Scales Over Keys? Options

[zzericsc]

Hey there. Noobie here. Love the site but I'm a little lost with all of the content. I've been playing for almost 25 years on and off, mostly self taught and lots of books. Tons of tabs ect... Now I really want to learn the art & express myself with a good understanding of theory and what works ect...

So just a couple basic questions for now. For example if a simple piece is in the key of A with just a few standard or typical chord changes, lets say a I, IV, V, does that mean I can use an Am scale over the whole thing? Through all of the chord changes? I'm assuming that a major minor, pent, blues or whatever variation of scale is basically to preference. I'm just not sure of I need to be thinking of changing the Am scale to Dm scale with each I to IV chord change?

I'm just trying to keep it simple, I'm sure there are a million versions of an answer for that question but with the intent of memorizing fingering for the minor scale (root note A just happens to be the example) and improve memory of the intervals, 1st, second, flat 3rd ect... I'm hoping with some repetitive improvisation over a backing track I can get the scale across and along the fret-board memorized and then eventually just slide it up or down to change the tonic center or flatten/ sharpen notes of the intervals to change the flavor, like changing a flat 3 to just a 3 for a major sound or knowing to eliminate the 4th and 7th for a pent sound ect.

It seems most prefer to start with a memory of the major scale but I think it is more practical to my style to be working on a minor scale, the sound will fit together for me more intuitively. My last question is does anyone know where I can find a few simple backing tracks to loop in the rock/metal genre for practice or can someone make me one?

Great job from all & congratulations on your terrific community! Thank you!

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[zzericsc]

Very helpful! Thanks you for your prompt response. You have also helped me to identify that I have no idea what a I, IV, V progression is. In the key of A, I assumed the IV would be D and the IV would be E based on the fourth and fifth of the scale. I'm going to have to brush up on a lesson there! No wonder I was struggling.

I randomly found a few scales posted on the site showing finger positions with the degrees of the tones of the scale in the middle with the root represented as 1 ect... but I can seem to get the scale generator to do it for me. Do you know of a quick link to a scale diagram like that?

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[Alex Feather]

Very helpful! Thanks you for your prompt response. You have also helped me to identify that I have no idea what a I, IV, V progression is. In the key of A, I assumed the IV would be D and the IV would be E based on the fourth and fifth of the scale. I'm going to have to brush up on a lesson there! No wonder I was struggling.

I randomly found a few scales posted on the site showing finger positions with the degrees of the tones of the scale in the middle with the root represented as 1 ect... but I can seem to get the scale generator to do it for me. Do you know of a quick link to a scale diagram like that?

First of all you are right! I have made a mistake it's gonna be A-D-E which is I-IV-V
I will make a scale diagram for you do you need modes or pentatonics?

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