Brighten up your day, teach a newbie how to improvise

[Dumpling]

I'm having trouble trying to solo over chord progressions, I have a large book of scales and have no clue where to start, or how to assess which scale to use over any chord progression. I would be delighted if someone would tell me how to solo and what scale to use over something simple like a C-D-G chord progression.

 

Thanks.

[Virgman]

Keep it simple at first.

 

Try G-C-D-G instead which is a 1-4-5-1 in the Key of G.

 

You could use:

 

E-minor pentatonic

 

G-Ionian

 

The why's are too much to explain here. Suffice to say you play the scale/notes which correspond to the key the song or chord is in.

 

Check out the sticky in this forum "Scales, modes, tonality".

 

If you are playing rock, the minor pentatonic scales will be your bread and butter.

 

Here's a site that will help you get going. It's humorous but also useful.

 

http://www.guitarshredshow.com/carpet/

[Jeremy3]

G Ionian works over all three of the chords.

[olejason]

The F# in Gmaj could clash with a C in some contexts. A #11 is always hip by me though