jean-Michel G]

Hi,

You can do both, depending on the circumstances. I wrote something about that here.

If you stick with one scale for the entire progression, you use the “one size fits all” approach; sometimes that works, sometimes not (see the post I linked to above). It really depends on the harmonic structure of the song.

If you decide to follow the changes, you will have to change scale (or play the corresponding arpeggio) for each chord. The chord-scale relationship will tell you which scales are appropriate for what chords.

You can also mix the two approaches.

Hope this helps.

P.S. You look a bit like Justin Sandercoe 😉

[sunjamr]

Hi Justin. Somebody could do a PhD dissertation on that question. Sometimes when I put on a jamtrack to do some noodling, I switch back and forth between playing the chords and not playing the chords. To me, if I’m in a major key and I play the chord scales, it sounds happier. How does it sound to you?

Sunjamr Steve

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