Major Minor Relative system maybe?

[ThrowBackMan]

How does one know what the relative scale is if they are playing in a major scale. So, If I'm playing in D Major for instance I know B Minor works, but why? Is there a system that tells me why and how to recognize the relative scale that one needs to know to solo in?


Thanks
Tim

 

[War Admiral]

Because Bm is the the relative minor of D.....why you ask? Because the 6th degree of any Ionian (major scale) is always the relative (natural or Aeolian) minor.

Ex. G major: G A B C D E F#
____degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

6th degree is E so Em


A major: A B C# D E F# G#
degrees: 1 2 3__4 5 6__7

6th degree is F# so F#m


See its easy

 

[ThrowBackMan]

Thanks WarAdmeral. I knew there was something I was missing. I should have known that. I'm sure I have learned it but forgot. A lot of info to take in when your my age and just now learning Theory, but it's helped so much in my ability to project mood in my playing, even if just for fun.. and improv.. especially.
T

 

[War Admiral]

Have fun

 

[ThrowBackMan]

War Admiral.
Thanks so much. Another question. How do you know what scales you can solo in if the key is in a minor? I mean
I know there's a minor for every major, so how about finding the major scale to solo in if you're song is in the key
of some minor? How do you find that? I'm asking because say I have a song in Am, what Major scale can I solo in? Isn't
it C Major? How does one find the same?

Thanks
T

Because Bm is the the relative minor of D.....why you ask? Because the 6th degree of any Ionian (major scale) is always the relative (natural or Aeolian) minor.

Ex. G major: G A B C D E F#
____degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

6th degree is E so Em

snip...

 

[richardt4520]

War Admiral will probably give a clearer answer but basically the relative major of a minor scale will be 3 half steps up, for example Eminor=Gmajor, Aminor=CMajor.

 

[ThrowBackMan]

Thank you Richard. I really appreciate it. Great answer!
T

War Admiral will probably give a clearer answer but basically the relative major of a minor scale will be 3 half steps up, for example Eminor=Gmajor, Aminor=CMajor.

 

[War Admiral]

War Admiral will probably give a clearer answer but basically the relative major of a minor scale will be 3 half steps up, for example Eminor=Gmajor, Aminor=CMajor.

That will work for sure! I would suggest that you look at it in an interval way of thinking though instead of half steps....a minor 3rd...this in the long run will help you more in the future...to be able to see the fretboard in intervals and knowing what they sound like...but thats later This of course for the relative major scale (Ionian Mode) from the natural minor scale (Aeolian Mode)....notice how I throw in the real names of the scales because there are other major and minor scales.

Ex. up a minor 6th from Em (Aeolian) is another major scale C Lydian Mode....a favourite of Steve Vai...has a sharper sound compared to the Ionian Mode

Theres all kinds of goodies

 

[ThrowBackMan]

Thank you WarAdm.
Hey, do you have descdriptions of the modes and their emotional effect on folks? I mean, it seems to me you can pick the mode you want according to how you want the audience to feel so to speak?
Thanks
T

War Admiral will probably give a clearer answer but basically the relative major of a minor scale will be 3 half steps up, for example Eminor=Gmajor, Aminor=CMajor.

That will work for sure! I would suggest that you look at it in an interval way of thinking though instead of half steps....a minor 3rd...this in the long run will help you more in the future...to be able to see the fretboard in intervals and knowing what they sound like...but thats later This of course for the relative major scale (Ionian Mode) from the natural minor scale (Aeolian Mode)....notice how I throw in the real names of the scales because there are other major and minor scales.

Ex. up a minor 6th from Em (Aeolian) is another major scale C Lydian Mode....a favourite of Steve Vai...has a sharper sound compared to the Ionian Mode

Theres all kinds of goodies

 

[Bognerdude]

Know I'm new here but I agree with some of the other guys that intervals was something I strayed away from but helps tremendously esp when improvising and of course chord scales too.