Mode Theory Question Options

[John72]

I'm still trying to get familiar with modes and stuff, but something has me confused. I have some sheet music with chord changes, and a tabbed solo to go with it. It also has what scales the tab is using with each chord. But, when I try to look at the scale, it doesn't match the notes in the tab, so....

I think the progression is in Em (the music has one sharp in the key signature.) The progression goes like this (with the mode they list in parenthesis):

Em (harmonic minor)
Em7 (Dorian)
D (Natural minor)
A (Dorian)
Em (Blues)
Em7 (Phrygian)
D (Dorian)
A (Mixolydian)
F#m (Major)
A (Major)
B (Major)
E (Major)
F#m (Major)
A (Mixolydian)
E (Mixolydian)
E (Major Pentatonic)

So, in looking at the chords and the scales, does that mean use E harmonic minor over the Em, D Natural Minor over the D, A Mixolydian over the A? Or should all the scaled be E? I think there may be some passing tones in there that could be confusing the issue, so I just want to make sure I'm looking at the right scales.

Thanks for any help.

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[Alex Feather]

I'm still trying to get familiar with modes and stuff, but something has me confused. I have some sheet music with chord changes, and a tabbed solo to go with it. It also has what scales the tab is using with each chord. But, when I try to look at the scale, it doesn't match the notes in the tab, so....

I think the progression is in Em (the music has one sharp in the key signature.) The progression goes like this (with the mode they list in parenthesis):

Em (harmonic minor)
Em7 (Dorian)
D (Natural minor)
A (Dorian)
Em (Blues)
Em7 (Phrygian)
D (Dorian)
A (Mixolydian)
F#m (Major)
A (Major)
B (Major)
E (Major)
F#m (Major)
A (Mixolydian)
E (Mixolydian)
E (Major Pentatonic)

So, in looking at the chords and the scales, does that mean use E harmonic minor over the Em, D Natural Minor over the D, A Mixolydian over the A? Or should all the scaled be E? I think there may be some passing tones in there that could be confusing the issue, so I just want to make sure I'm looking at the right scales.

Thanks for any help.

There is a key change going on in the second part the key changes to A major so you will have F# - C# - G# in a key signature
What you can play over is:
E Major (C#mi) pentatonic, A Major (F#mi) Pentatonic, D major (Bmi) Pentatonic, Eminor pentatonic
Or you can play F#minor pentatonic through the whole tune
If you want to be more creative use F# harmonic minor

In this scale you will have an E# (F)

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[John72]

There is a key change going on in the second part the key changes to A major so you will have F# - C# - G# in a key signature
What you can play over is:
E Major (C#mi) pentatonic, A Major (F#mi) Pentatonic, D major (Bmi) Pentatonic, Eminor pentatonic
Or you can play F#minor pentatonic through the whole tune
If you want to be more creative use F# harmonic minor

In this scale you will have an E# (F)

Thanks Alex! The key signature only has F# through the whole thing. Although, in the music, G and C are all sharp. So, I think you're correct about the key change. (I'm not even gonna ask how you saw that!)

So, in the first part over the A major chord it says Dorian. Which Dorian would that be? A dorian? or E dorian? (Or something else?) I think if I can figure out how they picked one, I can start figuring out the rest.

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